WHAT IS TRUE RELIGION? ANTOINETTE DOOLITTLE. No. 6. upon. Webster's definition of religion, as far as it goes, is very good. He says: "Religion is a high sense of moral "THERE be gods many" and religions obligation, and spirit of reverence or many; but only one true God and one worship, which effect the heart with retrue religion. Hence we inquire: What spect to Deity." Add his rendering of is true religion? All peoples, tongues the meaning of "Sanctity, which denotes and nations have had their religion, true purity of heart and life, springing from or false. Pagan religion was one kind; habitual communion with God, and a the ancient Jews had another form; the sense of His continual presence," and Budhists of the Orient, which are very we think we get a good hypothesis, as numerous, have theirs. The Christian far as theory can extend, of what rereligion (so-called, especially in Amer-ligion is and is designed to effect. ica) is divided into sects and parties, In accord with a firm belief in any chiefly classed under two great heads or ruling powers, Catholic and Protestant, but, when summed up, called by one name. kind of religion, so, to a large extent, will the life practices of its adherents be. Hope of reward and fear of punishment have much to do with the religion of the present age. What in parlance is called religion is often national, traditional and inherited. In Catholic coun Christian religion! What shall we understand by the phrase? Religion, when defined, we conclude means the soul's reliance--something to depend and lean tries, ancestral religion, which comes from parents to children, often goes with True heart religion energizes the soul them through life. Such persons, as a rule, do not think deeply nor reason for themselves, but conclude that what their sires and grandsires believed must be true. It is a trite saying; "What persons have not reasoned themselves into they will not be likely to reason themselves out of." Ancestral religion, we find, is not generally effectual unto salvation. and is its dearest and most valued friend; Human beings, as a whole, are on the side of ease and self-indulgence. They like what brings to them the largest amount of present pleasure and the least restraint. Thus, we see how easy it is for people to accept the doctrine of the atonement-one righteous man living, dying, suffering for all, to expiate their transgressions of moral and spiritual laws. People generally are beginning to understand, that physically, each individual must suffer the consequence of his or her wrong doings, and that effects follow causes, and that a "mysterious "CHOOSE YE THIS DAY WHOM YE WILL SERVE. ', Providence "does not inflict punishment upon the bodies of human beings. Diseases are often transmitted by parents THESE words Joshua spake unto the from generation to generation, and in children of Israel many centuries ago. that way the sins of ignorance or of will- Nevertheless they are equally applicable ful delinquencies follow from age to age, to the people of this present age, espeto vex and torture their progenies. cially those who are naturally endowed Those entailed ills have to be borne as with spirituality in a sufficient degree to best they may, until outgrown by adher-apprehend or realize that the kingdom ence to physical law, which require pa- of heaven has been established upon tience and perseverence in well doing. earth. Those whose minds are suffi FLOYD C. FIELD. Ideal religion, produced by erudite ciently susceptible to truth so that they can scholarship and largely discussed in the comprehend the true significance concernnumerous churches of our time, showing the life of Christ. eloquence, and as far as theory can go, could not well be surpassed, but how much vital energy, effecting the life practices of those who listen to those finely-framed speeches, let those who are able decide. It certainly would be untenable for any one to maintain that mankind as a whole or that even a majority, have reached to such a state of spirituality that they are capable of realizing what is required to be a true child of God's spiritual kingdom. "The natural man come, and whosoever will let him take receiveth not the things of the spirit of the waters of life freely." Therefore God, for they are foolishness unto him; "choose ye this day whom ye will neither can he know them because they serve. are spiritually discerned!" How came man in this tenebrous condition? Why is it that the insipid gustation of sensuality is the predominating desire of mankind? for all are more or less tainted with abnormal animal propensities which undoubtedly are the results of violations of natural laws. Yea, what we are depends largely upon the influences and conditions preceding our birth, and largely upon our course since birth. It is a statistical fact, that the majority who enter this life die in infancy: Why is this? Is it a wonder that the spiritual observation of mankind is so deadened that it is seemingly impossible for the greater portion of humanity to even apprehend spiritual truths? May the time soon come when the world will see the necessity of adhering to the laws of nature, for as we look upon the world in its present condition we can readily perceive why it is that nearly all anxiously choose a religion which gives full license to their sensual nature. They apprehend not the dazzling light of truth which proceeds from a Divine Father and Mother. Undoubtedly there are many who are susceptible to spiritual truths, and they long for something higher and more elevating; animal pleasures satisfy not their inward yearnings. What is the significance of these desires? It demonstrates that they are prepared to enter a higher life and become heirs of the kingdom of God. The spirit and the bride say, come, and let him that heareth, say come, and let him that is athirst 66 South Union, Ky. A VISION. MARION JOHNSON. I SAW beyond earth's shadows A STORY is told by Rabbi G. at a recent meeting in New York City, of a man in Bagdad who was attacked by another, who, when his assailant ran away, instead of pursuing him turned and ran in the opposite direction until he came to the gate of a burial-ground. "Let him go where he will," said he, "I shall finally meet him here, and I will say to him, ' 'My brother, thou hast struck me. I mightest have struck back. I am strong enough for that but I will not. I might complain to the Caliph and he would banish thee. I might call upon Almighty God to send down curses upon thee for the wrong thou didst me, but I will tell thee what I will do. When the time comes, when we both shall have passed this gate and I shall stand at the portals of Paradise, thou by my side, I shall say: "O God, I will not go into Paradise unless this brother goes with me." EDUCATION. No. 7. Its Source and Course. CALVIN G. REED. AGES passed by before we have any certain evidence that the race had any means of preserving and transmitting intelligence from generation to generation only by tradition; the same as is done by the savages of the present. I think it may safely be stated as an indisputable truth, that all facts in science and art were first discovered by studying the relations, movements, and results of the objective world; and then by experiment, and repeated trial, tested and confirmed, and finally placed on record for the benefit of mankind. This primitive, natural method of education, is coming to be more and more, the accepted system of the advanced and successful teachers of the present day. The educational systems of twenty five, fifty, and a hundred years ago, have been weighed in the Philosopher's Scales of practice, and found wanting. Those unacquainted with the mighty changes that have taken place in the normal methods of teaching during the last quarter of a century, can have but a faint conception of the new phases that have come over the thoughtful, intelligent masses. knowledge, wisdom and employment of the eternal future. The germs of man's present and eternal unfoldment, physical, intellectual, ethical, and psychical, were planted in his constitution by the Creator, at the period of his embryotic creation. However simple and crude, the primitive manifestations of these powers were, they gave evidence of their origin, and showed the commencement of a glorious future manhood. Although at first they developed slowly, yet their progress was in the direction of success and perfection. Whatever ideas have been impressed upon mankind respecting the character and constitution of God and of the spirit or subjective world, they have been but the picturesque imagery of the object world as an antitype. The ideal grace and exaltation of angels, the Edenic gardens and ambrosial bowers, fountains, rivers, and fruits of Paradise, with all the perfections of life, society, and conditions of the spirit world are but transformations of the natural world, arrayed in their highest lustre, beauty and perfection. The religious conceptions of man have but kept pace with his advancement in art, science, and civilization. These have been the noblest exponents of his highest conceptions of God and the subReal education, is the legitimate un-jective world. Sculpture, painting and folding of our faculties in the direction architecture, more than any other art, of ultimate, substantial truth. Whatev- exemplify man's purest ideal of Divinier assistance we can obtain to aid us in ty, and the exalted and sublime characthe prosecution of this laudable pursuit, ter of his own spiritual and religious natwe should avail ourselves of, whether it ure. be books, conversation, lectures, or our own unflinching labor and research into the mysteries of the world and life that now is, and which forms the vestibule leading into the invisible realms of What grander monuments of man's lofty ideal of the infinitude and eternity of God can well be conceived than the almost imperishable pyramids of Egypt, the cities of Thebes, and Baalbec, all built out of a pure religious devotion and adoration for the Creative Power of the boundless Universe. In ancient times, apparently all man's skill was directed in honor of religion. All the noted sacred teachers, prophets, and apostles, have drawn all their illustrations of conditions and arrangements in the spirit world, as well as of the states of its inhabitants, whether of happiness or misery, from similar states and conditions intensified, of the objective world, the only one with which they were familiarly acquainted. upright and faithful, who obey the most strictly the voice of God speaking in our souls, will insure the most present and future happiness. Mt. Lebanon, N. Y. GOVERNMENT. MARTHA J. ANDERSON. FROM the earliest history of mankind, in their association as families, tribes, clans, or nations, some form of government, or vested authority, has been found necessary for the protection of the law-abiding, and the punishment of those inclined to evil. The most ancient form was Patriarchal. Every father held control of his own family and servants, which, in many cases, amounted to a large household; and his word to them was more than counsel, it was positive "How can we reason but from what we know, Of things in heaven above or earth below?" Jesus Christ the acknowledged model divine Teacher, in the entire course of his instruction on the subject of religion and spiritual development, drew all his illustrations from earth life and the customs of the people he was teaching. If law. This custom still exists in the Matthew is to be credited, Jesus did all Orient, and among rude and barbarous his religious teachings to the people in parables. So similar did he picture the subjective world in likeness of the objective, that we might be led to conclude that the former is only an embellished edition of the latter. people elsewhere; but, in most cases where they have become numerous, they have blended in tribal relationship, and are governed by chiefs. As these became powerful they overruled weaker tribes, often founding nationalities and kingdoms. No one as yet has been able to give any satisfactory description of the world Absolute monarchy, the first phase to which we are all being swiftly borne, of civilized government, is where full that makes it different from this in its power is in the hands of the Emperor; general aspect. None that have passed he rules according to his sovereign will. the bourne dividing the two worlds, have In some countries on the globe, where ever returned with chart or map of the | the light of civilization has but dimly celestial sphere, to enable us to study its Psycography. As to deductions of those treading this dusty ball, there is such a diversity of opinions, we are left to rely on our own conceptions and conclusions in the solution of the interesting problem. We do generally agree that the most shone; both courtiers and subjects, of such rulers are but trembling vassals, controlled by the caprice and vindictiveness of unrestrained passion and will, void of wisdom and reason. As nations progress, socially and intellectually government is based on broad, righteous and philanthropic principles, |