The San Francisco call., 1905-06-25

new book, called THE Religion
OF Duty" in which he ex-
presses more definitely than has
been published before his belief about
the most solemn concerns OF human
life. There seems to be no name by
which TO define the type of belief of
this eXpounder of the religion of duty.
He has probably been very generally
considered an agnostic, but his progress
toward certitude is plainly a step be-
yond that. He defines agnosticism by
saying that it contends that the only
certainty is scientific certainty, based
on truth verifiable in experience. Then
he states; My contention is that there
is another kind of certainty, namely
moral certainty, based not on truth
Verifa5le in experience, but necessarily
inferred from moral experience"
de af1lrms that there is ultimate
higher power, though he processes to
know as little as the agnostic what the
nature OF that power may be. His
profession of limited knowledge about
this higher power extends to doubt and
denial of the things which Christ said
about himself and the Supreme Being
The book is beautiful, reverent in a
way. intellectual, and If the world were
really drifting away from religion its
substitute for the firmer more posi-
tive and consoling faiths as serious
minded man could write
While considering this collection of
essays, IL may be interesting to recall
some items about this Ethical Society
movement AT its recent tenth conven-
ton the Philadelphia Society was host
ess and at the same time celebrated it's
twentieth birthday. In all those years
II has enrolled a membership of 500, Of
which us are active members The
movement was started in 1873 by DR.
Adler, ana there were but three So
cieties at the end of the first decade
The Philadelphia society is the largest
outside OF New York The purpose OF
the movement is a noble one but the
growth OF il in its thirty years of life
does not promise that its method is to
De very effective. Its design is that
character building that will develop
fine standards OF social obligation. II
Is plain that If the world is drifting
away from the established religions
which impel to these things. those
orifting masses may have high ethical
ideals. but they are not going TO or
ganize and unity them by uniting in
ethical societies
II we cannot go the happy steps be-
yond Felix Adier's belief, II is certainlv
good for US to go with him in his sten
l.
ways we can believe that as we follow
him we get closer to the truth. for the
modern doctrine Of the obligation of in
tellectual honesty II consistently extend
eo would teach that If truth led to the
deepest he'll Of unhappiness we should
ioiloW II to that place Cutting out re-
ngloOs conviction and discussion and
speaking solely as a lover of humanity.
II is surely well to go with Adler TO that
sort or halfway place up the stairs whore
ne STANDS now, and then to wish that we
ana all others could go higher and find
truth still giving us a lead
II we were some personally uncon-
cerned intelligence TO whom reli1ion
could hold out neither hope nor terror
what cur1ously amusing study human
fty's varied beliefs would be. Hear Al
Ter speak of those who are some stems
below him on the stairs: ''The material
istic hypothesis of the universe linoers
only among the semi-educated Quote
that TO the great biologist, Ernest Haeck-
e. and hear him guffaw, Now we know
that Haeckel and scientists Of his fix
would dismiss as untenable the certftude
10 which Adler thinks he has attained as
readily as would Adler dismiss as unten
able the ce-titude of those men of the
Christian church who believe that there
is no need OF working up a substitute for
the religion which has a revelation con-
served by a living church against which
the gates of he'll shall not prevail; and
that on that true vine. ethics, iourishing
but as a single and minor branch Is
mightier than any whole tree of a relig.
ion Of duty standing by itself alone.
The exceeding beauty with which this re-
ligion of ethics is worked out is so praise
worthy-so well worth while fbe
writing and the reading. il should
be enthusiastically commended In
the present stage of the worlds beliefs
fits appeal is wider than that of any re-
ligiors sect. for ethics is part of all re-
ligions. and Of all true life that strives
TO live true without religious aid
Adler is a good writer and his work
gives literary as well as ethical delight
The jew could enjoy il; the Catholic for
this might almost pardon its heresy: the