The Republican journal., 1902-01-23

learning called Sociology. 1t is found
ed upon the ethics of the New Testa-
ment. ''It aims at the prevention rather
than the cure of sin and evil, just as
preventive medicine aims at the pre-
vention of disease both in the single
individual and i'll society at large"
1t seeks to improve the environment
and to rectify vice-breeding evils and
wrongs. 1t is based upon the Gospel
doctrine OF love to God and love to man
1t seeks to actually realize the ideal
Thou shalt love thy neighbor" 1t
recognizes the fact that wretchedness in
this world may unfit people for worthy
enjoyments both here and hereafter,
since it may dwarf the mental and
mQfsVuH Hllties through which the high
EMO! n4ghIs must come.
This branch of learning known as
Sociology, which is the outgrowth of
this progressive liberalism. the religion
of humanity is, as Pres. Eliot of IIar-
ward says: "of the mind of the angel
who bore a torch in one hand and a
vase of water in the other with the
to quench hell, that men might be in-
huenced neither by the hope of the one
nor the fear of the other
And so it is, the main object of this
new movement or tendency is toward
the universal religion improve
ment of mans moral, mental and
physical condition here in this present
world, in word, the enlightenment
and elevation of human life.
This does not deny that there is a life
hereafter future world for man;
but it at1irms that mans chief and all
controlling duty is here and now, in
this present world If we take proper
care of this life, we shall be abundant
ly able to take care of the next one
Wien we get to it. 1t does not sympa-
thize with any teaching that draws peo-
pies thoughts so much to the life here
after that duties here are liable to be
neglected i'll dreamings and visions of
future bliss. The new thought would
say, let the vision of the future remain
a vision, a hope, a faith, if you can; but
let it not entice moral interest and
energy away from the pressing respon-
slbilities and stern realities of the pres
ent time.
Here on earth, and in this most real
present, lies our duty, our task, our
mission. 1t lies with us to bring that
hoped for felicity into this present life
by dlscharging our obligations to our
fellow-men, and by faithful obedience
/ TO our highest ideals of duty
| Ruskin has said: THAT is the true
mother church where every man takes
the hand Of every other man helpful,
ly.' This is the aim of the new ten
dency in religion. To remove the bur-
dens that oppress, to enlighten igno-
prevent sin and uplift human life to a
higher plain.
The new teaching is, then: "Give
freedom for growth, for development
/ for culture, give opportunity, give
liberty, give manhood, spread knoWl-
edge, inquire, gather facts, think" 1t
urges us to attain to the highest ideal
of manhood and womanhood that is
I possible to our highest vision. 1t would
stimulate the life to reliance upon
and a noble fidelity to those unseen,
inner laws that are stamped on each
soul, the law of reason and the law of
, duty.
When man lives by his highest sense
of duty life of strict integrity, of
purity, of kindness, of love, of self-de-
votion to truth and righteousness, he
carries within him the very presence
and power of the eternal. One does
not need to seek without to find God.
/ The infinite power, the divine life of
God, dwells within and courses through
, his mind and conscience.
This is the new thought, the uni
/ versal religion, that the nineteenth CEN
tury bequeathed to the twentieth. But,
we must remember that we are OF the
twentieth century and have now re-
ceived this heritage. Upon us falls the
responsibility for it's proper use. Shall
we prove worthy of the trust? Has
the past year been thus? What are we
going to do with the new one?
AS you and / cross the theshold of
the second year of the new century
! may it be with spirit of devotion to
| this heritage of new thought, and a
loving sense of kinship with all man.
kind. May it be also with supreme
desire to lend helping hand to lit
struggling humanity to higher plain of
life. And above all may it be with a
most earnest determination to live and
realize the ideal of ''love thy neighbor
as thyself'
"And as we enter on the year,
| And, though not always understood,
| Both cloud and sunshine, hope and fear,
| Will work together all for good.'