tub pulpit.
p r of. Swing's Horonoopo of tho
Uoxl Four Years.
a. Bees n Material and Moral Improve.
* incut in tho Nation.
in Inlcrosllm,' Sermon on Liberal Orlbo.
doxy liy Hr. Tlimmis.
Tho freeJom Emanating from Truth—Dis
course by tho Rev. G. 0. Miln.
POUU GREAT YT3ATIS,
SintMliN HY PItOK. HWINtI.
_ f Sw \ ug preached to a large congregation
.the Central Church yesterday forenoon, hi*
“ Grunt Years," iu which bu
V tired, in future, thu. policy mid deed* ot
fiesldeni (larlleld’s Adtiilnlstnillou. Following
us to number our days that wo may
.‘nir nur hearts unto wisdom.—/Wms, xc„ I—
* Mdt person* at most hours not ns though their
.imolv d time wa* simply exhaustion*. Even
•like ace of Tiler SO man, when In good health,
mt io realization that ho I* drawing near tho
unJof his stay on earth. Ho I* still prodigal of
iu lime, sad lu winter wishes for spring and
citmmer a* though he had seasons to throw
* . ue wishes at night that It was morning,
“,nio U gh he bad too much lime upon his hands,
insphm of Nature to make herdilldren happy,
r-sti |« permitted to Imnglno that tiV I* rich In
the possession of this existence. Ho Is suffered
toted that he Is poor In money, or In furniture,
afln education, or In fame, but ho Is not per
mitted to fed that ho Is poor lu days and years.
He has great stores of that delightful com
modity. Could wo sco tho whole truth lu this
matter wcihould fcoUad to hoar tho ticking of
* clock or tho llrst song-bird of spring because
uch sound* would toll tho heart that Its stay
upon earth was hastening to a close. While In
kindness Nature spreads over the soli this de
sign that It has vast stores of lime, It yet be
comes man's duty to count his day* mid weigh
them far enough to persuade himself to llvo
wisely. He must so number his days ns to ap
ply ds heart unto wisdom.
Our ancestors In drafting and ndoptlng tho
Constitution of their coming Nation broke up
our political Ufo into four-year period*. Ureal
vicissitudes depend, or, what Is about tho «arao
loeffect, seem to depend, upon tho change of
dynasty which must come once In four years,
tad from this accidental fact tho National llfo
tad feelings uro made to How In successive t imes
rather than continuously. In moimrehies tho
assembling mid dissolving of Parliament or tho
accession and death ot monarch* make division*
of national Ufo la a kingdom. Tn our country
tbe Inauguration of n President announces a
new era of greater or loss significance. Such tv
newimiJuUeorliiHucnco having Just emuo to our
Jfstlou it should arrest tho thought of all sober
people la tho street, nr oillcc, or hi tho house of
God. It wa* oaco tho boast of n certain pohoni
ofmonks that they did not know what political
affairs were on hand in their own nation, and did
uotovfii know what King or Queen might bo In
poweruttholrown Capital. Not only tho monk*,
fulsome oftho fathers who gave doctrine mid
fkapo to thoChristlan Church, avowed thoir con
tempt of earthly government. Thu Inlluenilal
Tcrtullmi said: ••Nothing Is more foreign to
me than tho affair* of State." uVcr idln res uhrmi
ndfffjquam Jiubbcti.) Saint Augu*ttno said that
man being about to die should huvo no interest
In bis curttily country. Dean Mllmaii In hi*
bistory of tho Latin Christianity says that tho
total Abandonment of the world with all Its tic*
am) duties advanced tho Christian'* hone of
Miration. Ho also state* that in all tho bloody
battles fought by tho Christians In tho early mid
middle times tho Christians fought in behalf of
Mtno dogma, nnd not to secure freedom or savo
their country. They did not deslro to kill tyrant*
bueonly heretics. Chateaubriand savs: "Habit
Augustine and Oroslus were debat Ing over Pchi
ytinlim while they ought to have been defending
Africa against the desolation of Attita." Trueu*
of Ibis old eimtompt for mundane things still re
main In the Church, Imt, like most oftho ele
ments of immnstlcfsm, it has faded out oftho
modern soul, and 10-dny tho Church,—tho
Protestant Church at least—confesses Its deop
Interest In National affairs and its de
pendence for moral success on tho gen
eral success of too country. Church and
State are hero separated In form only, to bo bet
ter united In the groat work of civilization. Wo
reverse tho maxim of Tertullian and say." Not
hing is nearer to our heart than tho affair* of tho
Nation"; because only In u grout nation cun
there llvo a great religion, or a groat literature,
orn race of great men. It Is tho condition of
all else.
Thai religion may sue Us privilege ami duty it
must indued survey tiio Immediate past and
know what works have been done mid wlmt men
were made noble in such grunt employments.
Lut it must also grasp u part nt the future and
leeltho inspiration of a new era. Men move
more by inspiration of tiio morrow than by a re
flection over yesterday.. llullectlon writes our
histories and philosophies, but Inspiration docs
uurgreat works. TUo winter back of us Is only
idead matter of record; tho spring and summer
before us are fonntalnsof love and hope. What
is buck of man appeals to his memory; what is
before him wakes up his music. It must have
been from such an estimate ot man as a being
who needs inspiration that Charles James Fox
deduced ills conclusion that “ Poetry is the groat
refreshment of the human mlml,“ ‘Mho only
thing after nil." He said “ Poetry bad seven
muses, oratory none." “Tho pouts bad more
truth In them than all tho orators and historians
together." Such pntlsu from such a mind must
hare come from tho conception of tho poetic us
tometblug that awakens tho sluggish human
iplrlt.
Ait Christians, and Indeed all persons who have
passed out of childhood, should Just now look
Into tho'next four years of our country and Had
In tholr outlines incentives to every form ot In
duatryond virtnu and duty. In surveying tiio
future one must assume the probable us being
tho real. No patriot dares wall for a certainty.
The future contains nothing but prospects and
promises.' With this distinction or abatement In
mind we must alllrm that our Nation now secs
before it four great years. Their greatness
comes not from the simple fact that a curtain
man has taken bis seat In the chair of highest
office, but from the convergence of many facts
which have taken shape in the past decade—
which facts are secured now from detriment or
overthrew for a fmir-vear period. Tho new
President brings to Ida olllco intelligence, and
experience, and Integrity, and tho breadth, per-
Uds, of a statesman; but much of the beauty of
luu near inturu tms for tho past decade been
weaving In the loom of time and Is becoming
oow a llnlshed fabric. In the Ilf tours years which
have passed since tho close of tho Civil War, tho
southern States have slowlyapprouehed tho con
'icUon that thulr futurehopesliolnindustryund
education, and not in a peculiar Institution, nor
w the old barbarian pastime of war. Every
year creates a greater harmony between tiio two
civilizations that lie between the gulf and tho
lakes, and the whole tlfteun years together have
brought about a wonderful ulmngo hi mo esti
mate of any one who will remember how slowly
national ur sectional customs pass away. Ah
pne springtime la slowly creeping over the whole
’.vid. beginning now with leaves and blossoms hi
Hurldauud Louisiana and gradually moving
northward, so one phase of civilization Is ns
‘*autlfuJly spreading over our continent, and,
oavhig scattered Us perfume all over tho old
•>avo Hiatus, it will move onward northward to
touch u Canada and westward to redeem a Mcx
w. Thu now President conics not to cause this
“illusion of National character, hut in time to
witneiM the rising of n great people, and in thnu
•ohoip onward tho movement m brotherhood,
in uur South some of tho women, powerful in
Vtochimmts and feeling, mid some men, weak
ii- I “Powerof examining a largo case, con
untie to ollirin that they will never accept of
northern or European views, but will be tho
south 1 furovciV a “Separate South," and tbo
“■jtotouf slaves; but nothing cun bo Idler than
tocb talk, for It Is Hung against tho laws of
aumnn progress.—a snowilake against a planet
at.. Col *rse, How noble our earth appears
"Wn wo recall wlmt tempests have disturbed
fio walcrsl what tornadoes have swept through
what rallwuy-tfiilna have run on its
J£°to day and nighti what armies have
{“"fened In countless ranks and Imvo made tbo
uuii echo to tho mouths of a thousand oiuinon,
lm»i Uu } t JMst ll| o planet has rolled mildly on,
««losing one second of time from all this liu-
Sfiim 0r M°iuenml commuilon. Equally noble Is
m.i, u ii rutt i whenouco thrown out upon its
yho storms of passion which rise must
urn, , mse,voß away and subside; the threats
■idllsh, or the disappointed,or the wicked,
v°°ltoh. must at last sulfur the morlllleu-
Perceiving that (bo world of olvlll-
MUtm u|,i U( ,t cure for them, but rolled
Uua its promise to humanity and Its
ikV 1 • All through our Heuth there moves tu-duy
sweet but powerful, of n new dlspon
iilmm 1 .f ,UJ ll,u “ °f a Nation Is gradually ills
wm, .*f/ l,e °l‘l policy of Independent Htules, aim
1ii,,7„ “•"•urns anothor form of It,comes tho
uf , h ‘ hdun of abrmhcrhotHl. la the couumuus
mi,,„ H °uihorii presß upon tbo recent Inaugu
low»?i a . , { staloof feeling is manifested
out*. >. 10 tocn and the Nation against which
on* 110 could bo too bitter or too muuor-
heel If* r to tbl, ‘ lit sentiment is the pros-
Vo a ‘ U ;,* ou f .more years of peace, tour mere
tint h... Bol<l l,tt money, four years of Presided
liy four years uf Presidential capabll-
Ujo'ri. wifi ’’ atu| d such conditions of success,
Indiiat. lllvo 'iie four more years of thogrouloat
Rhir>i.i y ' #m * liu > must intelligent Industry,
.«» has over marked tho uistory of mankind.
imrn.ai 4 °°> ut «"w« of those elemenU of tbo
Detf»n.i a future. The fact of peace Is almost
Eight. •‘jw.ured. A war ut heme or abroad
t n spring up. but such a disturb
•limn »i . uolj, o pursuits ot society is scarcely
go bounds of 1)1*4 possible, because tbo
Sod has 110 foreign colonies to defend
It'll) adjacent nations to Intimidate, and no
"’•‘“nnwurmviobokoot lu perpetual action.
There are tint lons which have lived by thn sword,
drawn either among the natives of India nr
Africa, hut mir unthm liven for Iho occupations
nr pence. War mint be inrced upon It, mid thou
It accept* nf the calamity Jim us It accepts nr it
pestilence nr mi Imnnhillim. America repel* u
tneJiHtlH Holland drnVn back the Hen.
hi nallmnil life the vtilun of u trend form nl
money Is almost Immeasurable. For production
depends upon mnrliei, and poor In the market
where the inomiv offered the producer
in nf dnulilful ipmlliy. Tho desire to mill
In ulwnyn affected by tho kind of pny
tho (teller Id to receive. When tho doslro
In nell In feeble, o«|iitilly feeble muni be tho mo
tive tn produce. Had money In » perfect index
nf n bud everything. Nothing Is right when Hie
money of n bind poonwmmr.lt being tho typo
nf value*. Itv n singular coincidence. alniiir
with tho improved fueling* of iho Hiatus us to
ward each other, and along with successive
harvest* the widest and heaviest our country
him known, gold him come buck im (ho money of
our Nation. An American paper dollar h
worth a dollar In gold, and In amm an event in
dustry ibid* it* best stimulus. Tho reward of
labor will not be a Huolualliig reward, but will
lie paid out In a torn) good In nil time* and con
tinent*. in republic or empire. The new Presi
dent did not bring this good: he find* It, a* the
ilmil result of tho wisdom of other men mid of
the lung-continued smile of nature, tied, and
not man only, lm* given im gold—lt came from
the harvest Hold.
lieving pence ns a condition mid gold nn tho
shape of payment for all forms of service, tho
four coming year* pii's Into tho bund* of a Pres
ident who seem* to Imre capability and Integri
ty. Capability Implies not only tho power to
watch u treasury or a foreign foe. but n grasp of
mind that can sec a Uulf-titnto ns clearly a* a
Luke-State: that can compare the domain, and
climate, and soil of Texas with thorn qualities of
New York, and can mid t|po want* of the com
ing millions In far-off times. Capability implies
n mind able to seo all the rights and want* ot a
black man. and a white man. and of an Indian,
and the energy which can turn this vision into
action and real achievement, Tho probability,
almost tho certainty, now I* that our chief officer
fiossesscsthlsetihu-ged form of capacity. Assaili
ng that our Nation, equipped with such peace,
and such reliable monev. nnd such an Informed
and able leader. I* passing onward Into a group
of year* where tho public ha* Industry, nnd edu
cation, mid zeal, tho scone in mio which may well
cheer tho heart nnd yol oppress it with n sense
of responsibility.
Tho practical Inquiry come* now, " What
must nur common religion do while It I* passing
Into and through such a groat period'/" Once it
was only u century or a lung reign uftt king that
merited tho term of great, but tho mind think*
and acts more rapidly now, and u decade is ns
large ns an old century, nud n Presidential term
seem* u* full u* nn old lifetime. Wimtls thn
Church to do with those beautiful and Imprcs
blvo years? Only mm answer comes from reason
or revelation,—Christianity must attempt to
entry forward all tho most needed reforms, lu
tho highest welfare of the masse* each one must
Mud tho happiness of self. Tho most universal
of all pursuit* Is happiness. All seek it and seek
it always. Tho sttlcldo is tho only one who Im*
(riven up tho chase. Hu seoksdeath because his
lean ha* become empty nf this love. Hut It has
been demonstrated, again mid again, lu (he ex
perience of humanity, that thu best pleasure In
({Utility and duration is that which come* while
each mind is seeking tho happiness of othor*.
Hence great reform* uro tho noblest path* In
which the Church can walk ns mi aggregate
or u* Individuals. Great iuvo of self 1*
called by alt tho repugnant names. It is self
conceit, or vanity, or egotism, or sollWhncss, nr
arrogance. Language has labored hard to Hnd
an expression of such a form nf unman failure.
It Is called a disease,—an lullrmity; mid. outside
of all svinpatby. It lias furnished food for every
wit mid satirist. Hut tho luvo of others always
walks before u* a goddess. Tho lexicon changes
It* vocabulary and call* till* attachment by such
holy name* a* "philanthropy." "humanity,"
"sympathy," "charity,"—n quality of soul
never touched bv pen of abuse or satire, but
touched always by poet or orator, or optimist,
who desires to exhibit tho gramlcurof man.
It is probable (bat thu deepest of all tho
Greeks mid the third or fourth great mind oftho
world. Plato, meant this when he said that love
was tho source of tho universe. Hu must huvo
meant Hmt not even a God could consent to
spend Ufo in n sulf-happlncss, but was led at
some time lu eternity to project a happiness of
others, and in that to Hnd Ins own.
Ho fur did Pinto carry this Idea
that ho thought tho particle* of Iron nnd
gold tn bn hold togethur by friendship, and time
all tho stars wore companions and sang In ono
chorus the music of tho spheres. In tho midst of
tills Platonic rhapsody wo do seo this, that Had
ing nr making tho happiness of others Is the best
welfare of self. Hut thn pursuit of the nubile
good Is what is meant by tho word •• reform,"
and that Is the path along which tho Church
should Journey In thoso years with mi unwonted
zeal. While an ago of amazing material pros
perity Is doing Its varied work, thu friends of tho
spiritual side of life must move ulongwithequal
step. Tho Ills of our con try to-day are moral
111*. The government Is good, tho money good,
tho demand for labor good, tho harvests good,
tho machinery good; In morals Is tobo found
thu dark page in our dally record. If some nf
thu old church governors were disputing over
I’eluglunisiu white tho barbarian from tho North
was sacking 'thoir towns and murdering thoir
people, *o thorn Is danger that wo clurgy of all
denominations will doilne idea* nnd maku dis
tinctions, while such Atllhis us Intemperance
uml ignorance are sweeping our young men
and mature men into cither early
graves or curly dishonor. A fow women, Mis*
Willard nnd Mrs. Carso, mid u fow others of kin
dred goodness nnd power, uro nmklug a horolo
light against that old and worst Too of man, tmt
In yenra of such light as wo now perceive to sur
round us, tho uprising against instilled liquors,
nt least, should bn as widespread as Intcillgoncu
ami charity. Tho young cannot protect thorn
solves. They have neither tho retluotluu that
secs tho right nor tho will-power that can do tho
right. Tho youth of tho land must be protected
by a wisdom mid action npnrt from themselves.
Even wild beasts defend from uli harm
thoir young. That ought nut to bu culled
a civilization which will permit vllo men
for money gains to retail everywhere
what was well named In tho old dream
" liquid damnation.” A more (Uting name
could not bo Invented. Laws looking to
thu pcfect safety of our youth should be passed
mid enforced, ami city officers should bo found
mid elected who Imvo some conception of tho
vuluo of public morality, nnd who cun sco what
part tho children of to-day uro to tako in tho
drama of to-morrow.
Protestant clergymen rend with delight ail
that any Uunuin Catholic priest, or lllshop, or
Archbishop say* In favor of tumpormieo and
condemnatory of a terrible vice. What Is de
manded to-day inoro than anything else is that
the Homan clergy should stop over that chasm
which old customs, uml old wars, and old poli
cies, and crafty polUloltins (figged between them
and the Protestant clergy; uml should become
public! men, reformers of public moral*. Tho
Protestants would bo inspired by such u com
panionship. mid at tho same tlmo tho Homan
clergy would bo made Into tho bust benefactor*
of thoir own multitudes. A pastor 1* ono who
leads his flock. Thu word is tho Latin of shep
herd. Too much Imvo those Homan pastor*
busied themselves over tho tusk nt leading thoir
Hocks to Heaven, without leading them through
tho boat Held* of earth. It was a question
among tho schoolmen of the middle ages:
Whether a spirit could pass from one point to
another without going through tho Inter
mediate points? The question should
coiuo back to thn clergy of all
names, " Whether u human being can go
from earth to paradlso without tint passing
through some noble uml holy Hold* In till* life ? n
Cun men stagger along through u series of drum
shops and ut last tumble into Heaven through
pearly gates? Evidently tho best way to roach
Heaven Is first to reach (ho best possible condi
tion of earth. Tbo true shepherd must bo moat
concerned about how ho loads Ida Hock in (hose
pastures which spread out this side tho tomb. It
is particularly desirable that the Human clergy
should (<61)01180 tho temperance rolorin because
their voice Is potent with their own people.
Their congregations imvo been trained for gene
rations to doubt tho wisdom of any advice or ar-
guineat or pleading offered by Protestant
clergy, and equally trained to fool that tlio words
from tbolr own priests or ilishnps are wise ns
these of Hod Himself, Tula ureal reform waits
anxiously for tbo tieip of tbo Homan L'alhello
leaders, imd therefore all tbo words which Homo
of (bosu uru now speaking aru worthy of thorn,
and most titling to tha epoch In which wo live.
Time will not permit us to enumerate tho va
rious forma of beneilt which tho Church should
seek to confer uuim society In those prosperous
years. Education of black aud white should be
urantod a muro uenorous aid, and those days
should Inspire many a man of wealth in duvlau
and found Inst I tales, or libraries, or ualleries for
tho publlo culture and happiness. Our wholo
moral philosophy should turn Us lovo toward
tho Immediato spiritual wants of society, and
should urge upon us nil temperauco, upd Indus
try, and economy, and righteousness. If tho fur*
otf Hebrew pout prayed that bo might so esti
mate his days that ho should apply Ida heart unto
wisdom, with what fervor should that prayer be
whispered by hearts whlehllvo In times so urond
as those that nro now passing. Tho opportuni
ties of tho youth of to-day nro such as no other
youth ever saw. What variety ot pursuits!
What wide-spread education I What artal Wlmt
sciences! What Inventions! What |K>litluul and
Intellectual llbortyl Aud what rewards there
are along all tbo paths of modern cqdonvor I To
foresee four great years In such an epoch Is to
K' ico at u period In which a young man may
(hedeep foundation»of a useful and happy
life, lu that short time tbo battle of earth can
be won or lost. To us older onus tint many such
periods will come. Each lute tho appearance of
being a lltml campaign. When tho next chief
otlher shall have come to succeed him who has
just sat down to his duties many of you oldest
ones will have gone from (ho tasks ami privi
leges of this earth. Von nro not persons fond
of any dark survey of tho future, but you uro
pursues who know that tho life wo love has Its
boundaries, and no ulTeuilou of friends aud no
love of this world can prevent us from being the
children not only o( cities, and towns, and
homes, but also children of tbo tomb.
PUOOUI3BSIVI3 OUTIXODOXY,
HRIIMOM 11V TIIK HBV. l>lk THOMAS.
“ A Progressive Orthodoxy " was tbo thomo of
Dr. Thomas* sorntoo to a largo audlenco In tbo
People’s Church yeslorday forenoon. Following
Is tbo discourse In full:
Wo having tbo same spirit of faith, according
as It Is written, I believed and therefore buvo 1
spoken; we also believe, and therefore wo
speak.— U. Cor., Ic., IX
I sometimes fear that tho publlo will grow
wcurvof tbu tedious and often unsatisfactory
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: MONDAY, MARCH M, 1881
discussions of religious belief* no common in
our day. Indeed. 1 know that many nre already
weary, ami they cry out; ••(live im something
by which to live; something on which the heart
may feed; Homcthlng In which the soul may
rest." Ami (his is undoubtedly the tiend ol (be
mre. Hut still lliore nre so many different and
often emillletlng belief*, and so many people
who nan hardly be said to have tiny belief* at
nil, that tho only path to n dearer understand
ing, mid lienee ton clearer faith, seems to lie
across thin Odd of tangled opinion*. It Is true
that there are many who say: ••Let all these
matter* of debate alone, mid wn will go on ami
live by the truth* that nre plain to tho
heart." and (hi*, so far a* the life of religion I*
mcorned, Is well; hut there nre other*, and a
larger class, who live more In their minds, and
hence want and seem to need a dearer under
standing of truth before they can well go for
ward In either thought or life. Thu way seems
dark and they want it made dear: and In so far
ns this cun bu done mo request Is certainly not
unreasonable.
Another difficulty in our time I* that many
thing* have boon held and taught a* u part ol
religion—n part to.be believed along with tho
whoto system of religion* faith—that very many
minds cannot accept; both thoir Intellect* and
Iholr heart* protest, and they say: “ If that Is so.
If those things arc essential In tho Christian be-
lief, then wo are bulked; we cannot go any fur
ther; wo must stop." Ami houco thorn seems a
necessity for a restatement of some truths lu
religion; and this Involve* a dropping off of
sumo of thu old forms of faith, mid a taking on
of Home things that uro now. And when (his Is
attempted tho cry is often raised that such
preachers nro heretics; nr that they are drifting
into Uangeroit* opinions; or that thoy have
nothing certain, nothing positive.
Now it I* into such n troubled time (hat tho
preacher nf tho present day llnds that his lot is
east. In tho midst ol all this doubt ami ques
tioning—this hunger, this want, this criticism—
ho must take his stand and do tho best ho can.
NVbal shall ho do? If ho wholly disregard tho
need of his ago and go along us If there were no
iloniit, no unrest, only those who nro uncon
scious of those things, nr who nro so settled tn
their beliefs ns not to bu moved by thorn, will
care tension to his words. Thoso who most
need Ills help nro left to struggle lu tho wave* a*
bust they can. If ho attempt to carry ulungund
defend all the old ilngma*. lie breaks down un
der tho burden; tho growth of thu age leave*
him hopulesly behind; for some of those old
beliefs cannot be defended; thoy must bo given
up. Thore Is, then. It would seoni, but one way
left open, ami that I* tn " prove nil things, and
hold fast that which Is good"; to love truth
above everything else: to trust himself to tho
life of truth, and to grow with It* growth In tho
world; to vlcld himself to Its mighty currents
ami be tiorne forward.
And In doing (his. It Is becoming anuarent to
very many thoughtful and conscientious mludi
In mir day that there I* a middle way of truth;
that, like our great Mississippi, It-* waters How
tilling near tho centre of tho continent, mid not
off on either border. Ami hence thore I* coming
to tho front what may lie called a broad uml
progressive orthodoxy that refuses tube hound
clown to tho past: nor can it go in all thing* with
what are called tho more radical or liberal
schools. No effort has been made to cull these
minds together mid formulate a creed or state
ment of belief*, mid hence no ono can assume to
speak for all tho rust; and yet there seems tn be
such a guiiernl concurrence or agreement along
certain Maes that tbe boundaries of this new
continent of religious beliefs, If 1 may so cull It,
are beginn.ug to assuiuu a quite dcffnlt shape.
lu tracing the genesis or tho origin nf this
broader belief, we Hnd that it arises both from
within mid without the Cmireh. lu great life is,
of course, from within tho Church; Is a growth;
but It is open to truth from all outside source*
of scholarship, and by those has been mid will
be modified. 'That is, it will accept of facts from
every Held.
When wo look more closely for tho teachers
nnd tho disciple* of this broader orthodoxy, wo
Hnd them scattered more or loss through all (ho
Churches. Indeed, there may he said to bu two
parties In each denomination; a broad mid n
narrow, or a progressive and a conservative, or
un old and a new, or by whatever name you may
call them. It is so In tho Methodist, tho ITeshy-
vmi UIUIIJ* 4t in 111 mu I'll mmi»ji| ||*W • I wo- v
tL'ilnu. tho Congregational. and tho Baptist
Churches. It Id less dellnod in tho Methodist
than In tho others, because Methodism Inn bum
more u church of lifo and experience than of
debate, and has always In tho past allowed it
large personal llberiy with tho clergy. Tho di
visions of Methodism Imvo been over forms of
government, ih tho Protestant Methodists: nr
about, slavery, as uio Church South; or upon
questions of dress, or of lustmtnomal music, or
secret societies, as tho Free Methodism, lint
there nru now quite plainly two parties.—a broad
and a narrow.—though nut formally organized.
In tho Mothodlst Episcopal Church. Tho younger
mini as u rule are entering noon tho broader path
of thinking. In tho HaptistCnurch thore Is tho
close and too open comtminbm party. Initio Pros
bvtorlunihoroaro tho old and tho now schools. In
1d.17 tho Uenural Assembly of tho rrosbyierlan
t'hnrch oat otf four synods mnnborlag seme
lo.UOU members. Tniswas upon tho ground that
they were not orthodox on the diiutrlnea of sin
and tho atonement. A few years ago tho old
and tho now schools sought to come together,
and did unite upon a kind of compromise
ground that allowed a larger personal liberty In
belief. Fifty years or more ago thoro wan tho
broad and narrow party In tho Congregational
Church. Tho extreme orthodox wing became
almost Trl-tholsts In tholr dcllnlllon of tho
Trinity, and this led to tho formation of tho
Unitarian Cnureh In Now England. Tlion thoro
came, twenty-live years ago, tho Ilnshnell de
bate over tho moral view of tho atonement that
came near dividing tho Church again, but fort
unatelv thoro nad boon growth enough in the
Chnreh to tolerate this larger and milder view
of that doctrine, until now It is held and
preaelied by many of their ablest ministers
without trouble or opposition. Hut still thoro
nro within tho Congregation n Church of to-day
two parties.—a onmdamlnarrow party,—though
thoro are no formal lines of distinction.
Nor Is this state of things utmiluol to nur own
country. In Scotland the linos are clearly drawn
in tho debates la tho Presbyterian Church. This
Is seen In tho Uoburtsoii-Snuth case, and the
tendencies of thought nro shown in u volume of
{scotch sermons lately issued. Tho same fact
appears la too Church of England. They have
tho Low, tiio High, and tho Broad Omreli. J'huro
Is this diirerunco, however; tho Church of En
gland Is largo enough in Us reeling* mid Us pul
ley to hold nil three of those parties, and yet re
main mi individual church. Tho Church of En
gland was ho tolerant a hundred years ago us to
permit John Wesley to llvo and the in her min
istry, oven whilst ho was organizing a church on
tho outside, and cutting up mid changing hor
articles of faith to make a creed lor Methodism.
What wo call tho broad or progressiva ortho
doxyds. thou, a growth from within tho Chnroli,
or a*ovolopmcut of tho doctrines or bullnfs
that Tho Church has always held. And as such
Its distinctive or'dltforentlating quality Is that it
Is not willing to accept us (Inal the duilnUlims ot
tho past; It cannot In nil things accept those,
mid hence it gladly accepts tho new mid tho
higher and hotter statements ot truth. Tbuotd
party Inclines to tiblilu more by tho past.
Thoro is, then, a growth of doctrino In tho
Church, it comes from the growth of thought,
tho larger intelligence of tho world, and hcnco
from larger and bettor Interpretations of tho
Hcrlptitrus. Whilst all Christians revoronco tho
Dibit) as thml authority in manors of religion,
still tho understanding of thoßlblols necessa
rily shaped somewhat-by tho imeillgem.-u and
moral sentlmunt of ouch ago. Thus In tho ages
of despotlHin mid slavery tho lllblo was con
st mod to favor tnosa forms of society, in times
whan man know little or nothing of geology and
astronomy thuy brought in the lllblo to support
tholr narrow views. And tho same bus boon
true in tho great thoughts of religion. - And
hcnco with tho growth ot knowledge thoro has
boon a growth of dnotrlno. The doctrine of tho
ittuncmunl, to which 1 referred hist Sunday, be
gun hi tho thought that Christ gavo Htmae I to
Hatiiu us a ransom for tho souls of men. This
belief lasted for many centuries. Then It was
taught that Ho died to satisfy Justice, —
that tho penalty of mans transgression
was actually executed upon Him. and
that this was necessary to reconcile Clod
and to make it possible fur ibid to for
give sin. Many bollove this yet. Thou tho death
of Christ was explained to bo a governmental
net lu which tho equivalent to a penalty was
paid; and later still that tho death of Christ was
suuh a declaration of Justice us secured tho ends
of penally, (hid eonldt bus bo Just mid tho Jus
tiller of him that behoves In Jesus, for In Joans
(led Is Huen in all tire strength of Justice and
tho tumlerncss and vicariousness of luvo coming
forth to save sinners: and belief In this, accept
ance of Qod us thus revealed, Is salvation; It Is
coming Into tho llfu of Christ. And thus wu see
that this one doctrine has traveled along for
hundreds of years, and. Ilka tho human umhryo,
has boon one thing at ono stage and another nt
a later period: hut liko tho embryo It has hud
Ihogcrmof a high life within, but it has taken
u long time to reach its proper development, to
reach tho time of Us birth. It was at one lime
or stage of development Satanic, at muilhor
penal, uihl Inter it was governmental, mid now
nt last It is the love of Hod in nil Its vicarious
ness and sutfuring coming forth to save sinners;
to save them from sin: to huvo thorn Into
tho love and life of Christ bythu power of tho
Holy (Jhost, and to thus bring thorn Into tho
grout law of vlearlonsnes*. of thosutfcrlngsof
love one for tho other. This rovuals Hod in His
lullnuss. Hod us Father, us riavlor. coming forth
In saurltlco to save; It reveals the great moral
order of tho universe lit which all worlds uud all
beings, unguis and men, uro bound lu ono law,—
tho law of love. . .
Another uxamplo ot tho growth of orthijdoxv,
or of belief In luo Churches called orthodox, Is
found lu tho doctrine of endless punishment. It
was formerly maintained that Hell was a litoral
lake of material tiro Into which tho souls and
Undies of tho wicked woro cast, 'l lils was tho
touching of* both tho Catholic oud Protestant
Churches; and no language or figures wore 100
strong to sol fortbThc Intensity and tho severi
ty of tiio punishment, President 1* Jwurds com
pares Hull to u literal furnace of the greatest
heat; and speaks of entering Us dour, thonof
being lu Its tlumesfor ono minute, and fur llf
teen minutes and an hour, and a day and a
year, and a forever. Jeremy 1 uylor says
that “ If all tbo trees In tho world were put la
one heap and set on flro ho would rather burn
there till tho day of judgment than to sulfur for
quo hour in tho lire ot Hell." A Itmiuu Catholic
writer savs Hint tlie llre of HHI I" "'> Intense Hint
If om* spark wen* to fall Into nun of nor ocean*
it would dry It up and Inirn the worM. Now
Iroin them terrible views Hm Ghiireli ha* grown
iiwiiv until tho more thoughtful no longer In*.
IK'VC llicin, although they m iv Mill remain In
llm writing* of Edward*. nml WeMcy, iu;i| Clark,
mid now orthodox »Uvlih.*s maintain Unit nny ex
istence that God will permit to eonilmie for
ever mint he better llinii no existence. It win
formerly taught hy nnmy Hint nil Hio heathen
would he huts hut now wo (In*) tho belief going
tho other way, nml lho thought I* gaining
ground that mily tho few may full of Heaven «t
last: Hint compared to tho saved tho number of
tho lost will bo vorv few, but n< tho malefactor*
of tho universe. It was formerly laiiuht that
nil men werti deserving nf eternal death be*
(■nn*e of tho Hin of Adam: it was
taught Hint sin was of Intlnlt dement.—
Hint each Hin deserved eternal pmilsh
menu anil that It wa« for tho fins of this life
that houls would nutter eternally. Now it I*
elnimed that men are not nml cannot he* gnlllv
i for Adam’s sin, but only for tholr own sins, nml
Hint eternal punishment will rout upon eternal
sinning.
Tho some general fact of a progressive ortho
doxy limy he Keen In Its broader Interpretation*
of thA doctrine* of tho Creation: In Welding the
point nl tho "Six-day thoory”: and In thy ad
mission by many of thu theory of a Thclstic
evoluilon: and In tho broader ground in refer
eneu to tho Inspiration of tho fiibie.
Now. In all this we have seen n growth of doc
trine and Inspiration.—a growth that In many
lustipiees may be said lo bo an entire change.
And we have seen that this growth is from with
in tho Church. Homethncs It has broken away
nr been driven out, nml hail to form Itself Into
u new Church: Kometlmes it bus been an al
most unroiweliiUH growth of drifting from
lbo old Hicorles, Many of those old theories
urn In form Mill In Hie (.'bundles: ami over Home
of them there I* going on a struggle. Homo still
maintain tho old ideas; others who (tin) thov
have grown away from thum kny nothlmr about
it: others think that to behuuest thoyshould
leave HtolrHlmrches and go to some
more liberal. Others attain claim that tho duty
of growing men Is tu May In (ho Church, and If
the Chureli is not broad enough to hold the
growth ol truth, try to make It broader.
This Is tho position of tho progressive school,
or cf tho broader orthodoxy. Jt claims to be
orthodox: that Is. to hold to Hid liviiur vital
doctrines of religion: It holds to tho doctrine*
of tho Church In tholr advanced and perilled
form*. And It claims tho-right to do this, that
In doing so it is maintaining tho present. Hio
the real or living faith nf tho Church: and that
In doing this It Is serving host tho cause of
Christ. It claims tho right to do this in tho
Church. It Is not only a right, but a duty: that
Is, If tho old oi-g.uil/.atlims are to lust.
Those change-* arc not a loss, but a very great
gala, to tho cause* of religion. This Is tho answer
to Hiteptleism nr inlldellty, when It says Hmt Hio
Church has no truth because it Is changing Us
positions cr It* forms of belief. Wo reply: yes.
we change, or we advance with tho growth of
tho world: nml this Is an evidence that wo aro
not dead: that we have something that has life
Init. and liciil-u that can grow, if It he asked
why too Church did not understand from tho
lirst,womuy ask why did now Science under
stand. Ilm It is enid tho Church had the Iliblc;
that Is trues but Science had Nature—G.id'a
oilier great revelation. Wo aro moving along ns
best we cun. It is also (ho answer to those in Hio
Church who rear that truth and religion may
nutter by those changes. They may for tho time
hi sonic eases,—tiuit In, Individuals may Butter:
but truth will bo strengihuned. Hoes any one
think now that tho Church could prosper were
It to stand for all Hio old Ideas of l.iKKi or WW
your* ngn? Certainly not. And simply because
tho world has grown uwny from those Ideas. To
to defend them now would bo worse than
a waste of time. And ono of Hm great
est weaknesses of Hio modern pulpit is found
In Its apologetic position In reference to many
things that it would still hold on In. but which
are no longer defensible; In Its efforts to prove
the Hlble critically infallible In nil parts, nr to
make Hio Hihlc teach science; or to still etlng to
n penal atonement, or strictly endless punish
ment.
Tho progressive orthodoxy has tho limnonsn
advantage of freeing Itself from these hard mid
Impossible tasks, in doing this It comes to n
point where li can meet and welcome rim great
good sense and good heart of humanity. Taking
tho broad view that tho Scriptures contain tho
Word nf God—that they give uti tho revealed
will of God. that they aru tbo rule ot life, that
thov tell bs of God. of Christ, and tho future
world, Hio general Judgmentof Christina nations
1h willing to assent; and all this discussion about
tho litbtu becomes one, not ot religion In any
essential sense, hut of literature und criticism,
und Its general moral power Is not disturbed. And
so of tho atonement. Tim view that reveals God
ns love, God tw Father making cost of Himself
to save Hm children,—coming In tho person
of Christ to stive tho World.-Mdlencea skepti
cism. Men cannot argue against (.*., fur tiioy
cannot argue against love. They may fail to
reall/.o It or to believe It fully; hut tboy can
have no motive to oppose It, It does not hurt
thu moral consciousness of men by tho Injustice
of punishing tho Innocent to save tho guilty:
but ltdnus melt Hm huarl because Hm Innocent
Christ comes Into suttermg to fltive sinners.
And so. too. of thu dectrinc of future punish
ment; thu broad orthodoxy discards "all dm old
mid tumble Ideas of 1 lei) that make Hm concep
tions of God impossible: but it holds to Hm
strength and justice of Dlvino government: it
believe* and teaches that law has Us penalty.
Hint slit will bu properly punished in thu world
to oomo, and Hint if souls sin forever Hmy must
slitter forever. And in this belief broad ortho
doxy has with it Hie general faith of mankind.
Hut broad orthodoxy docs not nilirm Unit tho
tliml and Irreversible doom of all souls Is llxc.l
nt tho moment of death. It leaves the souls of
mon In Hm hands of a Just God und Fathor. It
cannot ask Hio world to bullovo that tho black
LIMIUUb nan .¥*..... ... uu., w. Vi ...... ...V
pall of despair has settled forever upon all thu
uncounted millions of tho past who have died
in tholr sins. It believes that tho love of God
tills nil tho past, and nil tho tninro, and It looks
with hope that God's saving work will go on
through Hm cturtntl years.
And In them thing* It is quitoßnfu to sav that
thu progressive ortuodoxy expresses very large
ly tho real faith of uuritgu. This Is the llgnt In
which tho grout muss of intelligent men and
women view the Illhlo. and Christ,and tho fut
ure world. Ann us such It is (ho real, tho living
faith of tho age. As such It makes n living min
ium*.—a positive ministry. His mo volcingof
the faith of tho people. It needs not (o be
apologetic, nor to bo always on the defense, for
it appeals to Hio good semo and thu mural con
viction* of mankind, (t holds sacred even*
great spiritual doctrine of repentance, and
prayer, und pardon, and regeneration, and hull
ties*. And In all this we have good reason to
rejoice. Homo tuny fear that truth will
mitter, or that their theories may fall: hut tho
real truths of religion are not sutterlng.
All this change means growth: It mean* that
tho doctrines of religion are being unfolded:
that they mo coming out into n clearer light and
In mure beautiful forms. It means that religion
is putting ott tho old garments that so disfigured
•ho fair laeo of Christ and God und thohopoof
of tho future, nod is coming to Hio people In
such wards, and principles, and experiences, nml
hopes as shall win thoir hearts and rule tholr
Hvus. These grout beliefs of tho sen), unbur
dened und sot free, will uioru und inoru bit
spoken. Holeased from Hio fear of censure and
ostracism, mankind will tell of tholr simple
trust In God's Word: of tholr Joy In Ills love, und
tholr hope In tho future. Not ns n form will
thoso tilings bo said, (nuns Hio deep faiths of
Hio heart. And than will religion cease lo he u
debate, a controversy, and become u life of lovo,
and hope, and guod (feeds.
TRUTH AND FREEDOM.
HKHMON I»V THE UF.V. G. C. MII.N*.
Tholtov. George 0. Mlln preached to a very
largo congregation In Unity Church yeUorday
morning. Following Is tho sermon lu full:
Yc ahull know Iho truth, amt the truth shall
make you froo.—Jo/m, vllf., ■!?.
Thus«lUl Jesus encourage certain "believing
Jews" to follow him ns disciples. They should
grow thereby,—that Is, through tholr association
with Him,—lnto u knowledge of truth, and be re
warded with that spiritual liberty which truth
always begets. You will observe ut unco tho
two-told naluro of the promise: First, “Yu
shall knew the truth "; and, second, " Thu truth
shall nmku yon free!" Knowledge of tho truth
and freedom hero stand In tho relation of cause
and oirect. Freedom from tho tyranny of super
stition, of oorumonlal rites, and from the servi
tude of4dn Is Iho boon promised to all who on
alavo themselves to truth. An exchange of
Inmdugo Is ottered. Thu cruel shackles of error
shall give way to the gentle bonds of truth; the
grievous human of sin shall lie replaced by the
burden that Is easy and tho yoke that Is light.
Now. such a promise Is toe fnllof slgnltlcnneu to
all of us to be a mutter of hidururonee. We are
all in bondage to some extent. Thu clunking
of sumo old superstition, the rusty unm,teles ot
some elteio dogma, or It may be tho Iron grasp
of some darling sin, Holds every soul in willing
orunwilllng bondage. 1 suppose there is no
Hunl here or anywhere but leels at times the
pressure of sumo despotic impulse, tho dialing
lirusenee of some tyrannous Inclination; no soul
int knows what It Is to sigh (or greater self
control, fur more complete emancipation from
Inherited and developed superstitions, for more
enure victory over those easily besotting sins
which accost us at every turn of life and em
bitter our Highest Joys. From every mortal
heart at some time tho aspiration alter liberty
has arisen, mid Inmi every human tongue the
cry, "Oh, Unit 1 wore free I Oh, that I wore
more completely mister of myself!" has ut
some time ascended to Heaven. And so the
word of Jesus comes tons with all Us benign im
port to-day, proposing to eitclt uf ns a "way of
freedom," and opening to suit* gasu a career of
unlimited liberty. " Ve shall know the troth;
follow Mo and I will lendymi Into It, and so at
last yon shall be brought (o freedom," fur " the
truth shall nmku you free." And 1 conies* that
It was with u feeling that for all uf us alike this
promise Is erndous beyond expression that 1
determined to call your minds to It tu-day.
Now, before wo go on toward the heart uf this
subject, it will perhaps bo well to notice a sim
ple fact, by which this great truth Is happily
limited. It la this: Thutreedom which follows
knowledge of iho truth is not conditioned upon a
possession ot absolute truth. That there Is suen
a thing us absolute truth I suppose wo shall ul
agree, however tor away trout It wo may feel
ourselves to be. Thu exact and entire truth lit
regard to objects, the exact nature of sentient
bbmgs. the reality of (iod and.of eter
nity, and nut our faint approximations
to those realities, may be spoken of
us the absolute truth. Absolute truth, thou,
Uexhaustive and complete: audit haves noth-
lug In tho dark, hut solves nil problems and
elucidate* all iiivhlctl'-h. And bo. for this very
reason, it l*i something beyond tho reach of finite
Intelligence, As Herbert Spencer truly say-:
HosiHve knowledge docs not and never cm
till Hie a bide region of posulble thought. At the
uttermost reach of dlseovery there arises, and
iim-leverim--;-. thorniest Inn, Wlml lies beyond V
And I hup|nhii that every great thinner the
world has produced has shared tho humility of
Sir Isaac Newton, who nald. when he considered
tho intlnlt reach of Truth, that he "fell himself
lo tie but a little child gathering pebbles on thu
shore of this far-reaching sea.” "The truth."
nays Frederick llohertsou In one of his earnest
and vigorous sermons." Is Inflnlt ns Hie ilrmn
inent above. In childhood, both seem near
and measurable: but with years thov grow
and grow, and seem farther and larthor off. and
grander, and deeper, mid vaster a* Hod himself,
till vou smile to remember how you thought you
could touch tho nkv. mid blush to recollect Hm
proud and self-sutllclent way tu which you u«cd
iotaik of knowing or preaching tho truth!"
And so I do not think Jesus meant to tench Hint
nt some future time In tho experience of Hm
men before Him. In some enlarged sphere of
being, perhaps tboy should cornu into a statu of
ahsoimo freedom, through Hie attainment of
truth In Its entirely. This would have been like
ottering a child tho stars for marbles nt sneh
time as it could grasp them In Its liny (Ist. and
would hnvo disheartened rather than encour
aged those whose dlseipleshlp He sought.
The Idea which seems to me to lurk In these
words.— an Idea, by tho wav. far mnro practical
than tho one Just mentioned,—ls: that tho truth
should make them free in exact proportion to
tho extent of Its possession by them, and Its
authority over thorn. Mark well tho terms I
use. • Its possesion by them, and its authority
over thorn.* iiotli to possess and to obey tho
truth is to llnd the freedom of tho truth. l,ot
mu enlarge upon this thought.
We hco readily how tho possession of truth
liberates (ho mind from tho upposlt of truth.—
Hint Is. error. Take a physical lllustnittou. A
child ascertains in its school days that water,
obedient toun Inherent force, hnsadlstiuct disin
clination to (lowing up-hill, and it very decisive
habit of running down-hill whenever opportu
nity itttord*. Now, tho nciiiiHHnn of that much
truth liberates tho child's mind from foregoing
darkness upon tho subject, and saves It from
any future expectation of seeing the meadow
brook run noisily to tho hill-top. Or. If an
Illustration on n larger scale be sought, we
need only consider our own experience. One
by one wo have learned loqult this or that prac
tice, to deny ourselves (his or that Indulgence,
localise as the truth In regard to our physical
being, and as to Hio ottcctof certain courses of
conduct was borne In upon us. we learned HuU
In abstinence here and temperance there lay tho
1 path of health and happiness. And so wo came
to know tho truth, and tho (ruth gave us our
freedom.
And tho sumo law holds In tho moral realm.
Vice. whim. Hls llnlshed. produces misery. "At
the last it bfteth like a serpent mid stingeth like
an udder!" 'Tis a sure, sweet poison, and holds
such deadly enmity with blood of man that,
pwlltu* (piieksllver, It courses through nil tno
natural gates and alleys of tho body, and sows
Hio seed of death! Hut vice is often tho child
of Ignorance. How many carry with thorn
tho stamp of vice Into which sheer
Ignorance has led thorn. Hut Ignorant vice
is ns Inevitable In its results for the vicious a*
Hio sin which proceeds from Intelligence. "The
soul that Hlnnutb It shall die*' Is an utterly In
dexible law. And when tho truth comes to a
soul thus Ignorantly beguiled Into sin. wnen the
law which hits been Infringed unknowingly Is re
vealed to It. and alight shines Miowlug Hio In
glorious ond of vice and (ho felicitous culmina
tion of virtue, at that hiiiiiu instant tho way of
freedom ts opened to tho captive's feet. Thus
the truth set free Hio ancient prodigal. He saw
his offense of it, roull/.ed (ho evil of bis way,
and, turning from It. was nmdo free.
Permit me to urge another Illustration of this
universal law. Wu see to-day on every hand
(ho crumbling of ettctu theologies. Obsolete
language and obsolete ideas In theology are In
our day going to tholr long homes, and there arc
nut many mourners In ibo •treats. My own
dear friend, tho Uev. Thomas U. Hllccr.
of Krooklyn, of whoso pure and
.excellent character I cannot speak
ton highly, ns I cannot praise ton much his in
tellectual grasp and spiritual insight. Is tho last
conspicuous person who bus given us u con
crete illustration of this law*,—that truth liber
ates tho mind In proportion to Us possession by
tho mind. Mr. Sheer oncu bclluved. I suppose,
hi n divided God; ho ones believed In mi im
ploring Ami ns coaxing an angry Father to let
tho slmior ntfscott free; ho onco believed In an
eternal Hell; ho ongc believed m a commercial
atonement by which (ho sinner Is bought ott
from Ids righteous Judge! Hut lie no longer so
believes. Why? Why, because he has thought!
Hu bits studied God In tbo face of His noblest
Son.—Jesus,—and cannot lunger belicvo tho
harsh things ihat some still continue to think,
though they dim* scarcely say thorn. Tho voice
of Jesus has called him. and ho
has arisen to shako all tho
grave-clotho* of n dead theology I
Tho troth has made him free. Tho truth taut
(lodis love liberates him (rum tho error that
God Is hate, and that Is tho absolutely necessary
postulate of uu denial Moll. Thb truth that
ehuVacter Is salvation liberates him from tho
error of thinking that uny man can be lifted Into
n heaven whose candles bo bus not ilrst lit him
self. Tho truth uttered In his soul by tho eternal
"Word"—God bless him—has freed him from
shivery to tho totter of tho written word. Thus
Ims ho gradually and by no forced growth, and
In tho spirit of love, uttering no unkind
word to those who still linger In Egypt. outer ml
Into the promised land of liberty! And X only
hope that God may lead him into a career so
grand and useful that Its sweet comfort and
uclilevominit may tuku tho sting tram every
bitter thing Hint may bo said of him. even ns my
own asylum with you, and your grand, loving
welcome, Ims umilu mo Inditterenl to thu en
venomed words of ninny u narrow mind.
And now let me press tho othor half of this
law upon you. Trial obedience to tho authority
of truth is essential to Us freedom. "Ho that
dooth My will shall know of the doctrine” is
susceptible of a paraphrase like this, “ lie that
ohuveih tho truth shall know Its freedom 1"
When tho soul of Washington glowed with tho
truth that tyranny Justifies revolution, had tie
Hi ted no hand to strike Hm tyrant, wmirc would
•• Independence" Imvebir i? Ho knew tho truth,
hu obeyed tno trutb.und mo truth gavu freedom
to himself and his countrymen forever. Tho
groat Hrjghton preacher, whoso aid 1 hnvo be
fore Invoked, pays hi one of his loiters: "Tho
way of reaching now truth Is by obeying tho
truth yon know." And he might have said its
truly that knowledge of tho irnili without loy
nUvtolts dictates but aggravates tuohelnons
ness of vice. Give a man hUolhrenco on
any subject, unit disobedience lo the light he
has makes his offense doubly odious. And so
we ppu aud appreciate tho righteousness of that
word of Josns, "Timtservant which knew his
lord's will und prepared nut himself, neither did
according to his will, shall be beaten with many
stripes. Hut he that knew not, and dkl commit
things worthy of stripes, shall ho beaten with
few (•tripos.”
And now with this truth before us. what, let
mo ask vou. appears to bo tho great duty of life
for all of us? What loss that} to Book for tho
truth throughout thu world, und, having found
It.tuohcyii. "Huy thu truth." Uuytcatuny
price, hut buy It. "and sell it not!" Oh ]yo strong
men, sell it not. Sell It not In tho marts of
trade for money: sell It not In tbo courts of law
for success: sell it not for thu momentary thrill
of sinful pleasures; sell It mU for place, for
fame, for nrtl'unmmtl Vou remember tho lino
line which HuK *r X-ylton puts Into Itlchdlcu'n
mouth; • *,
Franco, X lovo thoe!
All earth shall never pluuk tlioo from my imurll
My mirnniM Francm my wedded wife, sweet Prance:
Wnu shall proclaim divorce for thou uua mu/
Omy friends, would to God wo nil might foci
like changing that word " Franco " fur tho word
" Truth," and saying:
Truth, 1 lure thoo!
All earth snail never pluck thee fra to my honrtl
My mistress. Truth) my wedded wife, sweet Truth]
Who shuU proclaim divorce lor thee und mu?
1 need scarcely mid at tho dose that our quest
fortnttlt should bo made In a doolie, a loving, a
fearless spirit,—decile, that wo may quickly tlnd
it, for truth comes soonest* to tho hnmblu and
sincere; loving, that wo may patiently bear the
weakness of others and bo quick to help nttr
fellow-learners; fearless, that hell Itself may
not shako ns In our object. Thou, though loyal
ty to truth lend to ostracism, wo shall not quail.
Secure In Iho secret Joy of one who has a hidden
treasure wo can answer tho harsh und thought
less world:
Ibmst not. ye sons of Karth,
Nor look with oenrnrai eyes;
Above year highest mirth,
XI)- secret Joy* 1 prUo.
For. though my cap scorned tilled with gnu,
A secret something sweetens all.
And though we seem to fall; though at times
wu may think the stream of progress maybe
slopped; though tho Truth seems to fall helpless
anu bleeding at our (out,—ours still the Inspir
ing prophecy:
Truth mutual |n onrtlt shall rise ngttlui
Thu eternal years uf tied are hors.
It ut Krror wounded wmliat lit pain,
Ami dies amid her worshiper*.
Y. M. O. A.
KIU-ST manner CON'I'KIUiN'Ctt.
g}*c(al Dbpatffi (a Tht Vhieagu Wbum.
UvANfitON, 111., Mu rob IS.—Tho oonforonoo of
the Young Mon’s Christian Asmolalloii for tbo
First District closed this evening after u most
prolltabloandsuoeossrul session of three days.
Most of tbo delegates of tho two preceding days
remained over, uml tbo audlenoos wow niuob
larger because of ibe day being Sunday, lit
tho morning but ouo mooting was held, aomi*
vorsatlon mooting, wblob preceded llio regular
morning service, and was lod by* Mr. J. W, Dour,
ot Chicago. In tbo urtornouu, at i o'clock, a
(iospcl mooting was bold In the
Methodist Church. Mr. b. D. >VUb*
ard, of Now York, discussed tbo valno
of personal work. In wblob bo contrasted it
favorably us regards tbo results from pryaubing
or addresses. At tbo Unto tlmu, In tbo Presby
terian Church, u children's mooting was held, in
which tbo members present generally took part.
Singing and abort addresses wore tbo order of
tbo hour. Tbo evening service was held In tbo
Methodist Church. At 0:16 a union people s
meeting was held, lod by tbo Uov. A. Whalen.
This was followed at 7:!W by a union service, at
which addresses worn made by b. D. Wisbard,
tbellcv. Mf. ration, WIJ. Midler, and others.
In a Western paper wo observe: Mr.Uoorgn
F. Ileldcrle. of mu, Inti., aaya that ho Inul
sulferod very much with rheumatism unci
used many remedies without bcnelit. bt.
Jacobs Oil gave Him tho relief sought.
SOCIAL ECONOMICS.
Physical and Technical Education of
Children Demanded.
Hie City Council Asked to Organize a
Statistical Labor Ilurcaii.
List of Municipal Nominations Made by
the Socialists.
A mnssmeetlmrofUto Hoclallsts of tho city
was held yesterday afternoon at No, fit West
Luke street. There were about 150 persons
presunt and a fair representation of Indio*. .Mr.
George M. Sloan was unanimously elected Chair
man and Paul Ehmiui was designated to olllciuto
ns Secretary. The business first brought before
tbo meeting wns a report submitted by Joseph
Griienhut, of tho Committee on Legislation, em
bodying tho following resolution, which wns re
ferred to a committee consisting of Aid. Meier,
Organizer T. .1. Morgan, and tho Chairman of the
English Section of .Socialists, Mr. Sloan:
Whkuras, Apprenticeship has been virtually
abolished In most trades, occupations, and em
ployments In tbls city, and the present genera
tion of young persons of both sexes have been
deprived of tho opportunities, chances, und
means of learning a complete standard trade
and occupation, by which they could support
themselves and In duo time bring up a family
In decent circumstances, hoard some savlngsfnr
sickness, accidents, old ugc. lock-outs, strikes,
commercial crises, and other unforeseen Inci
dents of Industrial life: therefore be U
/taotmi. That wo deem It timely to ask tho
Hoard of Education to prepare a practical ohm
to amend tho course of Instruction In our public
schools so as to afford physical training and
leehleal education to tho whole class of male
and female pupils: devoting three hours a tiny
to bniin-wurk.nud thren hours a day to physical
and mechanical (raining.
LABOR STATISTICS.
Organizer T. .1. Morgan moved tbo following
draft of nn ordinance, widen was referred to
Aid. Meier (Sixteenth Ward!. Sloan, and Morgan
to report tho sumo to the Mayor and Common
Connell:
lie il nnhiUiul, etc,. That tho Mayor, na bead of
tho City Governmenl, shall appoint a competent
statistician to gather, assort, systematize, and
present In seml-anmml reports before tho first
dav of January and Julv to tho Common Coun
cil statistical details relating to all departments
and kinds of labor. Including all forms of occu
pation. service, or employment In this city,
especially in Its relations in the Industrial, com
mercial. social, educational, and sanitary condi
tions of tho laboring classes, and to tbo pro
ductive and distributive business of tho popula
tion of Chicago.
Conics ot nil reports pertaining to tho subject
of this ordinance shall hu sent to tho llureuu of
Statistics of Luiior and Employment from nil
depart ments of tho City Government.
The sum of itVUd shall be appropriated for tbo
niuimcnaneo of this Bureau, which shall be
organized within ten days from tho passage of
thn ordinance.
It was stated that the Trado and Labor As
sembly’ appointed a standing committee to urgo
upon ihu Common Council tho passage of nn or
dinance for tbo creation and malntennneo of a
Municipal llureuu of Statistics of Labor and
Employments.
Aid. Muter stated that tbo Committee would
have to work out tho details of such an ordi
nance. tho Common Connell being overwhelmed
■by tho work of revising tho cltv ordinances and
making tho annual Appropriation bill and other
electioneering work.
TIIE NEW PLATFORM.
Mr. Morgan read tbo now platform and declar
ation of principles of the parly which were
adopted bv n .Socialist Convention which met hi
tho same hall last Thursday evening. They em
brace thu principal parts of tbo old platform ami
declaration, but arc much shorter und more
forcible in language than It.
After sumo discus-don tbo platform was rati
fied with great applause.
ALPERMANIC NOMINATIONS.
Tho Secretary ihon mndo known fur tbo first
time tho following mmiluatlous niado by tbo
Convention Thursday evening, and each was
ratified without n single dissenting vote: Mayor,
George Schilling: City Clerk. Paul Ehnmn; CRv
Attorney. Ucargo M. .Sloan; City Treasurer. .).
C. Warner. Aldermen—First Ward, John Mein
josh: Second. Jacob filasser: Third, left to tho
Central Committee to make tbo nomination:
Fourth. Arthur Hunt: Fifth. T. .1. Morgan;
Sixth.no nomination; Seventh, Samuel Gold
water: Elghtn, loft to tho Central Commuter*:
Ninth, S. It. Pratt: Tenth. John Tun so: Eleventh
and Twelfth Wards, no nominations; Thirteenth.
Charles Wheeler: Fourteenth, John Blake;
Fifteenth. Adolph Wnltman: Sixteenth, C.
Meier: Seventeenth, John Keaunii:,Eighteenth,
no nomination.
The West Town ticket was left for tho Central
Committee to make up.
'i ho following was unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That Ibis meeting of Industrial and
social reformers of Chicago recommend to tho
agitators* of tho Socialistic Labor movement to
call upon tho masses of tho voters of all polit
ical parties in tho several yvnrds and divisions of
tbo cltv to participate in tho agitation of tho
labor questions In tbo Socialistic meetings in all
parts of tbo city.
Messrs. Morgan, Mclntosh. Schilling, and
others made ton-mlnuto speeches, after which
tho meetluft adjourned.
A NEW JUDICIAL CIRCUIT.
Special Piipnteh.to The Chlcai/o Tribune.
Watkutown, W 13., March KJ.—Tito Legislature
has just organized n now Judicial Circuit,
tho Thlrtooiitli. comprising tho Counties of
Dodge. Washington, und Ozaukee. Tho Judge
ship provided for Is quite an acceptable posi
tion, us. tho circuit being comparatively small,
tho duties of Judge will not bo very onerous or
burdensome. Thu circuit is overwhelmingly
Democratic, uml It Is not surprising that several
Democratic gentlemen arc aspirants for tho
ermine. The Hem. 15. C. howls, of Juneau. Is
the most pruniinontlv tnmuionetl thus fur for
tho nomination. Thu Mon. 11. W. Lander,
of Heaver Dam. is talked ol ih a candidate. Tho
Mon. A. Scott Slonn, cx-Alloniey-Gcneral, of
Heaver Mam, It is expected, will run as an In
dependent candidate. Tho Memocratio Conven
tion for tho nomination of a cundidato forJudgo
will he held at Hanford. Washington County, on
Wednesday, March 151. At tho present outlook
tho chances scorn to favor tho nomination of
Mr. Lewis. Ho is un old member of tho Dodge •
County Har. und well known throughout tho en
tire district. Thu Hepubilcaiis of tho circuit
wilt probably determine to phieu a candidate in
tho held. In which event It is not nnlikelv mat
tho linn. L. F. Frlsby, of- West Hend. will 1»o tho
nominee,—a gentleman of excellent- legal at
lalnmoms. and tn every way well ijualltled tn till
tho position.
Tho election for Judge of tho Thirteenth Cir
cuit will tie held on tho Urst Tuesday In April, iih
tho time when it Ciiicl-.lustlce mid an Associate
Justice of tho Supreme Court are elected. Tho
new Judgo takes his seat In January next.
OFFICESEEKERS IN WASHINGTON.
7li Ihi VJUorof Tiie CMtago tUtmno*
Quincy, 111., .March Pi.—Vonr cdllorlitl In tho
dully ol tho Uth Inst, under tho above title doubt
less contains too much truth us to tho sort of
patriots who tiro now clamoring, llguriug, uml
trading for positions. Hut Is not somebody else
to blame for such u stuto of things?
Suppose a good and In every way worthy man,
who deserves und wants an appointment, keeps
away trout Washington, or does not send or
have somebody there to “figure" for him, Ims
he any show? Is It not a fact that n “ bummer,"
with the cheek of a brass statue, is tho success
ful oillce-gutter?
Huolmmui, Immediately after tils Inaugura
tion, gave tlio crowd who then gathered .there
notice that the wav to gut utt appointment win
to keep away irom Washington. I was in Wu*h
litgton at that time, a looker-on und a Homtb
liuan. I), hut It was fun to u few nt us outsiders
to see tho buys “ollnin out" of Washington and
swear anybody was a liar and villain who said
(buy had over ueoii In that city.
All tho would-be oilleehnfders are nut in
Washington. It would Just be fun for thorn to
have President Ourtlold ask tho “rollers" to
“git" for homo. A , .
It would be rough on restaurants and saloons,
and leave Washington In Its nurmnl dullness
when Congress Is not In session. Uutsiukii.
INDUSTRIAL ACTIVITY AT PITTSBURG.
tfptdat Übpalch to The Chicai/o Tribune.
Pirrmumn, Pa., March 13.—A gentleman slated
lo*duythut tho Anderson Biool*WorkM In Ibis
elty have actually boon Mold to a Now York com
pany, wtio will imt fI.UJO.UOO or fii.uoo.lXMi into ttiu
business of making stool by the Blemons proe
ms, which hut boon tested hero mid found to
work udmlnibly. U is also Mlutod, upon good
uuiliorlty, Hmt u company Ims boon organized In
this diywHli a view to purchasing ibo i works
mid patent right* of lbo Jnloriocking Switch
and Hlgnal Company of Harrisburg. upd remov
ing tbo ImslncHS to Pittsburg. TbuuowCuuj
itany Is negotiating tor tbo building and grounds
(if tbo indwell I'luw* Works, and will itommmici)
manufacturing operations within a tow weeks,
WAR AND MATRIMONY.
gprclai VUixitth to The Vhuago Tribune.
I.akaykttb. Ind., March W.—Mrs. David H.
dray, uf this city, unwittingly has found herself
tbo theme of more or less conversation for sov
duys,—toMuch an extent. Indeed, that she has
doomed It advisable to print u card In regard
thereto. At tho eoimuoueomvnt of tbo War she
resided lb Wisconsin, and was tho loving wife of
u man named down, lie enlisted us a private
leaving bis wife and daughter. From that tlmo
bis wife board nothing from him huyu Unit, at
tbo bat to of Clmncellorsvlllo, he was loft upon
Iho fluid. About leu years ugo Mho married
David S. Gray, under tho lull belief that Mho was
* k Kerne t lmo ago sbu related those circumstances
to an attorney, who said that, If hor statement
wus borne out by the facts, she and
ber daughter were entitled to a pensluu.
With tho view of obtaining such pension,
correspondence wns hail with Iho Adjutant*
General of Wisconsin. From him It wns learned
that Gown wan Injured in tbo engagement, M
minted, hut. (intend of receiving n fntnl wound,
he had Lorn taken to tho hospital, from wbfck
hu wns discharged throo inontln Inter.
Tho unfortiinnto situation of tholadvwns n(
unco apparent, and she sought tbo aid of Me
Orth, asking thnt tho Department records bs
overhiiulod. and the fact of Gown'd existence 01
death settled. This was done, and tho discover;
mado thnt Gown had years ago applied for and
received his Pension, and that he was last beard
of near Dos Moines, la. Hirthor than this noth*
tng could ho learned, save that for elghtcoi
months Inst past no request had been made by
him for his pension. Thu inference In that Gown
in dead, ns previously his money hud been
promptly demanded. There Is, of course, no ex
planation of his conduct in absenting bimselt
t nun, mid falling to communicate with, bis fam*
lly for a period of ten years.
Of tho Indy’s sincere belief that tbo was a
widow at the time of the second marriage thorn
enn bo no question. Even had sto known that
Gown was still living, his desertion for a period
of seven years would have freed bar in law.
SOUTHERN WAYS.
Sotno Mnlliods of (lie ** Chivalry#**
To the EdltoroJ 77ie CTilrago Tribune.
Grnbsko, 111,, March 12.—Perhaps your read
ers may ho Interested In reading some of tbo
“ methods " of tho Southern Chivalry In tho last
November election, end tho “beautiful spirit"
they show when those methods arc touched upon
by any lover of fair piny. A trlcnd of mine—
Mr. C. 11. Hlce, of IJrattJeboro, Vt.—ln spending
the winter at Aiken, K. C. Having spent tbo two
previous winters there, and naturally becoming
well acquainted, he wns shocked on this visit to
llnd tiio most indisputable evidence that tbo
negro vote was most openly and sbnmclcsly bull
dozed in the last general election. lie Is a care
ful man, and docs not stnto nthlnguntllbo
knows it: but the evidence was such that bo
wrote a letter to the IVrmunl Phantz, from
which tho following Is an extract:
"She has not overdrawn the truth in her de
scription of the conduct of tho election hero last
November, us related to me by several Northern
f cuplc who wore bore on that day. Mounted
lod-Bhlrts wero on huad ns cany ns Q a. in.,
after having been riding about tbo streets until
a late hour tho previous night, firing pistols and
yelling Mko fiends. A cannon was hauled into
tbo street opposlt to and pointed toward tho
polls: a local military company wns under arms,
und men wero tramping about tbo streets armed
with Knives ami pistols: several negroes wore
cut: even the candidate for Statu Senator was,
I am told, on tbo street with Ins pants tucked
into his boots and tmvy-revolvur strapped to bis
side. When tho negroes gut to tbo polls, which
was made dillleult, they wero detained from
fifteen to twenty minutes answering nil sorts
of foolish questions, to consume time and
prevent as many us possible from voting. Many
colored men were seared from tbo polls by tho
cannon and conduct of tho whites, while about
H>d were In line waiting to vote when tbo polls
closed ato p. m.; and yet tbo pollshad been open
since <1 a. m.. giving ample tuno for all, both
white and black, to vote, had thorn been a dispo
sition to have a fair election here. What makes
tho conduct of tho Democrats here and else
where In this .State nil tho nioro inexcusable is
tho tact that, through tho hitluenco of Mr. 0. P.
Chatlleld, ot this place, mid other wbtto Repub
licans. no Republican State ticket was placed In
the held, but the Republicans were to content
themselves with vutlug far Presidential Electors
and Congressmen. 1 have been told by a mem
ber of tuo Democratic party, who Is editor ot a.
paper in ibis .State, that bis party would make
use of Intimidation, bulldozing, and otbormcans
so long und ns far as seemed necessary to keep
tho negroes down und continue tho statu Gov
ernment In tho hands of tho Democrats."
Thu lady referred to in tbo first sentence Is
Miss Schofield, for llftccn years a teacher of
colored schools in Booth Carolina, who bad writ
ten tbo Now Vork Trthnue a history of tbo con
duct of tbo white Democrats on election-day. ■
In due time tbo Plurulx containing Mr. Rice's
letter found Its way to A Ikon, and there produced
a first-class breeze. Newspaper-criticism was of
all shades, from soft soap to savage, and, as u
sample, 1 give yon the following extract from a
letter written by the Aiken correspondent of tho
Columbia iS. C.) KctjMrr, and printed In that
paper:
"There arc some of tbo most rabid Radicals
spending tho season hero. Among them Is a
man named Rice, from Vermont, who is one of
tbo most obnoxious und unprincipled characters
we have ever been cursed with, lie has
written a very bitter letter to a Ver
mont paper, 'ln which be abuses our
people. Hu savs publicly that, if wo would treat
the negroes ns gfntlautu, there would be no
more trouble In Iho Booth: and that tbo United
States Government has made a great mistake In
nut disfranchising all tbo whim people In the
Bouth for twenty years. I did not think our
young men should be blamed If they give him n
p.m(m cdhlilillihi, It is such men as Rico who
keep tbo thinking people of tbo North continu
ally arrayed against tho South. These men
poison tho minds of thy ignorant negroes, and
can«e them to do many deeds of violence that
they would not otherwise be guilty of. We have
no welcome for such men, either us visitors or
immigrants. It would bo better to import Bush
men from Africa Gian a colony of Rices. Wo
think If there Is not a ‘ lake that burnetb,’ there
ought to ho one."
Mr. Rice says there Is pome truth and much
falsehood In tho above: that he did nut use tbo
expression, "treat tho negroes as gentlemen.”
but did say, repeatedly. If tbo Bomb would trcut
tho negroes us trim there would bo no trouble In
keeping tho State Government In lnte11lg"ot
hands: also, that he has said that hu tboughtttae
Reconstruction policy* was a mistake, und tuut
the white Rebels should have been disfranchised
for twenty years, and the light of suffrage
should have been withheld from tho negroes un
til they had obtained some education. All tho
ulmne In Mr. Rico’s letter Is contained In tbo
above extract. It seems to bo u question of
facte, and hu t* are what seem to hurt tho South
ern bulldozer. P. E. llowAnu.
fsVW rill be paid for any case that Hop Bitter*
will not cure or help. Moubt not.
Avoid ruinous cosmetics und ilse that whole
sumo bcunilller—(Heim's Sulphur Soup.
BUSINESS NOTICES.
Arend’n Ilecf, Iron, nml ‘Wine, with
Cinchona, tho utamlard medicinal tonic of this
propreftsl«*<) nee. 11 enriches tho blood, prompt
ly Invigorates tho bruin uml nervous system.
Improves digestion, etc. Itesult: A round form,
bright eyes, happy state ol mind. A fund's drug
store. corner Madison street und Fifth avenue.
gS cents. Iluclc A: Huynor’u “Uluru”
Face Powder Is a charming Invention for tho
complexion. White, llesoutc, and iiruuctte.
Harmless and minimi. A titling companion
piece to tho turnons “ Mum" cologne.
jtAKisa roirnjcii.
IHB I
While nlltcr Hiking Pomlfrs tre Ixnrelf ADUL
TKIUTKD nllh ALL'II and other hurtful drags, Z
\\ %. I® a/
lus bun kepi PNTIIANdED In all of Id orWntl
nnrlty anil tiholt‘«unriH‘M. Tho br«t evMenco of
ITS KAFKTV, lIK.U.TiIVTI.NKSS, ITUITY, and
KFFFITIVENKSS. h THE FAIT of lt» being nied
lu-dsr, from North to Kuulli, (root East to l>e»t, In
Ina iiuiiifs of (hi* rich mid poor) when it bis bieo
used fur the last K> years.
A PURE FRUIT ACID BAKING POWDER.
' KKVKU HOLD IN HULK.
il/i uhhj STEELE »D PRICE,
Manufkclurers of I.upulln Yeast Urnisj Special
Flavoring Extract*, etc., Chicago and St, Louis.
TO REST.
comer STORE
FOR RENT.
The beat corner in the city for
Railroad Ticket Office, Bank, or
Drug Store, for rent May i. Apply
to CHARLES GOODMAN,
Room 43, 116 Waahington-at.
NOTICE,
» | lonDC famous wtablua to visit Europe
tUKUrt. la select party or alouv. L w li r f T ! , ‘
,Tr niudy. will iiml wnsi/milrcl .airaatufles ottorsd lu
mr “Tom fatHiUAM vo u IvUsuat ou ■pphusUoa.
pjuf. DU I'U'tTUll, fc'uuulw Academy. Abstujr, N.
5