RELIGION AND SOCIAL CULTURE.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7862, 13 May 1891, Page 3

RELIGION AND SOCIAL CULTURE.

TO THB XDITOS OS THB PRESS. Sib, —The activity of ecelcsiasticism is no more a proof of the advance of religion than the multiplication of pronounced Freethinkers and Atheists is a proof of its de-

cline. There may be fashions in both instances prevalent at any given time. Religion consists in a recognition of the obligations under which we lie to the Creator as such, and also in those obligations which His expressed will imposes upon us with respect to Himself and His creation. It is difficult to measure the degree to which these obligations are being fulfilled at the present time, and equally difficult to compare in this respect the present with the past fifty years ago. We see increased activity in the home and foreign mission work of the Church. We behold the multiplication of Societies having for their objects either the conferring some good upon various portions of society, or the remornl of evils which afflict them. There is certainly a manifestation of a spirit of helpfulness, but can we say that all of it is of a religious character ! The want of principle which characterises some of it forbids us so to think. Again, the attendance at churches Trill not enable us to gauge the religious character of our day, for although it is true that religious people unless prejmdiced or cranky, do make an outward profession of their faith in God, and offer to Him worship in public ; yet such persons are mixed amongst many others who attend churches from custom or for other reasons. Hence the ordinary observer may confuse attendance at church with religious character. Even zeal in the building of churches and the profuse decoration of them is no gauge as to the increase of religion, for this may be to a large extent but a fashion of the times. On the other hand, in these days of liberty and license it is more easy to gauge the extent of irreligion than in days when the State thought fit to repress it. To-day irreligion in many cases fears not to show itself openly. It finds that numbers of others who do not care to announce their irreligion to the world are, nevertheless, not only willing to tolerate it, but even give it their countenance ; so that scepticism speaks to us from the pulpit, the professor's chair, the platform, the Press, and even from the schoolmaster's desk. It ia quite true that the past fifty years have witnessed great scientific discoveries, and, as a result of them, a considerable increase in the wealth, comfort, and luxury of many, while many of the conveniences and necessaries of life have been brought within the reach of numbers of persons who formerly could not obtain them. Still our increase of luxury has not brought us an increase of true refinement. We have a little veneer of politeness, much chic and slang, plenty of vulgarity, unlimited selfishness, dishonest ingenuity of thought and action, and a great horror of the policeman. Yet even this docs not say that there is necessarily more irreligion than prevailed before the advances of science. These unsatisfactory manifestations of humanity may be only the natural outcome of the bringing-up and schooling of our day. Society changes its dress and modes of living, irreligion may be more or less manifest; but it has existed, and exists stilL

God has had, and has, and will have, those who serve Him according to the help and gifts he bestows upon them, and with more or less faithfulness. Much of their work and their worship will be done where the public gaze does not follow them. They and their works are known to the Father who eeeth in secret, who will reward them openly.

I can see that there is a connection between the manifestation of scepticism and the freedom of speech and publishing from State control; butlseeno connection between the advance of science and the advance of irreligion. Science may enlarge the knowledge of the ways and works of Him upon whom we lean, but faith depends not upon man's discoveries of the works of God, but upon God's revelation of Himself to man.— I am, &c,

Observes;