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Untitled Article
the past ; that its dogmas will include , will be the synthesis of all the conceptions or ideas , of all the modes of being of man ; that the social political institution , considered as a whole , will be a religfious institution . The exposition of the Saint Simonian faith or doctrine , and the political institution which is to carry it into practice , are to be the subjects of a second volume , which is announced . "
In continuing our notice of this subject , we are struck with the reflection , how often and how strongly the current of human improvement runs out into new channels , and starts off with a strong impatience of present evils in directions which might have been the least expected . It is heart-cheering to see the youthful ardour with which some of the late aspirants after military glory are throwing away , not the scabbard but the sword , and directing all their talents and energies to the best , the wisest , the noblest warfare , to the conquest of overpowering and all-engrossing selfishness ; to inculcate the
wickedness and folly of war—the cultivation of all the arts of peace , the mutual love and co-operation of all mankind as brethren , and the especial care of the interests , moral , intellectual and physical , of the poor , the needy , and those who have none to help them . These are the important objects which the followers of Saint Simon profess to have in view , and these they seem resolved to pursue with system and energy ; with the strong conviction that the world is in progress , they look back only for instruction ; they dwell on the future , and seem to live for it alone . Much of the mass of antiquated
prejudice which encumbers the minds , and fetters the actions , of men , has been thrown off by the French They have had a severe purification ; they have dearly purchased their liberation from mental thraldom ; with their burthens they lost for a time much of their ballast ; may we not hope that the time approaches in which they will prove , that the loss has been but temporary , the gain permanent and incalculable ? The Saint Simonites have fallen into the common error of the opponents of Christianity , which , with the
Catholic , the Greek , the Lutheran , and other established churches before them , is not matter of wonder . They confound the corruptions of Christianity with Christianity itself , and consequently represent the whole institution as transitory , and about to be superseded by a better , a purer system , their own . But if they will study it a little more profoundly , if they will separate the accumulated dross from the pure gold , and discriminate between that which was of necessity temporary , and applicable only to its first institution , from
the pure , simple , eternal principles , which cannot be improved , and which cannot be superseded , they will be satisfied that no new revolution is needed to afford them a basis broad enough to erect a superstructure stable , enduring , and adapted to all the wants of humanity . The influence of a hierarchy such as they propose , would be not a little dangerous , at least until human nature should have made such progress , that the maxim , ' * We should love each other as brethren , " shall have completely annihilated every desire of distinction for its own sake , and every exercise of influence for selfish objects . Should their sanguine expectations be disappointed in the extent of their success , it is yet good thus to draw forth the minds and affections of men , and immense benefit must be produced .
Untitled Article
The Saint Simonites . 189
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Citation
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Monthly Repository (1806-1838) and Unitarian Chronicle (1832-1833), March 2, 1831, page 189, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/mruc/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2595/page/45/
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