The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-02-20

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of all "unknowable" concepts and strives
to confine himself rigidly in his phil
osophy to phenomena. This popularity
of his method has exposed Mr.. Spencer
to much criticism and probably to some
misapprehension. He has been ac-
cused Of denying what he says cannot
be known; of attempting to dispense
with the Creator; of endeavoring to re-
solve all spiritual facts into myths. all
faith into superstition; and so end
Ing logically in materialism and athe.
ism. He complains of this, thinks it
unfair and unkind. He has not. how
ever, in all his numerous writings which
go often touch the quivering edge of this
subject. expressed himself as believing
in anything not matter of actual
knowledge.
The attitude which Herbert Spencer
holds, in his philosophy and personally.
toward God and relis ion. is expressed by
the word that Prof. Huxley coined,
"agnostic." He would say simply, 1 don't
know. But of the extreme difficulty of
standing in such an attitude toward
such subjects he is likely to prove an
historic example. We always judge a
mans attitude by the way he leans.
Any one who reads Mr.. Spencer's works
becomes aware of his faith. He believes
in principle which he names evolution.
He sees this principle in everything;
in the action Of matter, force and mo-
ton; in the spheres; in plant and ami
NAL life; in human society. 1t explains
everything. does everything. is all in all.
II his philosophy accounted for evolu-
tion he would, probably, be theist. 1t
does not. Instead. it seems studiously
careful to avoid even the implication of
mind and will at the heart of things
Of which the great principle of evolution
is an instrument and expression.
1t is affirmed by some of Mr.. Spen.
GERS disciples. particularly by John
Fiske, that the Spencerian philosophy
leads up to and ends logically in belief
in God. Some of the philosophers later
outgivings, though indirect and vague,
warrant the inference that his mind
inclines to spiritual solution of the mys.
terry he has 30 persistently closed his eyes
to. Possibly this may be his unconscious
confirmation Of judgment widely enter
tanned, that the synthetic philosophy is
defective in ignoring SO large and so
efficient portion of the contents of the
human spirit. Belief is as much larger
than knowledge as credit is larger than
cash. A philosophy that either leaves
this out Of it's reckoning or resolves it
into groundless illusions. is short limbed
and is likely to be short-lived. But the
materials, the methods, and many of the
results of Mr.. Spencer's great labor
must furnish the basis of new and com.
plete stage in the endless evolution of
human philosophy.
BREvITIEs.
The Missouri Universalist is issued
at Ethel, Macon Co. Every parish in
the State is a mission point, and the
missionary spirit pervades the paper.
1t affords field for the exercise of gifts
of administration and of exposition,
which the pastors and the more active
of the laity are not slow to enter. The
Rev. G. R. East. Of Kansas City, displays
much acuteness and gives promise OF
literary art in the preparation of Uni
versalist ideas for the home market.
1T is a matter of congratulation to
the Universalists Of New York. in every
part of it, that new and handsome
churches, built solidly in the best mod
ern fashion. are just completed in the two
literary centers Of the denomination in
the State, Fort Plain and Canton. Our
memory does not hold the record OF a
more useful service performed for Uni
versalism in the Empire State. These
are instances of UNCONVENTIONAL enter
prise placed where it will do most good.
Rev. L. Ward Brigham. M. D., class
Of '96, Canton Theological Seminary. re-
ceives a unanimous invitation to make
his home with the parish in Victor. N.
Y. whence the Rev. H. B. Bard has just
removed to Omaha, Neb. DIR. Brigham
is we'll equipped man. His two years.
service at Natural Bridge proves him to
have the purpose and temper of good
soldier of Jesus Christ.
CANTON THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL.