The herald., 1898-02-13
THE NEW EVOLUTION

| THE NEW EVOLUTION
| The world moves. There is never
| dead stagnation. In some things pro-
gress is made, and in others there is ap-
parent retrogression. Just now there
seems to be great letting down of the
illogical bars with a natural accompani- :
ment of a real revival in the spirit of
religious inquiry Perhaps this inquiry
is not taking the direction some of the
hard and fast orthodox theologians like
| nevertheless there has never been time
when the questions of the future were
so generally considered by men of learn
ing and intelligence outside the various
churches as is the case at present. There
is also visible a growing spirit of toler-
ance on the part of the progressive
church, even though the way be marked
by the sweeping away of long cherished
ideas and beliefs. The careful observer
cannot see that the change is for the
worse.
What does it really matter whether
or not a whale swallowed Jonah? 1t is
of vastly greater Importance that man
kind generally should become imbued
with the real spirit of Jesus Christ.
The letting down Of the bars is not
confined to the churches as related to
the rest of the world. The various sects
and denominations are becoming more
tolerant toward each other. They are
beginning to recognize that there is q
common ground upon which they may
stand together, shoulder to shoulder,
doing good in harmony and concert.
Humanity is slowly getting the better
of theology. Twice within a short time,
in this city, high representatives of the
Protestant and Catholic faiths have met
together and considered the common
problems. They may not have agreed
entirely as to methods, but they all felt
that the problems existed, and were
willing to help each other in the work of
solving them.
In st. Louis recently Archbishop Kahn,
one of the high dignitaries of the Catho-
lie church in this country, Joined openly
in a movement for public reception to
General Booth of the Salvation army,
and strongly approved the effort Of the
army lin relieving and uplifting the
fallen and the distressed of our common
humanity"
Now, this does not signify that the
10 oh &c
Salvation army, or even that it approves
of all of it's methods; it is simply a
proper recognition of great and eff
fective work in behalf of our common
humanity"
Herein is the true spirit of Christian
socialism, which must have it's founda-
tion outside of creeds. In it lies the hope
of the downmost man.
~
The asphalt trust is in evidence again
at the national capital, opposing an
amendment to the Indian appropriation
bill prohibiting Indians from leasing
portions of their reservations to private
individuals or corporations. 1t has been
iopoi illS LII lOul ytdlS " StCuIt pos
session of something like 1000 acres
embraced within the Uncompahgre res
ervation in Utah, and containing the
only deposit of gilsonite known to exist
in this country, failing in its design only
through the refusal of the secretary of
the interior to approve of lease, which
the ignorant Indians had been induced
to sign for a merely nominal considera-
ton. The scheme Of this combination,
manifestly against the public interest,
was fully exposed by Senator Rawlns
yesterday, and promises to be defeated
by the adoption of the proposed amend
ment.
The scenes of disorder that daily char
acterize the Zola trial are not usually
tolerated in French courts of justice,
and are chargeable to the highly over
wrought state of the public mind at this
time. Nowhere, unless it be in England,
is there observable such universal re-
spect for the judiciary, such universal
fear of the penalty attaching TO con-
tempt. So rigid, indeed. are the rules,
and so decorous the practice, in the
courts of the republic, as general prom
osition, as to command the admiration
of all foreign visitors. Judges are re-
uuired to wear robes and wigs, while un-
gowned barristers would not be recog-
nized. Lawyers who cannot afford to
drive to court in victoria or other re-