THE Mount Ida Chronicle SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1875.

Mount Ida Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 310, 6 February 1875, Page 2

THE Mount Ida Chronicle SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1875.

Ii would be an idlu pretence to assert that the modern development of Christian Worship and Creed, as visible in the world at the present day, is entirely satisfactory to the average minds in any sectarian body or church —the tenets of which are based upon the canonical Scriptures. Least of all is it satisfactory to the intellectual among the clergy, who are neither phliaBed with a religion of cold morality, nor ecstatic excitement. Such men are

invariably found, to take refuge in additional ceremonial, and a multiplica-

tion of public services, as an approach to worship they would see existing in their people. Clericalism —pushed ahead of the progress of feeling in a community—incline* to breed superstition. Absence from Clerical re-

straint—asserted spiritual liberty quickly becomes the central point of Materialism, and the much boasted foundation under tbe feet of the sceptic. Is Materialism then a legitimate fruit of liberty ? Does Scepticism, really stand on a foundation of liberty ? It would not be easy to trace out or define a distinction between the laws leading to perfect spiritual liberty and those leading to and governing perfect natural liberty. The one ideal is probably as remote as the other. Revolutions —the work of the idealist—are always followed by what is in fact, if not in name, Imperialism ; although, it might be admitted, that each rise and fall from anarchy to despotic Monarchy tends more and more towards national liberty. We are apt to boast of JSnglish liberty, and, in our soft post-prandial moments, to talk a good deal of nonsense —" .Britons never never shall be slaves," and so forth — yet every Act of Parliament, civil or criminal, every ecclesiastical law court, or even municipal bye-law in force, is an infringement or civil liberty, "We give up a great portion of our freedom to secure the remainder. The law which siezes and places in durance the criminal is guilty of infringing natural liberty. The law which restrains the drunkard and the intending suicide — who, it might be Baid, in only injuring themselves should be free— regards that there sane labor is of value to the community, and, to Becure that the better, infringes for a time the natural liberty of the subject. In these, and similar, instances wherever indeed restraint is enforced —the community sacrifice a portion of their freedom the better to secure the whole. There is no such thing as perfect civil or natural liberty where a form of Government is a necessity, because of human error for the preservation of order. The animal and vegetable worlds are subordinate in every particular to the natural laws under which their consti-

tuent parts are placed. The earth itself, in every movement, lencb itself captive to the sweet influences of Pleiades—knowing no liberty other than itß perfect obedience to 'ne lawß under which it was brought into being. It would be exceptional to. all else in known existent creation if the mind of man could wander unfettered by any

law other than its own will. Absolute freedom of thought must mean infallibility of thought, for the freethinkers, professing to h Id truth, know no law but their own will. If that will ia sufficient guide to truth, to escape error it must be itself inspired. Not, however, believing in the infallibility of the freethinkers, and knowing the inherent inclination towards error to be perceived in every one, it iH easy to imagine the state of social life in a community of freethinkers, recognising no law but their own wills. Philosophically, it is true, such a state of society might lead to the survival of the fittest. Wherever, through temporary anarchy, such a state of social life has been attempted to be perpetuated, artificial law — based upon convenience—has quickly arisen. Even as libertinism springs

into being its counter check is born with it, fitly named social convenience. There being no such thing in its entirety as liberty of thought—for liberty of thought divorced from liberty of act cannot be conceived in practical social life—the answer to the question, What is the right position of spiritualistic law governing a sect or church in any age ? appeara to be indicated, and to be in a direction towards a minimum point of formalistic bondage, sufficient to preserve intact and build up the spiritual liberties of the greatest number, and the natural liberties of all in Buch sect or church. Clericalism, which cannot in some such shape be formularised, must be either unduly despotic or unduly subservient. A. body of clergy, ministering to the lusts of an age has been observed. A clergy, domineering in puritanic austerity and despotism—even over the natural liberties of man—has also been noted. The pages of history —in which these scenes of clerical subservience and despotism are recorded—are not the least eloquent in the perpetual lessons they teach. A. formula of belief, based on what is false, cannot stand. Formulas and services applied to the present time, based upon what might be true in another state of existence—Been in spiritual vision, and recorded on the pages of Inspiration—must be unsound, and tend only to confusion. Such deductions and comparisons, as we have shadowed but dimly, are apt to be summarily Bet aside and disregarded as wanting in reverence for truth ; the writers, and that more common class the thinkers—for that a writer is not necessarily a thinker is known to students of pßeudo theological works—being commanded to be content with Bimple Scriptural truths. In such unjustifiable reproofs hundreds of our best men are driven—from excess rather than lack of reverence —into scepticism and other kindred evils they themselves would nover have voluntarily entered. Christianity in its simple purity, the noblest —as it is the only true —refuge for man, has no occasion to refuse to give an intelligent reason for itself. At the present time, in hundreds of pulpits, such reason—intelligible and unrefutable—is being given. From thousands of printing presses the Bame reason is being given, in perhaps clearer notes. But these sound utterances, vocal and written, are too often choked by the faults of

intolerance, mere formalism, and su- | peretition, that, growing up in the same ground .partly recognised through their gradual growth as licensed camp foliowerß—fight an almost too equal battle with the reason given, more or less obscuring the light oitruth to all, and to many so utterly destructive that it had been perhaps every bit as well for them if the light had never shone at all. W hat the world needs is a Rationale of Belief apparent to all, stripped of mocking formalism in teacher and taught, yet not refusing to be partially bound for the preservation of its own liberty;—" A Rationale of Belfef, in the face alike of Scepticism and Superstition."

It will say very little for tlie enterprise of the mining communities of Naseby, St. Bathans, iJrybread, and Tinkers Gully, if no practical steps are taken to teat whether deep leads exist under the false bottom or not. Prospect ing, carried ono" co-operative principles, could not fail to be successful at the least possible cost to those undertaking it. Not that payable gutters would be certain to be dropped upon all at once, but, in a country so rich in minsral wealth, discoveries coul-l not fail to be made sufficient to repay the expenses of those prospecting. Jfaseby seems to be particularly deicient in enterprise, and, strangely mough, has more property at stake—;o be increased in value, or depreciated sy gradual prosperity or failure—than almost any other purely mining centre.. For about: what is given in subscriptions to a single race meeting. Naseby sould be provided with the best boring machinery to be obtained in Australia, jrhich, if not applied solely to the use >f the prospecting company, procuring t, could be made quickly to pay for tself in being let out to private prospecting parties. In this way much good ground could je developed that at present is disrejarded, and a much larger mining pop ulation could be sustained. If % small jompany were formed to obtain the lecessary prospecting apparatus, with ;he view of applying it to the one obect of bottoming on the rock in the Main Gully, the question always cropping up could be very soon set at rest. This would be the pluckiest course, md probably the best. If this, however, cannot be done, it vould amply repay the business men n the different to obtain suitible apparatus for letting out to apjroved parties. The demand that vould spring up for the use of the rods vould keep them unceasingly st work, md could not fail to be beneficial to :he district. In connection with the ■ailway works in progress throughout ;he Colony many deep, borings have jeen going on, and- any engineer of jractical could furnish -fulL jarticulars of rods that would be suffijient to get through the ground likely ;o be met with, consisting principally )f fine partially solidified drift, with an >ccasional lump of quartz. In Victoria baealtic outcrops—similar to that mmediately underlying the auriferous ground at Hamilton—have been sunk ;hrough with splendid results. But vhether such a formation can be >ierced by rods at a practicable cost ve cannot state. Strange to say, that, vita all our infinite sub-divisions of government, such facts as these cannot 3e ascertained in the Colony. All nining development of the simplest lature is based on a little plucky enterprise at the outset. This, a few rears ago, was abundant, and, though lormant, is, we believe, abundant still.