The Christian or true constitution of man, exposing the fallacies of Mr. Combe's "Constitution of man", and of his work "On the relation between science & religion." / by Phineas Deseret.

  • Deseret Phineas.
Date:
1858
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The Christian or true constitution of man, exposing the fallacies of Mr. Combe's "Constitution of man", and of his work "On the relation between science & religion." / by Phineas Deseret. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. The original may be consulted at the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh.

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    and the diffusion of useful knowledge, that we trust will not cease to operate till a higher culture be placed within the reach of the poorest in the land. But the benefits arising to the great masses of the population had no sooner exhibited themselves, than a breaking up of the coalition that had worked so harmoniously began to take place. The clergyman of the high church party, in the spiritual pride of his order, feeling the awkwardness of being allied with such a motley mixture of earth’s mould, and being now quite safe in the enjoyment of his living, could not help looking askance at the extraordinary brotherhood to which he found himself united. He had no one sentiment in common with them, excepting a desire to preserve the present order of things, and that being accomplished, their fellowship must cease. Nay, he commenced sifting and analysing from his own point of view, the opinions, on the subject of education, of the clergy of other Protestant denominations, and finding that their de- mands were founded on a broader basis than the Established Church, or had some sectarian interest in their eye, he broke from them with greater indignation than he had manifested towards those who were actuated only by general benevolence, or a sense of duty irrespective of all religious influences. Thus a disseverance was originated and established among the various denominations of Christians on the subject of education, for, overlooking the great interests of mankind, they fought with and abused each other about distinctions that would have been submerged and for- gotten before the lapse of a year after the settlement of the question. Thus, the subject of education has of late suffered chiefly from the unseemly broils and differences which have arisen among its pretended friends. Its enemies, if it now has any, have long since withdrawn all opposition, or left it to the result of the civil warfare which is now being waged in the camps of the various denominations of Christian brethren. The war-cries which have been raised by the different combatants have led reflecting men to consider the connection that subsists between reli- gion and education, and whether they are attracted by a mere fashion- able sentiment to the side of Christianity, or are influenced by a deeper insight into its vital power, the great majority of statesmen and thinkers have adopted the Christian view. These tendencies, however, may spring from no deeper source than the all-pervading opinion of society, and thus our statesmen may be nothing more than the mere mirrors of popular thought. We would gladly persuade our- selves, however, that they are guided by a more penetrating insight into the real nature of the question,— that they see in all its bearings the searching and far-reaching spirit of Christianity, and form a just es- timate of it as an element in mental culture. Be this as it may, a decided sentiment has set in in favour of Christian in preference to mere secular education ; for although the secular educationists are still in the field, and are struggling to maintain their ground, they are fast giving way before the overwhelming energy of Christian thought. As the secularists, how- ever, are one and undivided in point of feeling on the subject of educa- tion, and a3 the various denominations of Christians are in a state of the most violent hostility to each other on the same subject, so much so that u