New-York tribune., 1902-12-21


| byterian church, and soon afterward became
sole pastor. At that time a portion of the sti-
pend of Presbyterian ministers in Ireland
derived from an annual grant cf public money
known as Regium Donum. Inasmuch the
Regium Donum though contributed by the ma
uon at large, was applicable to PresbyteTians
only, DR. Martneau looked upon it as re-
llgious monopoly, and felt that could not
accept it. To refuse it. however would com
promise the rights of his congregation, and this
he leazed he should not do without their
sent. Stormy days followed, and. despite the
fact that he had no future prospects and that
a family was now dependent upon him. he be-
/ lieVed he ought to resign, and resign he did
In after years this conscientiousness was the
cause of another and more painful episode per-
manent alienation from his gifted sister. Har-
riet, the sister with whom he had had in his
youth the tenderest and closest relations. In
Elaboration with H. G. Atkinson Miss Mar
| tineau, in 1851, wrote volume bearing the title
Letters on the Laws of Mans Nature and De
velopment." This work showed, in DIR. Mar
! tineau's eyes, that his sister had passed into
another world of thought and regarded with
| contempt those great spiritual beliefs that in
earlier times had been the strongest bond of
affection and sympathy between them' He
felt called upon to defend his views, and, d
result wrote, under the title of 'Mesmeric Athe-
iSm,' a scathing article on the Letters The
breach thus engendered between brother and
sister lasted throughout life A strongly
marked characteristic of this the in
terest he displayed in social. political and
nomical questions. He deemed it his duty. no
less as citizen than teacher to scrutinize
closely the current of events and the making Of
history. AS example of his farsightedness,
and of especial interest to all Americans,
might be quoted his prophecy, in 1857, of
Civil War DR.. DrummOnd summarizes il thus:
He enumerates facts which prove that dur
Ing the present century American slavery has
gained not simply area, and numbers. and eco
nomical interests, but more terrible support
the dominant sentiment of the nation" The
politicians of the South had il in cOntempla-
ton to form a vast slave empire, and to turn
the federated continent into house of bondage.
But there was Nemesis for this insOlenCe: and
If 1t attempted to realize its predictions,
the free States would be driven to separate, and
the splendid visions of the rest would vanish
in the double retributiOn OF civil and of servile
war.
There were several prominent American think
ers with whom DR.. Martineau in constant
correspondence previous to this, and with some
of whom he had personal acquaintance. This
brings US at once to the consideration of the
Martineau philosophy of eligion, for he owed
much he himself acknowledges. to the in
huence of DR.. w. E. Claiming. 1t is possible
that, without this influence, Dr. Martneau
WOuiQ not nave succeeded IN ms great Work or
putting religion a sound philosophical basis.
For many years he had been Hartleyite and
Professor Upton attributes his long adherence
to the necessarian doctrine of the will and
utitarian theory of ethics to the early infiu-
ences of the teachings Manchester New Col
lege. the Hartleyan system of philosophy being
strictly followed while he was a pupil there
These views DR.. Martineau championed until
the first few years of his Liverpool ministry
When change became noticeable eliminating
forms the keynote of his moral philosophy
This doctrine, first expounded in a sermon
preached in 1899 THE Christian View Of
Moral EVIL" evoked from Dr. Charming. who
recognized the important advance made by the
youthful leader of English Unitarian thought
the following letter.
The part of your discourse which gave the
sncerest delight, and for which | would espe
cialy thank you, is that in which you protest
against the doctrine of philosophical necessity
Nothing for a long time has given me such posi-
tive pleasure. l have felt that this doctrine
with its natural connections, a milestone
round the neck of UnitarianSm in England.
know who has clearly and strongly
pointed yourself its inconsistency with
moral sentiments in God, and with the exercise
of moral sentiments toward Him by His Great
After this fundamental change in DR. Mar
tineaus metaphysical principles his philosophi-
cal system, says Professor Upton remained for
the of his long life practically unaltered