The Churches and Modern Thought / An inquiry into the grounds of unbelief and an appeal for candour

undefined, but nevertheless p

refer to virtues that belong to the Japanese people without reference to their faith. In this connection it may be said that perhaps the most remarkable part is their devotion to ethics alone, utterly divorced from religion. They love virtue for its own sake, and not from fear of punishment or hope of reward.... They have eliminated from their

and bad lives will be the m

is nature for the removal of England's greatest curse be far better than half-hearted measures that are palliative rather than remedial? Now that the Church has taken up the temperance cause, could she not bring her great influence to bear towards the introduction of some such system, pitting herself against vested interests? Remarkable work is being carried on by the Danish temperance societies on the basis of allowing their members to regard beer of low alcoholic strength as a temperance beverage. Australia has been watching New Zealand in the matter of drink reform, and the Government of New South Wales, at any rate, has found it necessary to fulfil ple

gh, but who are themselves either mentally or physically below the average of the general community, and who, therefore, when times are bad, drift insensibly into crime. When to all this unfavourable environment we add an unfavourable heredity, we get a conjunction of circumstances against which it is quite impossible for the unfortunate to contend, even though he be aided by the "gift of freewill" and by all the intercessory prayers of the Churches. The Borstal system and other remedies recommended in The Making of the Criminal are excellent in their way, but can be regarded only as palliatives. T

the discovery of a complete and scientific m

the human race." Since these words were uttered this branch of science has not stood still, and there seems every prospect that his prophecy will be fulfilled in the near future. There are now cliniques for hypnotic treatment in France (Dr. Bérillon's in Paris, for example), Germany, Belgium, Sweden, Holland, Switzerland, and America. "The commencement

bout the matter which should be clear

evelopment of the patient's control of his own organism" (s

and the hypnotic state being, in fact, obtained without any operation whatever. Indeed, it has now been found that for curative purposes the "suggestion" m

ur daily intercourse, but are made skilfully, with a purpose, and with a knowledge of the effects they will produce" (see p. 9 of the late Richard Harte's The New Psychology; or, The Secret of Happiness [Fowler & Co., London and New York])

composing yourself to sleep. Dr. Bramwell tells me that the best

hich frequently respond to hypnotic treatment are often those in which drugs are of little or no avail. For example, what medicine would one prescribe for a ma

stilled into anyone while in the hypnotic condition become irrevocably [?] fixed in the mind" (p. 3 of Richard Harte's Hypnotism and t

hich has been called 'the active principle' of hypnotism) affects human beings beneficially, in addition to curing diseases, are: By facilitating education; by preventing cri

was constituted at the close of 1906. Let us hope that it will soon

, not the quantity, of our children

birth-rate of the mid-Victorian epoch, it is certain that, in the course of a few generations, there would be no elbow-room left in our little islands. Already, indeed, Great Britain is, from many points of view, over-populated. If all the people who are now crowded together in the slums of our great towns were scattered over the country, there would be practically no country left. England would have become a vast suburb. Tha

rary remedy. As it is, thousands of white men are living and dying in climates for which they are unadapted; while in some cases-in certain portions of Africa, for example-they are ousting and making life a burthen to the race

ployment. Hence the constantly recurring famines, or partial famines, in years of bad or indifferent rainfall. The population problem, being intimately connected with many another problem, is one of the utmost gravity;

-The Moral Inst

fer. Already certain education authorities are providing for systematic moral instruction of a purely secular nature. In the West Riding scheme it is expressly stated that it is to be "part of the secular instruction," while the Cheshire scheme emphatically lays down that the moral instruction must be non-theological. The authorities of Groton, Blackpool, Norwich, York, and elsewhere, have supplied all the teachers of their

ents that it is high time for the real truth to be known. This my readers will find in Mr. Joseph McCabe's

ook of Moral Lessons (Sonnenschein). Dr. F. H. Hayward's Secret of Herbart, a powerful appeal to the teacher on the scope and urgency of his moral mission, is now re-issued at 6d. (Watts). The translation of Dr. F. W. F?rster's Lebenskunde, a book replete with illustrative matter for the teacher, has been undertaken by the Moral Instruction League. Mr. W. M. Salter's essay, "Why Live a Moral Life?" is of exceptional merit. This and other ethical essays may be obtained from the Secretary of t

practices of the Lati

the blessed Lustrabena; one leg of St. George; a piece of the body and the bones of St. Lawrence; a leg of the Bishop of St. Romanus; a cup of St. Thomas, which he had been accustomed to use in administering the Sacrament at Canterbury; a leg of the Virgin Milda; a leg of the Virgin Eduarda. We also saw a tooth and a finger of St. Stephen the Martyr; bones of the Virgin Catherine, and oil from her sepulchre, which is said to flow to this day; hair of the blessed Virgin [sic!] Magdalene; a tooth of St. Benedict; a finger of St. Urban; the lips of one of the infants slain by Herod; bones of the blessed Clement; bones of St. Vincent. Very many other things were also shown to us, which are not set down by me in this place." Very many other things have also been shown to me during my travels abroad (fro

reatest divines ... condemn obscu

r and alarm. This is the usual temper of the odium theologicum. It would, if it could, grasp the thumbscrew and the rack of medi?val Inquisitors, and would, in the last resource, hand over all opponents to the scaffold or the stake. Those whose intellects have been thus petrified by custom and advancing years are, of all others, the most hopeless to deal with. They have made themselves incapable of fair and rational examination of the truths which they impugn. They think they can, by mere assertion, overthrow results arrived at b

slavery flourish side by sid

ed only under the rule of the Christian slave-owner. We can form some idea of the inhumanity then displayed from the treatment of the coloured races by the white man in Africa to-day. Read, for instance, the accounts of the Congo atrocities, or of the German Colonial scandals. Read, again, some home-truths about our own Colonies in Labour and other Questions in South Africa, by Medicus (T. Fisher Unwin, 1903). The white man has indeed a burden to

d shed more human blood than any other Church or institution in

of corrupt officials and cruel Cossacks? Who are responsible for shameless acts of persecution, and, indeed, very largely for all the bloodshed, strife, and anarchy? Is it not the orthodox Church and her supporters? Is it too much to say, with the Rev. J. Lawson-Forster, that "the Russian Church has become the tool of murderers"? (Mr. Lawson-Forster expressed himself in these words when presiding at the great public meeting held at the Brondesbury Synagogue to protest against the recent outrages in Russia.) To what party do the Freethinkers belong? Are they not all, everyone of them, adherents of the party des

as a whole, is nothing but a succession of

r will be [italics are mine], as long as the passions of mankind endure, more than a lull between the storms of war," then the better-informed and peace-loving Rationalist will beg to differ with him. He feels that this gospel of universal hatred is being carried too far. Never is a very long time. Major Murray says: "No great nation will ever submit to arbitra

e of the secrets of Nature-of her crude and cruel processes-is he going to acquiesce tamely, and make no use of his knowledge? Now the nature of the malady has been diagnosed, and now the proper remedies have been discovered, will he not set about the cure? Is the struggle for existence, with all its attendant horrors, to be perpetuated? Does the end-the survival of the fittest-justify the means-over-production and murder? Cannot the

n battle" is expected to take interest

r 29th, 1901, conveys a wholesome lesson on this

ESSI

Battles, w

d tempests t

of being

k into de

ld chance

enable

Churches f

y know they

ounding gra

ully perfo

and loyal

Sermon on

people str

ll happens

thing they

tly ignore

nd people s

ends, and ca

anity's] impotency to carry out

ilence during war's sway, its failure during days of peace to proclaim the true Christian doctrines regarding the killing of men, give point to the recent arraignment of the Prime Minister, who declared that the Church to-day busied itself with questions

n being frequently the actu

usade against the Albigenses (who opposed the corruptions of the Church of Rome), when Simon de Montfort and the Pope's legate, at the head of half a million of men, put to the sword friend and foe, men and women, saying, "God will find his own." In the case of that mischievous and unnecessary blunder, the Crimean War, the great masses of the

onalist, every Freethinker, i

ne and great dignitary of the Churc

natures form under the red

thquakes and the storm p

e Wordsworth, the poet

st dreaded

g out a p

'd for mutua

age is Th

e and Rome"). Or again the following, reported in the daily papers: "A petition to stop the war between Russia and Japan owes its inception to Signor Carlo Romissi, Deputy and editor of the Secolo of Milan. The petition has penetrated i

he Church spare a little of her military ardour (exhibited in the arm-chair and pulpit) for supporting peaceful projects of this nature? This one, at any rate, among the many to be found on the Rationalist programme, is not contrary to her teaching; but I have not as yet hear

keeping a nation virile. Has the Boer War made us more virile? Whatever Imperial necessity there may have been for it, owing to blunders in the past and the existing condition of affairs, the certain effects of it, so far as we can see,

usly, scanning one another's exports and imports with jealous eyes, and making from time to time fawning alliances with one rival, while harbouring enmity with another, maintaining millions of men under arms and spending millions of pounds in armaments, and a

tion which has been laboriously gathered from innumerable volumes, ancient and modern. The few inaccuracies occurring in it are of a trivial nature; besides, as the author invariably quotes his authorities, hi

N

. A., on the

ain,

criticisms

nis

apius

, The, cited, 3

enses

rmagh, Archbis

nt, cited,

T., "large

ric

ons of anc

n tribe

l Gospels

lo,

us of Ty

7, 158–61, 175–96, 208–18, 220–65, 273–314, 318–23, 349–51,

tine,

otle,

piness

rofessor E.

Edwin, cit

tthew, cit

n of reli

n, The,

ng, edict

Creed, 35,

tion, 258,

Lord, c

martyrd

l versi

127, 130,

, his philosop

The late

E., on the Atha

W., on Re

his work Verbal

he Romantic History of

ofessor, ci

um, 4

, cited, 34

r Walter,

a, Pool

iticism,

ary of

Bishop of,

lso Go

ugustine, on Patriotism a

t, his attack upo

y Neighbour,

James,

"Genera

anley de,

. Daniel, c

te Rev. A. B.

, "Why Lead a M

, cite

rkable paral

cretions?" 13

th,

77, 292, 31

llis, cited,

work The Angel

, in Analogy o

Slade, c

Mona, c

te Bishop of

, Dr., c

. R. J., "New

of, on rational thoug

n of, on the Ol

ed,

so Wace

the need for an examin

o Diggle

ns regarding histor

w, on the Chris

h, on the decay

n the intelligent C

, on eating

Ram

Abraham, Isaac, Ja

prophet

anic bel

Churchmen an

al influe

307–1

monwealth, Th

ntists, 258 no

the power for

nding the overt

d of, 290

marks on the

rs, percen

ed, 72–4, 75–6, 109, 1

of, on the immacu

The, cite

Truth and Certainty of

, the champion

rd, cited,

a Moral

m of devel

attitude of t

op, on the Pe

guste, 7,

s, Final,

m, 38, 134,

s, birth

ience

ne, Emper

fessor le,

ew, The, cited, 2

o Verita

rsion

Dr. Monc

ritual

nicus

r G. W., cit

muel, on mir

f, on the inferio

story of the,

ble with sc

ty, 333–5

3–4, 136, 146,

Franz, in Les Myst

er,

theor

c, The, cite

, "Do We Believe?" 3

el,

a, Wa

escent of Man, 170, 174–5

selection,

l select

of Species, 18

eity not univ

graphy,

nism,

id,

Rhys, cited, 1

ook of

, The,

rk, 4

my, its n

session,

owes, on con

op, cited, 1

in his book o

e antiqui

rks on the d

ado

eorge, c

Ralph Wal

, 30; cited,

butors

from

t., on Buddh

hology

234,

rant

argument f

societ

rallels, 119, 143, 145–

on of ori

cited, 104

ot responsi

onsible

the doctrin

son's ideas

f the Chur

the proce

our origin

Christian dogma

legend

e, Religi

denial of,

legor

the doctrin

concerning J

an accreti

racle

rth in a

le and the

paralle

e Church, 8

cited, Preface

the existence

ligence,

Intelligence,

d, Feeding o

–5, 222, 226, 228–9, 234, 236

he sage

n-Hin

General,

iew, The, cited

e, 4,

, 92, 108, 16

ted, 117, 147, 149–50

ill,

The god

the Refo

Magic amon

The Sea

ry, 75, 78, 95,

n the gravity of

le of the U

y, 4,

eror of, cit

to, 37

rodigy of the da

, 292

ev. J. Mo

ed,

. E., on sla

sis, 17

Bishop of, on the "Hi

lution

persona

uments exami

nown G

n miracl

Bishop of Worcester)

irmingham,

icisms regarding,

Bible Cr

rks on the Gothe

rn, De

Why Lead a Mora

of moral l

, Lad

A. C., c

170–1, 201, 204,

of the Un

i Code,

by Chilperic

, Dr.,

t is Christiani

les, in his work

ard, cited,

nn, ci

's Dicti

cadio, in

l, 2

sor George, on

al selec

, on the Resu

94, 2

es, 12

The, cited, 19 an

the moral supremacy o

ed,

dfrey, cite

52, 220, 255, 256, 2

their sacred boo

The silence

his work Morals

lan

ott, on the Agnos

George Jac

he surrender of t

racle

27, 130, 131,

E., on devil

lopoch

lexander vo

Philoso

essor, on mi

sions

ogress of pal?

Mr. Glads

enevolent

is, 189–

e in nature,

ed,

strophe

ed,

deity not un

ure in ar

" Agnosti

a Moral Li

of religion

, in her poem Brow

er, on the sup

ision

Dr. J. R.,

e Immane

ew, The, cited,

ty of women

in,

nes,

, Colonel

ligious, univers

xperience,

urnal of Ethics,

ligious, 368–70

he religious ex

C. Church

ah,

7, 135,

4, 8, 2

bertson, Dr.

religion unn

he Varieties of Religious

d, 3

287, 289, 290, 297 note,

elist, The,

es, The,

H. S., on the

miah

, on Buddha

rding to the "high

of, 10

inlessnes

ce of,

l proble

udge

e of Pea

s, 33, 101–

Gospels, and Mytho

, F. B

of persecuti

f disper

b,

horship and da

ah,

tory a sola

hus,

nding the su

ducation, Th

ited, 2

rofessor,

, in Ideals of Sc

he existence of a

ler

, Lord, cite

xican Antiq

les, on Darwin

inal Ne

., on Bible cri

The Divine Library of t

pirati

, on the Virg

arkable para

roversy,

h of

Prince, c

a Moral Li

, cited,

his bo

ttitude

he, cited

drew, ci

ssor Ray, suppor

discoverie

, the sa

ev. J., on the Ru

the raisi

n witchc

n Professor James'

on using our in

44, 45; cit

the reproduct

ent as to a

regardi

Tree

the work called Supern

Essen

uide, The,

on Driver's

John, c

, his religious p

erning Hae

ed,

on the Resu

d, 9

Cesare, on spiritual

of, on the grow

ief of Do

es, 49, 5

e criti

ctually ash

stronger for c

iolatr

77 note,

tinct of p

his attack o

des,

on p. 69 of

ual, 228,

in De Rerum

rship and date o

in Monumental Chris

religious expe

n Churc

Dr., ci

C., on magic a

harles, cite

efence of Haeckel

monaste

6, 279, 281

on the Roman Cat

Dr., c

. J., ci

. H., in the Hulsean Pr

Evidential Value of t

c, 3

, Sim

W. H.,

hdeacon of, on

to be a Christ

ivalis

ilson, Arch

e Bishop of, on the

shop of, on de

sor W. C. van

lergy of the Church of

to the new interpretati

racle

ev. D. S., arg

rship and date o

tin, cited,

hraic comm

e noble arm

on H. J.,

G. C. C.,

horship and date

, on "ecclesiast

thene

ry, 1

e, in The Nature of Man, 1

e to,

ich Ste

religion of

s, on the temples

he, cited

, curses o

ohn Stu

ed,

Dean, ci

his view

ed,

les,

damenta

ck on

lels,

129, 1

rgument from

te st

55, 256, 265,

urbar, p. 17 of

G., ci

n The Christian Faith

on "The Inspiratio

on, Systematic,

ction League

ts of

Lead a Moral

alism param

danger of extending sym

s Cotter, on

ohn, cite

r. W. D., c

, 74–5, 7

r., on mi

r Max, cited, 11

r Stewart, c

mented up

tion excit

cism,

he sola

Comparati

inzo, on the positi

lty of, 180–

l, cited, 210,

ancis Will

ton

cited, 31 note, 167–8, 178 note, 18

essor Inazo,

y the Japa

ido, 33

Max, c

n,

rofessor,

Professor H

ur animal

James,

129, 1

ir Rich

rofessor,

Thomas,

ited, 42

scripti

ancient reli

ive belie

r myths

m and Mith

t, Dr.,

es, 1

, unhistor

Rev. Mark,

, witness

of the Epist

g of, 2

as, cit

276,

also

st, gif

92, 294, 351,

lerance and

eus,

eligion of

is book The Early

nders, cite

rer, ci

, 83–

y, Note o

Allanson, c

as, T

hropus er

to,

ch, ci

onosts

interest in the,

61, 298–14,

on hypn

ion, The theory of

2–3, 150–1, 156–

heus,

ive criticisms con

a composite

Society for, cited,

stic pheno

of hypno

r., cite

atl, 128,

bow,

definition of

look fo

ess Associatio

um of, 3

od, cited, 1

crossing of

Faked, 8

is concl

tion, Th

s upon

Critics on,

132, 134, 141, 147,

n, Book o

alism

hop of, ci

ts, E

exander, cited, 2

M., cited, 137

n C. H., cited

Armitage, cited,

Westminste

s, cit

gnor Carlo,

President

ta st

sia

" witnes

conduct of the

p of, on religio

r., cited

new outbur

. C. S., ci

Professor,

dvance of,

ristianity, 17–25, 41–

n," 110 note, 258

h Churc

cited, 1

n the Mo

, cite

Rev. C. J

13–4, 359

hdeacon W. M.

The gravity

y, 39–

in Chinese Chara

George Ada

David, cited

, in his Dict

essor W. R.

blems, 367

ates

ai

of. Baldwin

rt, cited, 152

philos

a, cit

dge, ci

, cited, 211

rs. Cady,

Mr. W.

Sir Lesli

2–3, 359–

V. F., on

Lumsden, c

e 3

, Rev. G. S

orted mira

y, A,

Archbish

ligion, the wor

r cited,

Baron, ci

rg, Eman

The, c

lebrated passag

ed,

m, 13

Jeremy

legislation

bishop, cite

s, Tables conta

n, quot

n, cited,

tlipo

defined

s, Empero

y, in his essay Th

in When it wa

ous, 16, 24–5, 30

renunciation of Ch

r. Paul, ci

, Dr.,

," thought

Archbi

G. M., cite

The, ci

do, on character

should it be

truth,

, Th

cited,

n his pamphlet Roger's

red on pp. 208–9 of the f

ian, Emp

ther Bernar

ymns of

ion god

an, Emp

, 19, 68–70,

1, 126–9, 133

urana, c

56, 58–

. Charles,

d, 71–2, 166, 19

Canterbury

Thomas,

N., cited, 21–2,

Russel, cited, 19 no

regarding,

also

cited, 30 note, 1

ited, 173,

., cited, 3

R. E., cited

y, Jo

ited, 33, 52–3, 290

k, Dr., ci

ean of, cited,

Robinson,

late Rev. W.

sor Monier, cite

con, cited, 13,

nchester, Ar

Bishop of,

nity the best f

nd pliabili

n the Author

champion o

ter, 1

CO., JOHNSON'S COUR

(OF MANY) PRESS OPINIO

temperate sp

nd interesting surv

of the whole subject. A temperate

ing problems ... full of cogent critici

thetic contribution to the contr

work that deserves cl

lucid, and candid wo

des is lucidly set f

a spirit of reverent inquiry ... is manifestly honest,

s case. He writes without bitterness or acrimony, exhibi

econd and revised edi

excellent bo

tive considerat

has led us to admire the industry, carefulnes

ious attention of all who have the welfare of Chr

tatement of Rationali

ne of the few which immediately command recognition, and which

an be got to discard them. And as a guide to the performance of that o

ientious."-London

gnosticism very cle

espattering his opponents wit

ly studied by preach

all who have to do with

s of modern unbelief, and a masterly plea for c

cism.... Writes in exc

n admirable reply to Wh

instructive book."

ightly influence both our creed and our conduct."-Li

who is interested in the religiou

written, and embodying an admirable

ten with marked a

a special study both of Christian evidences and

enuous ... based on much knowledge

of thinking people, and demands the prayerful at

read the volume with considerab

dently earnest work

air, and temperate.

adding to-day's conclusions to the po

eful guide."-Otago

or parsons and Chu

ng book."-Star

s are of great inter

a clear, judicial mind; nor has he feared to follow

rank writer."-W

t interesting and instr

ce a summary of modern kno

tire question of the so-called conflict between r

est possible range of r

lo

labi

tions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of th

he Online Distributed Proof

vailable from the Interne

co

ion H

1-01 S

al Ref

ontains external references. T

rec

ections have been

urce Co

[Not in

[De

4

6

ishing as

2, 307, 308, 308, 310,

istine P

ation te

orton

412, 413, 415 [