The Newtown bee. (Newtown, Conn.) 1877-current, 1898-07-22
The Home Circle,
The Independent In Religion.
A PAPER BY REV ELIJAH WOODRUFF OF
WASHINGTON.


wide truth. Given, thinking, acting
talking being, and you have the elements
that will develop 8 religion. Man is
naturally religious. Therefore, religion
is the essence, the spirit within man.
Theology is the form, the clothing with
which man invests his religion, The
word religion from it's Latin origin
means, binding or restraint. Man sees
around him the mighty powers of Ma
ture, within whose relentless grasp,
without some protection, he is crushed
like an eggsheu. Hence, arises the feel
ing of dependence, the germ which de.
| velopg religion. The primitive man had
but one kind Of agency he could under
stand; that OK will power like his own.
! Hence, all things which he saw became
animated, conscious beings endowed
with thoughts and passions similar to
himself. Thus arose the idea of sacri-
does, offerings to secure favor, or pr0pi-
tiate malignity or anger. There was
little knowledge OF physical causes. II
was lOpg time before rhe cause of an
eclipse of the sun or moon was discover
ed.
Mans religion was in d corresponding
ratio TO his knowledge. A religion of
superstition. IL was Impossible for it to
be otherwise. They felt that there was
au Ultjuate power somewhere. Some
One VINO knew what was absolutely true
and right. The cry Of The human heart
- )
5Lab 1 knew where l might find Him
tbeU would order my speech Alright be.
fore Him.
Protagoras, d Greek thinker, evolved
from his inner consciousness, which is
the supreme authority in man, this prop
oai5i0n- Man is the measure Of all
things" Every thirg appeals to the
congCI0usnessIOf his reason and Judge
ment. That is, ali speculation must be
in the forms of human thought. Mar
himself is the standard Of judgement in
all questions Of the tt e, beautiful and
good. OF course it ", cav to run this
great truth, q correIs ed truth, by the
way, into the rankeat absurdicy, and say
''that there could be 10 truth, beauty or
goodness apart from tie feeling of the
Individual"
And vet, the thought is forever true,
Man is the measure OF all things"
How can a man think except in terms of
his own thought? All speculations
about the universe. man, and his destiny
must be anthropomorphic. 1t is as i'm
possible to think in the terms of another
order OF being as it would be to exist as
some other being. Let US say right
here, the independent in Religion" is
one who thinks in his own terms and not
in those OF another.
Now, man being the measure of all
things, what further is implied. A stan
dard. Plato said that no man is made in
the image Of the Divine, God would be
supremely the measure of all things"
Aristotle said, 1.-The perfect man is the
perfect measure of all things" The
next question is, Where is the perfect
man? Has he appeared among the So 8
OF men? The ancient civilizations fur
nish none. Paul following after the an
cient philosophers, said, 1--WE have the
mind Of Christ" "Thus man is the meas
ure of all things because he is able to re.
produce the Divine vision, and becomes
the perfect standard" Christ, his enc
mics being witnesses, is the perfect man,
revealing absolute truth, beauty and
goodness.
The independent finds religion in sci
hence. Science is our understanding OF
nature expressed in the forms of the hH
man mind. We interpret the universe
in terms of reason. We find mind anC
will behind everything, under every
thing.
A c0smic power, force that makes
for truth, beauty and righteousness, at
Mathew Arnold says. Science finds tn
workings, the methods of action of thi
omnipotent power, but finds not TIL
power any more than the physician
scalpel or glass can find the ego withi
these physical bodies of ours. A
Socrates said in his diving hour when hi
friends were debating how they shout
bury him. "Catch me first before 20
bury me,' said he. "You can do VIVA
> you like with my body, but when leav
it, Socrates will go to be with the Gods.
= The next question is, what kind o
\ mind, what character of will is thi
Power under all things? The Christian
religion claims that Jesus Christ is th
highest exponent, revelation of th
qualities Of this supreme evolving powe
and appeals directly to the thought an
reason of men for the truth Of its asse
: ton. The appeal has never been denies
The principle of brotherhood, helpful
ness and love, is admitted by all men
!. be the supreme good. It follows the
h that selfishness is the supreme evi
i. Scientists tell US that these two principle
) run thro' all nature. The selfish d
d stroying itself, or, eventuating into I'll
"a altruistic.
). These two forces. self shness ar
e. a1traism run thro' all the affairs of me
j., The independent will always search
the altrnistic, and accept it under whs
ever guise it may be found. Jaa
g, enuuciated this principle under the mar
O. lof Love, and by love man can complete