The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-01-12
If We Come from Perfect Man
We Have Degenerated A Lot,
Says Schurman
OUR BRITISH STRAIN IS EVIDENT
Cornell's President criticises Ameri.
can Constitution in Referring to the
Regulation Of Divorce - Great
Change in Religious Thought.


Milton held. President j. G. Schur-
man of Cornell University. in address.
ing the Society for Ethical Culture
in Carnegie Hail. said it is certain
there is something radically evil in us,
and it is the business of modern eff.
fort to overcome it,
President Schurman spoke on The
Development of Religious Thought"
He confined himself to the period
from Milton to the time OF Darwin,
whose centenary will be celebrated
next month. The influence OF these
men on religious thought was the
basis of his address.
President Schurman spoke OF Mil
tons championship of religious liberty
and the freedom Of religious thought
Milton WIS, he said its greatest advo-
cate and the aspirations which he had
in that directiCL were similar to the
achievements and possessions which
we enjoy to-day. 1t was not alone in
the British Isles that the effect of Mil
tons advocacy was felt but it had
a great influence in this country
Il am the last man in the world"
regulation of divorce as a bright feat
ure of the American Constitution 1t
is a shame and a danger in the ex-
treme in which l. is now operated, but
the other extreme would be just as
bad. Milton advocated that under
certain circumstances divorce should
be allowed. We in America are en-.
joying to-day some of the best poiti-
cal principles which he favored. He
was away head of his time in the
advocacy of many of the things which
we possess. and among them are some
of the best things in the world.
Milton had definite theology which
differs from the. of most thoughtful
men of to-day. His philosophy was
based upon the Ptolemaic theory OF
astronomy while the Copernican sys-
TEN, with the sun as the centre OF
the universe, is the acceLted theory
to-day. With the Ptolema. theory it
was easy for Milton to picture heaven
and hell as above and beneath the
earth but that pictorial representa-
ton in Paradise Lost would not an.
wer to-day. So Milton's philosophy
must be kept in mind in reading his
work"
In referring t. the change in religi-
GUS thought President Schurman said
In the eighteenth century there
was great ca thquake in Lisbon Not
only was the earth torn asunder and
thousands killed but the religious
thought of tle day was most pro-
foundly stirred Men of the greatest
influence began TO ask how the world
could be governed by beneficent
Providence If thousands of lives were
allowed ruthlessly ~ be swept away
Much YVES written at the time. The
recent earthquake in Italy awakened
widespread feelings OF horror at the
loss of life and sympathy and kind
ness toTard he afflicted but | never
heard a voice raising the question
which Ias raised when the Lisbon
earthquake ocuulru e.. The thoughtful
men Of to-day ant even the masses
have come 20 realize the Cop~rnican
astronomy that the earth is not the
centre of the universe but only an
Insignificant planet.
The theory OF Milton was that man
was created perfect; that he fell and
needed redemption. So long as men
believed our first parents were Gre
ated perfect this theology would
stand but the whole scheme becomes
irrational and even superfluous II the
first being was not perfect, but akin
to the barbarian. | do not believe
that those who will join in the cele-
bration the centenary OF Darwin,
next month"; will contend that he has
established the hypothesis that man
and the ape sprang from a common
origin. but all history and tradition
tend to show that mans history is one
of steady accent
las for myself ! don't care il
came from ssvsEes or half brutes OF
from a perfect nan. The important
point Is what have arrived at, not
what they were. but what | am. As
the Puritan IDEA emphasizes the need
of redemption, 20 now it is recognized
by all. though We have our high ideals
that We are sinful creatures and We
have a british strain in US. Tn,
problem Ia to get rid OF this brutist
Inheritance. No demonstration o
science will deny we are sinful. Their,
Ia something radically evil in us, suC
il IL the business OF modern effort tc
OVsrcoms 1t.
''NotwithAtanaing the great adVanc,
in religious thought and the discov
cries OF science the great essentia
truths remain. Though the Bible Il
not regarded as inspired in every lin,
and word ia value remains. and tn,
old preoept to fear God and keep Hi
commandments still holds good"
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