The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-07-18

Now we come to the problem so important to
mankind from its bearing on the part played in
civilization by religion. the problem. namely,
rs to the causes which should make 1t possible in
modern times for tho great ends of civilization
and progress to be advanced by the direct
method of attacking abuses or advocating re-
forms. on tho ground OF their natural results
alone. instead OF. rs In ancient times. indirectly
through the medium OF religion. These causes
our author would reduce to two: tho first, the
active and positive cause. is tho prevalence in
modern times OF what is called the scientific
spirit. This spirit lie now so extensively diff
fused, the uniformity and constancy Of the laws
OF nature IRE go recognized and taken for
granted by the most active and influential
minds that, when once men have decided that
any particular material, moral or social con-
dition, rs, for example, slavery. despotism,
polygamy, intemperance, or poverty, is by its
very nature an obstacle to a higher state of
civilization and culture. they no long or
allow former religious or theological rulings on
the point to stand in their way, but. unham-
pered and undeterred by ancient DOGMA, go
straight to their mark. and attack the enemy
openly for its own evil effects alone. This first
cause, the scientific spirit. is already a potent
one. and Is daily exercising more and more infiu-
ence over the most intelligent and cultured
minds. The second cause. however, is moro ina
portant still. for without It the scientific spirit
would have been strangled at its birth. or, IL
allowed 10 live at all, would have met with
little or no sympathy from the great mass OF tho
people. and would have exercised as little author
ity over the affairs OF life as it does to-day among
q population OF Turks and Hindoos. This second
cause Is the spirit Of the religion OF Jesus. as
distinguished from the dogmRs of the Chris
tan Church. 1t Is true. OF course, that
Christianity, 30 far as its supernatural organ
ization and structure are concerned. is n
religion OF ancient times, and. had it followed
the example OF the other religions OF antiquity,
we should expect to find IL laying down a number
OF liked. definite and inclastic rules OF conduct
and behavior for all tho relationships OF life. In
reality, II is quite tho opposite, and set itself
from tho start to cmancipate men from exist
ING forms and ceremonies. rather than to impose
on them now ones. Fully one-haIf OF cnrist's
teachings consists In intoxicating n morality, not
OF the letter but Of tho spirit. not OF outward
mechanical observances but OF tho inward con.
dit,on or the heart. It did not. that Is 20 say.
profH~s 10 lay down q hxsi and written Law OF
moral and social relations. or what men wero to
do or avoid, in all tho relationships of life, as
Judaism had done before 1t, and as Mohamme-
danism was to do after 1t; neither did 1t fix. once
for all. the hierarchy OF personal and social rela-
lions In which men were TO stand to each other as
In the caste system OF Hindooism. On tho con-
trary. Its deliberate purpose was to counterfeit
all this, and. once for all. to put an end to it by
leaving morality 30 freely and fexibly movable
that 1t would ofer no obstruction to any course
OF action or conduct which could be shown 10 DO
for the spiritual well being OF man. This moral
ity OF the spirit was connected by an inner and
necessary logic with the very soul and core of
Christs teachings. The morality preached by
Jesus was m internal morality, q morality Of