ng men are not satisfied with
the old ideas. They find that the church, after all, is opposed
to learning; that it is the enemy of progress; that it says to
every young man, "Go slow. Don't allow your knowledge to puff you
up. Recollect that reason is a dangerous thing. You had better
be a little ignorant here for the sake of being an angel hereafter,
than quite a smart young man and get damned at last." The church
warns them against Humboldt and Darwin, and tells them how much
nobler it is to come from mud than from monkeys; that they were
made from mud. Every college professor is afraid to tell what he
thinks, and every student detects the cowardice. The result is
that the young men have lost confidence in the creeds of the day
and propose to do a little thinking for themselves. They still
have a kind of tender pity for the old folks, and pretend to believe
some things they do not, rather than hurt grandmother's feelings.
In the presence of the preachers they talk about the weather or
other harmless subjects, for fear of bruising the spirit of their
pastor. Every minister likes to consider himself as a brave shepherd
leading the lambs through the green pastures and defending them at
night from Infidel wolves. All this he does for a certain share
of the wool. Others regard the church as a kind of social
organization, as a good way to get into society. They wish to
attend sociables, drink tea, and contribute for the conversion of
the heathen. It is always so pleasant to think that there is
somebody worse than you are, whose reformation you can help pay
for. I find, too, that the young women are getting tired of the
old doctrines, and that everywhere, all over this country, the
power of the pulpit wanes and weakens. I find in my lectures that
the applause is just in proportion to the radicalism of the thought
expressed. Our war was a great educator, when the whole people of
the North rose up grandly in favor of human liberty. For many
years the great question of human rights was discussed from every
stump. Every paper was filled with splendid sentiments. An
application of those doctrines--doctrines born in war--will forever
do away with the bondage of superstition. When man has been free
in body for a little time, he will become free in mind, and the
man who says, "I have a equal right with other men to work and reap
the reward of my labor," will say, "I have, also, an equal right
to think and reap t