sentiment, for technical infidelity is not spreading, but everywhere waning. It is not true, moreover, that Universalism and Unitarianism and Spiritualism are so rapidly gaining upon the evangelical sects. The better class among the Spiritualists all over the country are dropping away from their societies, and becoming assimilated to the liberal Christian views and fellowship. The Universalists are making commendable efforts in Christianizing the people, and are having steady increase. The Unitarians have never been in any proper sense sectarian. They are without the spirit of intense denominationalism that is essential to rapid outward growth. The work that Unitarianism has done, aside from great practical philanthropies, has been intellectual. Unitarianism has leavened all the sects; and its grandest achievements are not counted by the number of her churches, but in the prevalence of her ideas in all the sects. Το sum it all up, it does seem as if our good Father Hecker is illustrating the old Italian proverb: "When the cause is lost there is enough of words." These different and differing sects of Christians are not without their respective intrinsic worth, and so they remain. Theology is one thing, religion is another. Our religion, thank God, is better than our theology. This for the most part is scholastic, born of the Dark Ages, and entailed upon our times by the power of tradition, which is always a chain about the efforts of progress, and usually the last to be broken. It is a false process when we determine a man's religion by his speculative opinion, this has little to do with it. Religion is of the heart and the spiritual perceptions. Finally, there can scarcely be said to be even a problematic element in this inquiry as to the future of religion in America. It is the very genius of our civilization, it is the very spirit of the age in which we live, to say "what is not of reason is not of God." The world is going wherever reason leads it. For God can only lead men by this power in them, which is the highest expression of himself and the surest evidence of his sovereignty. Outward authorities of church and creed, venerable traditions whose only commendation is their agedness, must give way before the inquiring intellect and devout heart, as darkness gives way at the coming of the sun. And when all speculative theories and priestly dogmatizings, that have so long threatened to paralyze the practical energies of Christianity, are thrown aside as unsavory salt to be trodden under foot of men, — then the divine religion of Jesus, with its simple thesis of love to God, and love to man, will come to be the ultimate religion for all peoples and all timė. "Wherever the shackles of tyranny bind In silence and darkness the God-given mind There, Lord, speed it onward! the truth shall be felt, "Help us turn from the cavil of creeds, to unite Once again for the poor, in defence for the right, |