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Leader (1850-1860), 19th April 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 371, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      in a message of pain along the nerves , justifies the ganglionic nervous centre in determining towards it aswifter supply of blood , or of nervous power , for its cure ; just so the complaint of a parish or town , testified in a report of excessive mortality , or in a petition from the suffering inhabitants , justifies the metropolitan sanitary centre in directing thither , by the medium of a commissioner , the power necessary to abate ita disorder . Again , and further , just as this curative invasion of the liver may be justified not only by its own complaint , but by the complaint of neighbouring organs impeded in their action by the liver ' s disorder ; just so may the remedial interference of a central authority with any house in a town , or any town in a realm , be justified not only by complaints from inhabitants of the disordered place , but also by detriment accruing to the residents in its vicinity .

      " So close , indeed , is the analogy between the two organisms , individual and social , that in both cases the remedy becomes worse than the disease when central interference is premature or excessive ; so as to supersede , instead of regulating and restoring the normal action of the disordered part . A country whose provincial towns should be permanently subject to the direct control of a central sanitary board , ruling by local nominees irresponsible to the ratepayers , would be in the exact condition of an individual , whose local organs of digestion ,

      &c , instead of working spontaneously , should be habitually urged to preternatural activity by the administration of stimulating drugs . In both these cases ( as indeed in all others ) excess is followed by equivalent privation ; and the unnatural tension , kept up for a time by undue excitement , induces , in the social as in the individual organs , a state of ultimate torpor and debility . From centralization in this obnoxious sense our sanitary consolidation differs as much as the occasional use of tonics or aperients differs from habitual gin-drinking , or from Mr . Morrison ' s daily purge . "

      In Socialism this Central and Sectional method of Government is indispensable ; nay , not only ia Socialism , but in every other form of polity ; without it society becomes split into tribes , and the nation disappears in parishes . Next week we shall examine Mr . Toulmin Smith's arguments ; referring meanwhile to the article in the Quarterly as a powerfully argued , beautifully written , defence of the Sanitary Board against the clamours of parish interests , and the prejudices of those who oppose all centralization !

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      RELIGIOUS UNITY . Pure Christianity Restored . A Trealite on an Original and Complete System of theology , founded on the Attributes of the Lord Jehovah . By Philip Wood . Simpkin , Marshall , and Co . The desire for accord and uniformity in religious opinion has for ages filled the hearts and animated the exertions of sincere and earnest men . The sources of this desire have been as various as the ways in which it has been manifested . In some men it has had its rise in a burning zeal for unity in doctrine , in a conviction of the essential

      necessity for the submission of mankind to one unvarying rule of faith , and the erection of one absolute standard to which all inquiry must defer . Once possessed with this conviction , religionists have been hurried on by it irresistibly to the extremest measures , in order to enforce what they have deemed essential . The safety of their own souls , and those of mankind in general , even of offenders against their rule of uniformity , is the end which they have set before themselves to be pursued at all hazards of repose , and all sacrifices of humanity . Once convinced that the unquestioning reception of any dogma is indispensable to future life and happiness , the earnest believer felt himself bound , not only for his own sake and for the rest of the orthodox , but for that of the heretic himself , at any

      cost to enforce it . Others have felt the expediency of an uniform belief for the peace and progress of religion more strongly than its essential necessity to the spiritual welfare of mankind . Two classes of minds have been thus affected , and exertions in two opposite directions have been the consequence . From one quarter has come the effort to persuade men to accept the rule of faith adopted at the period when , as they hold , ChriHtianity prevailed in unadulterated purity ; and held since- that period , semper uhique et ah omnibus , in all timcH , in all places , and by all men , though encumbered by additions and debased by

      corruptions . From another , the eclectic endeavour to cull from exiting systems all points of difference in which oHsentialN arc not involved , trusting that tho residue may form a " bond of peace " by which the " unity of the spirit" may be preserved . The dream of both clutsucs i « amiable , but their task is hopdesH . Amid tho prevalence of independent thought and free inquiry , it is vain to enforce Hiihuimitm to undisputed authority . Amid ho great an attachment to peculiar tenets an our existing sects display , it is us idle to expect that , for years to come , any process of diminution will lead to the establishment of a formula which all will be

      contented to accept . The true policy for those who desire religious peace seems to be this , viz ., to abandon the hope of uniformity in opinion , and to seek to arrive at unity of action in all matters wherein religious men , however widely differing in opinion , may work together for the advancement of those practical measures for the good of humanity , in which they all agree . To carry out this idea into practice may be a work of difficulty , requiring at once clearness in the enunciation of their own views on the part of its maintainers , and a delicate appreciation of and respect for those of others . Years of dogmatic intolerance have drawn men from the

      contemplation of the sources from whence all opinion is derived 5 and it may take years of charitable and friendly intercourse , in the furtherance of practical and benevolent objects , to soften down the rancour engendered by past contentions , and raise up in its room that mutual respect and forbearance that shall make to each the conscientious conviction of his neighbour a sacred thing , which he would shrink from defaming or deriding with the same constancy of purpose as he would resist the defamation or derision of his own . This will not preclude ample and fair discussion . It will , on the contrary , facilitate and encourage it , in that candid and conciliatory spirit in which alone can be undertaken a mutual inquiry after truth .

      The object of the benevolent author of the work before us , may be drawn from the title of his book ; and we are bound to say that he has laboured earnestly and conscientiously to accomplish it . If he should fail , it will be because , while giving full credit to the holders of opposite views for sincerity and praiseworthy zeal , he sets forth his own peculiar notions with more of positiveness than those whom he wishes to bring over to them will be inclined to accept . Apparently a partaker of the views of Swedenborg , he is at issue with most other religionists on the subiects of the Trinity , the Atonement , Election , in

      Predestination , Free Will , &c . The difficulty - volved in the discussion of these questions , and the reconciliation of the apparent contradictions involved in them , will show the arduous character of the task which Mr . Wood has undertaken ; and he has executed it with eloquence , fervour , and consideration for the feelings of those whose views he controverts ; though from the fact of his work being controversial and the advocate of one special set of opinions , it will be acceptable chiefly to those who wish to inquire what the views of his particular sect may be , and to those by whom those views are already entertained . This is the way in which he inculcates THE LAW OF KINDNESS . " Speak kindly to thy brother man for he has many cares thou dost not know—many sorrows thine eye hath not seen ; and grief may be gnawing at his heart-strings , which ere long will snap them in sunder . Oh , speak kindly to him ! Perhaps a word from thec will bo the means to kindle the light of joy in his o ' enshadowed heart , and make his pathway to the tomb a pleasant one . Speak kindly to thy brother man , even though sin haa marred the spirit ' s heauty , and turned into discord the

      once perfect harmony of his being . Harshness can never reclaim him . Kindness may . For , far down beneath all his depravity , there still lingers a spark of the Rpirit ' s loveliness , that one word from thee may kindle to aflame , which will eventually be the means to purify the whole man , and make him what he was designed to be—the true spiritual image of his God . It is enough for thee to know that lie belongs to the common brotherhood of man , and needs thy sympathy . Then give it to him freely—ay , freely ( comparatively ) aa thy Father , who is in heaven , g iveth to thee . "

      Mr . Wood thus speaks of the end and aim of Christianity : — " It was especially the purpose of the Lord Jesus Christ to redeem men from the slavery of HtliishnesH , to raise them to a divine disinterested love . By this he intended his followers should be known , that hit * religion should be broadly divided from all former institutions . He meant thstt this should be worn a . s a frontlet on the brow , should beam as a light from the countenance , should shed a grace over the manners , should give tones of sympathy to the voice , and especially should give energy to do and Buffer for others' good . Here is one of the grand distinctions of Christianity , incomparably grander than all the mysteries which have borne its mime . () ur knowledge of Christianity is to be measured , not by the laboriousneRS with which we have dived into the depths of theological Hysteniti , but by our comprehension of the nature , extent , energy , and glory of that disinterested principle which Christ enjoined us our likeness to God , and aa the perfection of human nature . " And thuH of the soul of all pure Religion , the love of (« od and man : — " This love , increased in us . will not . exhibit , itself by our Hitting at . our ease and with folded li . iinln , idly wishing man well , but by alleviating hix huller ii » gn , imne « Kinj <

      his comforts , removing his ignorance , correcting his errors advancing the knowledge of his true interests , andaseistV * him to form and establish habits of true Christian conduct , founded 011 the Word of GodI ; but the height of this virtue is to be attained , not by the ignorant man , who fears being spoiled by vain philosophy , not by the timid hesitator , who would not dare to look into the works of his Heavenly Father , for fear of being confounded ; but by him alone whose mind is informed by just notions of the constitution , the circumstances , and the destinies of man ; who knows well the organic structure and its relation to all the external objects that surround him , and the manifold vicissitudes to which he is subject ; and who would for the sake of becoming instrumental in raising him from the dust 10 a more elevated place , and of administering to his necessities , be well content to use his talents and time for nis service , from pure ' love to his neighbour . '

      Untitled Article

      BOOKS ON OUR TABLE . General History of the Christian Religion and Church . By Dr Ncander . Translated by Joseph Torrey . New edition , careiuliy revised by the'Reverend A . 3 . W . Morrisr n , B . A . vol . 2 , ( Bonn ' s Standard Library . ) H . G . Bonn . The second volume of Neander ' s erudite and philosophical history of the Church is even more interesting than the first , embracing a minute and comprehensive account of the Gnostics and their particular offshoots : both as connected with Judaism and as opposed to it , and leaning towaids Paganism . Having set forth in his patient manner all the doctiines and tendencies of these sects , Neander then undertakes to show the development of the Catholic Church as it grew up amidst these sects , and absorbed tnem . Origen is treated in masterly style . Valuable also are his sections on the Fathers , for he is one of those rare historians who do not speak at second hand . Two indices are a ded which make reference easy , one of names and subjects , and one of quot * tions and citations .

      Historical and Critical Account of the Caricatures of James Gtlrav . By Thomas Wrig ht and K . H . Kvans . J J H . G . Bohn . An excellent volume to accompany the w irks of Gilray , now unintelligible except by means of some such commentary . Mr . Bohn gives a curious history of the purchase of the plates , formerly worth several thousand pounds , and finally rescued from the melting-pot as old copper by Mr . Bohn , who now issues a complete set of them , to which this volume forms the letter press . It contains much interesting gossip connected with the political and personal history of the latter years of George III . and his reign ; and has been compiled wiih great

      diligence . A Biographical Sketch of JV . C . Macready . By W . J . Fox M . P . ; with Portrait by Tiiorburn : also . Macbeth , being Part IV of iHhakspeare ' s complete Works . Edited by famiiel Phelpa , Esq . Willuughby and Co . An enthusiastic account of the career of Macready , written with more eloquence tJian discrimination , but containing , nevertheless , some fine and subtle touches , and interesting as a complete view of the artist ' s progress . Of the edition of Shakspeare ' s works which Mr . Phelps is superintending , we shall speak at length when it is completed ; hitherto we have only seen two parts ( IV . and VII . ) , and must content ourselves with intimating that the text is taken from the first folio , with such corrections as obvious typographical errors suggest—it is printed in double columns in small but clear type—and has brief

      notes appended . The Operative : I ' arts I . U . III . Hergcr . This periodical belongs , we understand , to a stirring and earnest , body of working men connected with engineering . The contributions are very creditable performances , and display the right spirit . A great deal of useful information and valuable advice is contained in the Operative , especially for operatives ; but its pages are not monopolized by "dry" and "heavy" matter ; tales and sketches . spiritedly told relieve the gravity of politics , and enliven the dulness of social economics .

      Chanticleer ; a Thanksgiving Story of the Peabody Family . By Cornelius Mat hewn . Second Ktluion . lio . st . on : JJ . H . MuHveyand Co . A charming story for young people , illustrating American country life , and bringing out an excellent moral .

      Untitled Article

      Coi'i'Kit Coinaok oi- W ii . mam IV . — When the copper coinn of the last reign appeared , u Blight tinge in the . colour of the . metal excited the suspicion of those accustomed to examine tuich things , that it contained gold , which proved to be the fact ; hence their real value waH greater Hum that for which they panned current , and they were speedily collected and melted down b y manufacturers , principally , J- believe , aa nn alloy to gold , whereby evc-iy particle of thai . niHil whi , h tli yc > rit . aineil wan turned to account . 1 hiivi- turn told that varioiiH I { iriiiiii" ; Miiiii tu \ iiblii'liiiicrit s hint i . ; - < - ¦ 11 m in different parts of I Ik- con n r y u ppoin t . nl t , i cillci t , this Cdiliiiue . — A ' o / i ' . s ami ( iue . ne : ; .

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      April 19 , 1851 . ] SEf ) * ILtaXltT . 371

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      f ^ hitcj'riars ; or the Days of Charles II . ( Railway Library . ) G . Koiitlodfffi . The Dramatic fforks of William Shakspcare , from the text of Johnson , Stevens , and Head , with Glonsarial Notes , Life , t ( c . A new Kdit . ion . By William llazlilt . ( i . Koutled K' "* Christian Aspects of Faith and Duty . DiscourneH . Hy John JiuncH Taylor , It . A . J . Chapman The Odyssey of Homer , with the . Hymns , Epigrams , and Battle of the . /'' rogs and Mice . Literally translated , witli explanatory Note * . My Theodore AIoih Itur . kluy , It . A . II . ( J . Holm . 1 ' cter Little , and tin ; Lucky Sixpence , the 1 ' rogs' Lecture , and other Stories ; ti Versa Hook Jor my Children and their I'Utymatc . s . J . lticlK'viiy-The British Journal of Homwopathy . ( I * art 3 <> . ) 8 . Higliloy .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 19, 1851, page 371, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1879/page/17/