New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-27
THE RELIGION OF LOYALTY:
CHRISTINA OF DENMARK
Professor Josiah Royce Christianity and the World
Hobein's Christina of Denmark; Her Role
in the History of Her Time.

have the idea Of the diyincly Signid-
cant spiritual fellowship Of the faith
full, the idea that such a community
exists and is needed and is the neccs-
sary means Of salvation for the indi-
vidual man. The Apostle taught cX-
plicitly that the Church was the Body
Of Christ in such wise that the divine
unity Of its spirit was to he disCcrncd
amid all the divcrsitics Of its members
and Of their powers. Taken in natural
terms such teaching not only retains
its meaning and worth to-day. but II IS
destined so our author believes, 10
guide the future. for the notion ~ a
universal community, all for each and
each for all, has broad psychological
basis in the social nature Of mankind,
and il derives ethical value from its
relations TO the interests and needs Of
all those Of any time or nation who
have learned the deeper meaning OF
loyalty, the willing and thorOughgo-
ing devotion Of self 10 cause. when
the cause is something which unites
many selves in one, and which is there
fore the interest Of a community" To
he sure. the spirit and letter Of so ex-
allied a doctrine are still far apart.
I The churches and communities of his
/ tory have been but approximations 10
the unreachcd goal. The true Church
. is as yet invisible. Nevertheless. each
concrete realization Of loyalty in
human life is sign Of the community
7 coming to manifestation.
Turning to another characteristic
Christian idea, that or original sin,
Professor Royce observes that If ira
ditional technicalitics have obscured it.
they have not been able TO affect is
deeper truth or its practical import.
He continues:
The idea Of the moral burden Of the
individual seems, 10 many cheerful
minds dustere: but. il il is grave and
stern. it is grave with the gravity or life.
and stern only as the call Of life. TO
any awakened mind. ought to be stern:
Rightly interpreted. il forms
think, not only an essential feature Of
Christianity but an indspensa bic part OF
every religious and moral view OF life
which considers mans business justly,
and does so with reasonable regard for
the larger connections Of our Obliga-
tons and OF our powers.
In like manner. the Christian idea Of
atonement may be judged, in its human
aspect, 10 be based upon such motives
tho, 80 tIoro ,,.ora no oh iStiauitN. and
no Christians in the world, the idea OF
atonement would have to he invented,
before the higher levels OF our moral
existence could be fairly understood.
Much Of the authors estimate of the
Christian teaching gets its cogency in
the light of the metaphysical discus
sion in the second volume, and the
technical argument there outlined calls
for patient bordering. The reader who
would make the dialectical ascent may
expect 10 be carried TO the skies.
though not ION fOWery beds Of ease"
The thesis is not other than the one 10
which, in the Clifford lectures on The
World and the Individual" and else
where, Professor Royce has steadfastly
adhered; but the manner of support
ing ii is new, for the approach is now
made by way Of what is named the
world Of Interpretation" TO attempt
putting into a paragraph what in the
text requires a few hundred pages
would SAVIOR Of pragmatic impiety, and
we must he content with reporting that