New-York tribune., 1919-05-19

LIT. A0ler 1S most intense HIS Is
one of those burning souls which con-
sumo their bodies. In every effort in
which he engages he puts all his physi~
cal as we'll as mental strength. His
addresses are the results of real labor
For three days before his appearance
in the pulpit his whole attention is
centred upon his sermon theme
He dictates as the thoughts come to
him. Then he revises and re-revises.
When delivered his address represents
all he can give to it.
DR.. Adler has q native serenity in
spite Of some of his unorthodox utter
ances. Those whose memories 20 back
to the beginnings Of his ministry say
he was always free from nervousness
on the platform. 1t was q gift with
him to think upon his feet
His pulpit manner is as quiet as his
mind seems serene. His gestures are
few but emphatic. His voice is we'll
modulated, and possesses rare quail
ity, in that it never has to be strained
Seldom Prayer
There is seldom a prayer. There Is
no effort to give to the Ethical Culture
Society meetings a church atmosphere.
There is music. There is g Scripture
reading. After these conventions Dr.
Adler proceeds to the business of the
meeting, which is the discussion of an
ethical problem.
One cannot assert that DR.. Adler is
not religious man. Some years ago
he spoke on the subject, "The Belief In
God as Viewed from an Ethical Stand
point" One passage was as follows:
What is the meaning Of the world I?
What is it to US? Is this world a
pltlless machine, in which things turn
out good or i'll, just as chance may de-
termine? Are the disappointments of
life merely derisive answer to human
aspiration? l do not see how l can be
indifferent to these questions. 1t is as
II had been transported into a
strange country in the night and had
awakened IN a colossal mansion and
should ask, Where am /? If, indeed, I
, am to judge by some of the cries
hear, by some of the sights about me,
l must suspect that the house in which
l live Is madhouse.
we have at least one ADVANTAGE over
the people in the churches in consider.
ing the riddle Of life, that we can re-
fleet upon 1t in quiet and TRANQUIL
fashion, without feeling that it is sin
to doubt. Nor yet are we ANTAGONISTS
OF the churches. We are not, indeed,
to be called atheists l am not inter
ested IN labels l have for the time
lett man behind me and am face to
lace with the eternal stars"
On another occasion DR.. Adler said:
When We leave our old religion we
forget it has an Office for US. Certain
things that the old religious teachers
have said ring true and will forever
ring true. On the other hand, there
are many things that must be said
that have not been expressed. The per-
son who ceases to be religious ceases
TO have the affections that lead out
from religion. He is aware of the hu-
man fellowship Of which he is mem
Der, but unaware of the life Of the
universal soul"
Dr. Adier's teachings have made him
storm centre throughout most of the
years of his manhood. Early In life.
when he held a professorship Of He
brew and Oriental languages at Cor
nell University, he was denounced as
one whose rationalfsm made him dam
gerous to the young SO bitter was
the remuneration that DR.. Adler finally
relinqulshed his post. Nearly a quar-
ter of century later he was called to
the chair of political and social ethics
at Columbia University.
On timely topics his voice is fre-
quently heard. Speaking of divorce,
he said:
"The great flaw In the modern atti-
tude toward marriage and divorce. thu
thing which makes much Of our dis
cussion Of 1t false, is that vision is
tnrce-cornered figure.
SHOULD Consider Child"
ut is He and l.; Can I be happy
with her" Can get along with him .
But there Is a third party to be con-
sidercd, and it seems to be that instead
Of saying that 1T IL unholy to live with
Il man after love has ceased men and
women rather should consider the
question with reference to the child's
right to love and care.
There is undeniably a desire on the
part Of many women to get loose from
any tie which prevents them from be-
ing Independent personalities. Tho
higher education of women has some
thing to do with this; 80 has the 40
called woman's movement-with which,
by tho way, / am in profound SYM
pnthy, even, or rather, especially In it's
political aspects.
"Nevertheless this tends for the time
to mako women revolt against entering