THE POSITIVISTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIII, Issue 4487, 31 March 1876, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE POSITIVISTS.

The Glasgow Herald' 3 London correspondent ■writes :—Of all the celebrations and ceremonials by which the opening of fhe New Year is marked, none, perhaps, attracts Icbs and deserves more attention tlian that of the Positivists. On the first day of each year the followers of August Comte meet together and certify solemnly their belief in their founder and in the religion of humanity which he inculcated, and express their reverence and regard for all those who, whether alive or dead, consciously or unconsciously, have advanced the scientific-re-ligious system which thoy, the Positivists, firmly believe will survive when all existing forms of religion have disappeared, and ultimately knit together all the nations of this planet. What is known as tho " Positivist School" is a large room in one of the quiet streets in the neighbourhood of Great Ormond-street and the Foundling Hospital, and here every Sunday morning a discourse is given on the principles of Positivism, and on Wednesday evenings discussions are held with any who come with the desire to learn for themselves, and not merely for the purpose of wordy disputation. On Saturday afternoon the attendance was considerably larger than on the other'days of the year, and in spite o£ the weather the room was fairly filled with 70 or SO persons of both sexes, and of all social grades. Amongt the men there were publicists, journalists, and politicians of high name and repute, who, whilst they do not accept the religious part of Comte's theory, are ready to render him all honour for his efforts to systemise a scientific teaching. There were also a few, two or three at the utmost, of the working class, several who seemed to belong to the trading community, and about thirty ladies, none of whom belonged to the strong-minded category, for Comte was no ajaostle of woman's rights. The room itself is plain and simple. Hound the walls are busts of, the twelve types of civilising influences to whom Comte has dedicated the months of the year, and in his calendar each day is assigned to some great man of the past whose name and work is associated with the special '' saint" to whom the month is dedicated. For instance, the month of Aristotle contains a list full of the mental and gmoral philosophers to whom Comte assigns a place in the month. Portraits of some of the subordinate "saints" are hung beneath busts of their great prototypes. At the extreme end of the room is a small reading desk of no external beauty, and behind it on the wall a medallion of Auguste Comte himself, whilst near him is a portrait of Madame Clotllde de Yaux the lady who most sympathised with the apostle of humanity, and aided him in his work by her counsel and support. The Positivists displayed a very laudable punctuality in arriving at the appointed hour, suggesting to those who were not of their way of thinking that, after all the conventional and often discordant means of summoning congregations might be advantageously dispensed with, at least in our towns, where it is not difficult to learn the hour of the day. Precisely at half-past four rose Dr. .Richard Congreve, who holds, I believe, in England, the rank of High Priest of Humanity, or would do so, if the sacerdotal system designed by Comte could be constructed and maintained. Ho commenced his discourse with the Positivist formnla, "Love our principle, order our basis, progress our object.: live for others and livo without concealment." He next read from Thomas A'lvempis' Imitation of Christ, a few of those passages in which the great Christian mystic shows how love is or should be the pivot upon which all our life should turn, and that for him whom we love we are or should bo ready to suffer all things. Then followed a sort of general litany or expression of reverence for all who had by their lives and doctrines done ought to advance Positivist principles. During this portion of the service the real disciples and followers of Comte who have accepted his doctrines in their entirety, rose to their feet, and remained standing so long as Dr. Congreve continued his pa:nn of praise in their honor. On its conclusion, he briefly passed in review the progress of Positivism during the last twelve months, which X fear only the most ardent and sanguine of its adherents could have looked upon as encouraging. Neither in this country nor in America could any definite adhesions from fresh members be referred to ; and although Dr. Congreve spoke of the two first sacraments of the Positivist faith, "reception and initiation," having' been celebrated in two instances, it did not appear that their recipients were converts from without, but merely persons trained in the doctrines, who by process of time had reached the period at which these two ceremanies are imposed. After this Dr. Con-i greve commenced what was the really inte--. esting portion of his address to outsiders,; and he chose for his theme the features of; "Human Catholicism" offered by Positivism! j as opposed to the " Koman'Catholicism , ; ofj the Latin races of Europe, orthe " TeutoniCj Catholicism," as' ; he^tercne^ as adopted by tlic" northern nations, and pointed out in striking and eloquent language the difficulties which stood', in the way of

either one of theao orer subduing or absorbing the other, vrhilst the past history of both prevented each alike from rallying to itself the countless millions who are known as Mohammedans and Buddhists. It was the mission, ho arguad, of Positivism or Human Catholicism, to gather all these' apparently antagonistic forms of faith into one fold, not by any miraculous agency, nor by any display of physical coercion, but by sheer force of persuasion and attraction, and Dr. Congreve expressed not the least doubt or hesi- ! tation as to the final success of the creed to which he has devoted his life and great.powers of mind. I will not give any analysis of his Bubtle arguments, which I should only spoil in attempting to condense, nor would it be possible to convey any adequate notion of the admirable language and earnest genj tleness with which they were urged. That Dr. Csngreve. attracts most of those with whom he is brought in contact is not surprising, considering the wide range of his abilities, and still wider range of : his sympathies, but he will have need of more than the eloquence of the rhetorician, and of the tenderness of the pleader to induce the world at large to accept Auguste Comte as the *'Union of St. Paul and Aristotle."