THE REV. J. NIXON ON INDIVIDUALISM.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8830, 14 July 1890, Page 2

THE REV. J. NIXON ON INDIVIDUALISM.

The Rev. J. Nixon lectured on Sunday evening in the Primitive Methodist Church on the Bubjectjof " Individualism." Takingfor his theme Galatians vi. 2, " Bear ye one another's burdens," the rev. gentleman commenced by contrasting the Christian, with the Greek ideal of Individ* ualism. Greek philosophy aimed at self-culture : *' Consider your^ self;" "save yourself;" "deveJ lop yourself." Even Plato never reached' the conception of the love of the brother* hood. The element of self-seeking, tho attainment ' ot the highest good for the individual is its refrain. Buddhism preached self-sacrifice, and was at first sight one of the most refined systems of lur.Lanisin. But, on examination, Buddhism was found to be self destruction or suicide. Christianity reconciled the individualism of both systems. It taught us that we could best save our own souls by helping to save others; that the way to selfdovelopment is through sympathy. Fling your soul into the sorrowß of others, and fulfil the law of Christ. It was the duty of Christians not to" be always talking about heaven, but to try and make earth more like heaven. He was not a follower of Matthew Arnold. But that apostle of lucidity had done good by teaching that religion is something more than having a good time : that it is for the most part •conduct — living for the good of othors— ■ walking uprightly, loving justice and mercy. He then attacked the gospel , of confiscation that some preached, —a division of property^ JNot till they had reconstructed . human nature, and endowed all men with tho same faculties, mi fowl a Mibutjpo tf yrqpri? my

week, would such a golden ago be brought about. The cry of to-day was union. No doubt the spirit of Christ was in it, though the loadeis might not acknowledge His Kingship. It was* the Cross that taught men the last lesson of self-sacrifice, that the way-to help, others is to be permeated with the mind of Christ.