NEW ASSERTION OF SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 11

NEW ASSERTION OF SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES.

THE PHILOSOPHER AND THE SAINT. Dr. Wondto, the secretary of the Coa. gross of Religious Progress Vhicii was lield at Paris recently, in his report on tiie increase of liberal religious sentiments stated: — i "Jfiveryiriidro thoro is intellectual restlessness and search for truth, an awakened conscience, a surrender or modirication of outworn dogmas, a new assertion of spiritual principles and beliefs, an increased consciousness of tho universality and immanence of religious inspiration. i\o one who takes a wide survey of the religious world to-day, or who is privileged to come into relations with tho ethical and spiritual life of tho other great peoples and religions of tho earth, euii be other than encouraged and inspired by tho signs of religious progress which he encounters everywhere."

"We know fairly well what wo mean when wo speak of the Liberal Movement in Religion, but we cannot define it, or point to any concrete manifestation of its power which would enable a stranger to Recognise it,"saiys.the,."lnquirer," discussing i)r. Wcndte's report. "It is i a scattered influence father than an organised force; diffused through u great deal of modem literature, ..animating groups of men and women with ideals of intellectual and spiritual freedom, and producing in an increasing degree tlio tompor of mind, which declines to pay unthinking homage to tradition or. to regard the deepest questions of faith as finally closed. It is, moreover, an influence which is already known by its fruits far beyond the inner circle of its prophets and adherents. Wo owe to it the disappearance of rancour and intolerance in religious discussions, and the growth of sympathy and mutual understanding in the midst of avowed differences of opinion."

But the "Inquirer" gives a timely warning, and declares that "spiritual victories are not to be \von by discussion. At present the liberal movement has little difficulty in attracting th 6 scholar and his satellites or the philosopher with -his attendant crowd of sophists; but does the saint feel that within it ho breathes his native air? Can it create a practical ideal of life and eonduct which will lay its spell ,upon_ the hearts of men and bring back the vision of God to the poor and tho disinherited ? .If liberal religiou thinks that philosophers are going to save tho world, or that discussion of tho problems of religion can meet tho most urgent, need of the- present, moment, it is making a fatal mistake. Discussion has its usq, but it is strictly limited. Philosophers also have their plaoe, but it is a very lowly one in the kingdtiln of heaven. Our intellectxial •restlessness lias little that is. novel about it. It is a familiar, symptom, of spiritual need. And it cannot be satisfied except by the access of religious vision and power which comes with tho discovery so familiar to Christian experience in all , ages, that our highest, freedom involves tho lowliest submission to the Master of souls, with bis yiV) of discipline and his simple word, 'This is the way, walk ye 111 it.' " "With all our neglect of religion tho traditions of the spirit have not changed!" writes C. A. P. Comer in tho "Atlantic Monthly." "They aro tho same from everlasting to everlasting. And one of the things' tho nineteenth contury most wonderfully made _ clear was that the evolution of the spirit is the tiling Nature has been seeking for hundreds of millions of years. I don'ii suppose that age-long process with tho tremendous impetus of all creation behind it is really going'to be upset by tho turmoil of one materialistic generation. But Ido believo that if we go with tho current of materialism we and all our works shall bo tossed aside as refuso thrown into Nature's garbagecan."