458 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



think, they must not feel aggrieved if they sometimes find their pre- 

 tensions ignored or treated with contempt. The gist of this whole 

 matter is, that the doctrine of inherent authority in any statement, 

 principle, profession, or office must be abandoned. 



Where we find the position taken that anything or anybody must 

 not be questioned or criticised, we may be sure that then ignorance, 

 error, or oppression exists, as latent if not patent evil. 



It will be a great pity if religious men and women misapprehend 

 the meaning of modern scientific criticism of Christian doctrine and 

 of religious organization. If they did but know it, the salvation of 

 present organized religion depends upon this criticism. The most 

 serious question which weighs upon the thought of earnest men who 

 are lovers of their kind is, how to save the good which there is in 

 Christianity and perpetuate it for the human race. The edifice is at 

 present in danger of ruin, through the folly of its guardians. No one 

 can deny the service which Christianity has rendered ; but people will 

 not see what it is in Christianity which has brought about the benefit. 

 It is the altruistic element which, affecting character, has caused men 

 to seek growth through assimilation, instead of pushing their way in 

 the world by mechanical impact. It is the encouragement to natural 

 development produced by Christianity, and by other causes as well, 

 which has worked the change in humanity. It is the ideal of human 

 perfection, and of organic connection in society as the only way to 

 realize that ideal, which has given its glory to the Christian system. 

 It is the general doctrine and the special dogmas of authority which 

 have constantly interfered with and nullified its beneficent tendencies. 

 It may be that, in day3 gone by, the supernatural machinery, the 

 stringent ecclesiastical organization was necessary, to keep alive the 

 Christian, humanitarian spirit ; for, in past times, force and fear ruled, 

 and nothing could be sustained without physical power behind it. 

 The present situation, when an industrial civilization is superseding 

 the militant, is altogether different. It is no longer possible for re- 

 ligious authority to sustain itself ; its day has gone by. The clergy 

 do not see this ; they will not recognize environing conditions. They 

 can not be made to understand that what was good is now passing 

 to hctter, and that the soul of things is, after all, sweet. They sorrow 

 and are angered ; but their hell is really of their own making. Upon 

 the world the blessed light of a new and a more perfect day is dawn- 

 ing. They must either flee away with the darkness, or they must let 

 the light penetrate their souls. If they will allow the latter, they will 

 behold a much more glorious vision of Beauty, Truth and Goodness, 

 the three sisters "never to be sundered without tears." The good in 

 Christianity will not die, though errors be found, acknowledged, and 

 discarded. Religion will not pass away, because it is inbred in the 

 human mental constitution. The men who are accused of seeking to 

 destroy Christianity are its best friends. There is not a Christian 



