The Republican journal., 1902-01-23

IOllOWlng the auCnOrlCy OF reason rather
than that of old ecclesiastical faiths,
may still keep the old names, only mod
flying them, it may be by the prefix
liberal-aS Liberal Christian, Liberal
Hebrew, Liberal Mohammedan. But
the tendency, wherever found, is in the
same direction. The movement, what
ever its starting point, is toward COM
mon goal. When the movement be-
centered, it will most likely find some
new and common name for it's now
separate branches.
In Christianity this advance move
ment is represented by Unitarianism and
other liberal churches. Unitarianism
had its beginning prior to the nineteenth
century. but its growth and influence
upon the religious thought comes within
its limits. The opening of the nineteenth
century found the religion of super
naturalism prevailing. Its idea was
that the Christian religion was of a
supernatural origin and preserved by
supernaturalag agencies. Its light of truth
was miraculouSly revealed from the
heavens. 1t was promulgated by in
dlvidualS specially commissioned by the
Almighty for their work, endowed with
power to perform miracles to attest
their authority. The Bible was claimed
to be written by Supernaturally inspired
men, Its doctrines and Interpretation
could not be found by men except by
aid sent directly from heaven. The
church was believed to be organized
under specific divine commands. Its
faith was superior TO human reason, be-
ing the direct gift of God. Prayer for
temporal or spiritual gifts was somehow
to be answered by supernatural proc
eSSeS.
These are few of the leading char
acterists of the Christian religion which
was received by the nineteenth century.
The Liberal movement has wrought a
great change, and the nineteenth cen
tury near its close found itself in pos
session of far nobler and higher form
of religion-a progressive liberalism
the religion of humanity. This is be
queathed to the twentieth century.
The religion of humanity does not be-
leye i'll upernaturaiSm. Its primary
principle is that religion is the natural
product of the human race,-the human
mind aspiring toward infinite mind,
searching after the source of things,
seeking to come into practical relations
with the being who gives life and law
to all finite eXlStenceS.
+,,+I i', 'Ci' Iii ,T
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natural. II is the human mind unfold
ing the truth by perfectly natural i'm
pulse, just as the hower opens to the
sun.
Ecclesiastical religion claims also,
Special divine inspiration is heces-
SarN to bring religion UDOn the cart N -
but the lehgloh OF humanity replleS,
lnsplIatlon is as natural as 1t Is to
breathe. Rational religion KNOWS no
m miracle greater tilah tue laws OF nature
ne human llilhd pN llS very nature Is
connected Win lhe source OF ail tuat Is,
ana py pel1eetlE natural processes draWs
llS HIe-glFlhg poItlohS from that IN
eAi!dVstlple louhlahl Oh llFln& Malef
SPi illlSlllS up lhio tNeTlastlliS NE
ANA SO II IS since fellglqn mas us
ollslH III human nature ana SINCE II
necessarily mas JUS hlSl9llcai oeNeiope-
ihelll W!lillh human coldltlohS IL must
he subject to human limitations, to
human errors ana lhIlrm1y. 1t must
l"ltahe Oh tiit race claTacttrlSllc' OF
The people holding IL. 1t must take
the FORM OF thelf particular phase OF
mental enlightenment and culture.
ms gives rlse, then, to the different
reHSlohs, but none OF them can reason
aply cIalm lnfailblllty.
NOT only does TINS dl1lerence OF race
chaiaetefstics give rise to different
reHsloll'' onl tne great variety OF grades
ana degrees OF intellectual develop
ment, and culture and temperament
gives ilse To dl1fereht seGfS IN the same
TehSloh. W hen we took at the Varl-
Gus denomlhatlons OF the christian
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