ButwhilethesegreatservicesatSt。Peter’sinthosehalcyondayswereperfectintheirkind，thesamecouldnotbesaidofmanyothers。TheworstthatIeversaw——onewhichespeciallydwellsinmymemory——wasatPisa。Ihadpreviouslyvisitedtheplaceandknewitwell，sothatwhen，oneSundaymorning，aCanadianclergymanatthehotelwishedtogotothecathedral，I
offeredtoguidehim。Hewasevidentlyamanofdeepsincerity，and，aswassoonrevealedbyhisconversation，ofhigh—churchandevenritualistictendencies;but，tomygreatsurprise，heremarkedthathehadneverattendedserviceinaRomanCatholicchurch。Arrivingatthecathedraltoolateforthehighcelebration，wewalkeddownthenaveuntilwecametoasidealtarwhereapriestwasgoingthroughalowmass，withasmallcongregationofdelayedworshipers，andwetookourplacebackofthese。Thepriestracedthroughtheserviceatthehighestpossiblespeed。Hismotionswerelikethoseofanautomaton:hekeptturningquicklytoandfroasifonapivot;claspinghishandsbeforehisbreastasifbymachinery;bowinghisheadasifitmovedbyaspringinhisneck;mumblingandrattlinglikewindinachimney;thechoir—boywhoservedthemasswithhimjinglinghisbellasirreverentlyasifhewereconductingagreen—grocer’scart。MyAnglicancompanionimmediatelybegantobeunhappy，andwassoondeeplydistressed。Hegroanedagainandagain。Hewhispered，\"Goodheavens，isitlikethis？Isthisthewaytheydoit？Thisisfearful！\"Aswecamefromthechurchhewasverysorrowful，andIadministeredtohimsuchcomfortasI
could，butnothingcouldremedythismostpainfuldisenchantment。
AndhereImaysaythatIhaveneverbeenabletounderstandhowanyAnglicanchurchmancanfeelanyinsufficiencyintheLord’sSupperasadministeredinhisownbranchofthechurch。Ihavenevertakenpartinit，butmorethanonceIhavelingeredtoseeit，andeveninitssimplestformithasalwaysgreatlyimpressedme。Itisaservicewhichallcanunderstand;itswordshavecomedownthroughtheages;itsceremonialiscalm，comprehensible，touching;andthewholeideaofcommunioninmemoryofthelastsceneintheSaviour’slife，whichbringstheworshiperintolovingrelationnotonlywithhim，butwithallthechurch，militantandtriumphant，is，tomymind，infinitelynoblerandmorereligiousthanallparaphernalia，genuflexions，andman—millinery。HowanyProtestant，however\"high\"inhistendencies，canfeelotherwiseisincomprehensibletome。
AtthatfirstofmymanyvisitstoRome，therehadcomeoneexperiencewhichhadgreatlysoftenedanyofmyinheritedProtestantprejudices。OurpartyhadbeenlumberingalongalldayontheroadfromCivitaVecchia，whensuddenlytheredashedbyusafinetraveling—coachdrawnbyfourhorsesriddenbypostilions。
Hardlyhaditpassedwhentherecameascream，andourcarriagestopped。Weatfirsttookitforgrantedthatitwasanattackbybandits，but，ongettingoutandapproachingtheothercoach，foundthatoneofthepostilions，abeautifulItalianboyofsixteen，injauntycostume，hadbeenthrownfromhishorse，hadbeenrunoverbythewheelsofthecoach，andnowlayattheroadsidegaspinghislast。Westoodabouthim，tryingtoeasehispain，whenayoungpriestcamerunningfromaneighboringchurch。
Heshowednodeferencetothegorgeouslydressedpersonageswhohaddescendedfromthecoach;hewasregardlessofallconventionalities，obliviousofallsurroundings，hisonethoughtbeingevidentlyofhisdutytothepoorsuffererstretchedoutbeforehim。Heknelt，tenderlykissedtheboy，administeredextremeunction，andrepeatedsoftlyandearnestlytheprayersforthedying，towhichferventresponsescamefromthepeasantskneelingabouthim。Thewholescenedidmuchtotonedownthefeelingswhichhadbeenarousedthepreviousdaybythefilthandbeggaryatthepapalportwherewehadlanded，andtopreparemeforamorecharitablejudgmentofwhatIwastoseeinthepapalcity。
ButanearlyexperienceinRomeshowedalessbeautifulmanifestationofChristianzeal。Wewereabandofstudents，sixinnumber，whohadjustclosedayearofstudyattheUniversityofBerlin;andtheyoungest，whomIwillcallJackSmith，wasabrightyoungfellow，sonofawealthyNewEnglandmanufacturer。
TheeveningafterarrivinginRome，Jack，callingonanAmericanaunt，wasintroducedtoapriestwhohappenedtobemakingheravisit。Itwasinstantlyevidentthatthepriest，FatherCataldi，knewwhatJack’sworldlyprospectswere;forfromthefirsthewasexcessivelypolitetotheyouth，andwhenthelatterremarkedthatduringhisstayinRomehewouldliketotakeItalianlessons，thepriestvolunteeredtosendhimateacher。Nextday，attheappointedhour，theteacherappeared，andinthepersonofthepriesthimself。ThenceforwardhestucktotheyoungAmericanlikeabrother，kepthimawayfromtherestofusasmuchaspossible，andservednotonlyashisteacher，butashiscicerone。
AmongvariousdignitariestowhomhepresentedtheyoungAmericanwashisEminenceCardinalTosti;andwhenthecardinalextendedhishandtobekissed，Jackgraspedandcordiallyshookit。Thetwoclericalgentlemenwereevidentlydisconcerted;butthepriestsaidtothecardinal，inanundertone，\"eunprincipeAmericano，\"whereuponthecardinalseemedrelievedandshookhandsheartily。
Oneday，whenthepriestwasnotwithourcompanion，weallvisitedoneofthebasilicas，wheresomegreatfunctionwasgoingon，and，thoughwefoundacrowdatthedoors，obtainedasightofthehighaltar，——andthere，inmagnificentattire，inthemidstofthegreatprelates，wasapersonwhoboreamoststrikingresemblancetoJack’sclericalguide。Wewereallstruckbythiscuriouscoincidence，butconcludedthatinthedistanceandthroughthecloudsofincensewehadsimplyseenachanceresemblance，andinthemultitudeofmatterswesoonforgotit。A
monthafterward，aswewereleavingRome，Jackaskedhisnewfriendforhisbill，whereuponthepriestdrewhimselfupwithasuperbgestureand，presentinghiscard，said:\"YouevidentlydonotknowwhoIam。\"Thecardboretheinscription，\"MonsignorCataldi，MasterofthePapalCeremonies。\"TheyoungAmericanwasquiteconfounded，butlistenedsubmissivelywhilethisdignitaryexpressedthehopethattheymightyetmeetwithinthepaleofthatchurchwhichalonecouldgiveaclaimtosalvation。
TheconditionofRomeatthatperiodwasnotsuchastoinducemuchrespectforpriestlygovernment。Anythingmoredirty，slipshod，andwretchedcouldhardlybeimagined。Norailwayshadyetbeenallowed;theVaticanmonsignorifeelingbyinstinctthetruthstatedbyBuckle，thatrailwayspromotethecominginofnewideas。Nordidthemoralconditionofthepeopleseemtobeanybetter。
AnyonewhovisitsRometo—day，withthearmyofmonkssweptoutoftheplace，withstreetswellcleaned，withtheexcavationsscientificallyconducted，withagovernmentwhich，whateveritsfaults，isatanyratepatriotic，findsitdifficulttoimaginethevilenessofthecityundertheoldregime。
But，badaswasRome，Napleswasworse。ThewretchedBourbonthenonthethrone，\"KingBomba，\"wastheworstofhiskind。Ourministerofthatperiod，Mr。RobertDaleOwen，gavemesomeaccountsoftheconditionofthings。Hetoldme，asamatteroffact，thatanyyoungmanshowingearnestpurposeofanysortwasimmediatelysuspectedanddiscouraged，whileworthlessyoungdebaucheeswereregardedasharmless，andthereforefavored。
ThemostcherishedcounseloroftheKingwasApuzzo，ArchbishopofSorrento。InadditiontowhatIhavealreadysaidofLeopardi’spoliticalcatechism，whichthearchbishopforceduponthepeople，Imaynotethatthisworktookgreatpainstoshowthatnoeducationwasneededsavejustenoughtoenableeachmantoaccomplishhisdutieswithinthelittlesphereinwhichhewasborn，andthatforthegreatbodyofthepeopleeducationwasacurseratherthanablessing。Theresultofthispolicywasevident:thenumberofpersonsunabletoreadorwrite，whichwasfromfortytofiftypercent。inPiedmont，wasfromsixtytosixty—fivepercent。inRome，fromeightytoeighty—fivepercent。inthePapalStates，andaboveeighty—fivepercent。inNaplesandSicily。[38]
[38]SeemapsinVol。II，of\"L’ItalisEconomicanel1873\"（Roma，TipografiaBarbera，1873）。Thisworkwastheresultofofficialsurveysandmostcarefulstudiesmadebyleadingeconomistsandstatisticians。ForacopyofitIamindebtedtoMr。H。N。Gay，FellowofHarvardUniversity。
IalsohadtheadvantageofbeingpresentatthegreatreligiousfunctionofNaples——theliquefactionofthebloodofSt。
Januarius，patronofthecity。ItwasinthegorgeouschapelofthesaintwhichformspartoftheCathedralofNaples，andtheplacewasfilledwithdevoutworshipersofeveryclass，fromtheofficialsincourtdress，representingtheBourbonking，downtothelowestlazzaroni。Thereliquaryofsilvergilt，shapedlikealargehumanhead，andsupposedtocontaintheskullofthesaint，wasfirstplaceduponthealtar;next，twovials，containingadarksubstancesaidtobehisblood，werealsoplaceduponthealtar，nearthehead。Asthepriestssaidprayers，theyturnedthevialsfromtimetotime;and，theliquefactionbeingsomewhatdelayed，thegreatcrowdofpeopleburstoutintomoreandmoreimpassionedexpostulationsandpetitionstothesaint。Justinfrontofthealtarwerethelazzaroniwhoclaimedtobedescendantsofthesaint’sfamily，andthesewereespeciallyimportunate:atsuchtimestheybeg，theyscold，theyeventhreaten;theyhavebeenknowntoabusethesaintroundly，andtotellhimthat，ifhedoesnotcaretoshowhisfavortothecitybyliquefyinghisblood，St。CosmoandSt。Damianarejustasgoodsaintsashe，andwill，nodoubt，beverygladtohavethecitydevoteitselftothem。Atlast，aswewerebeginningtobeimpatient，thepriest，turningthevialssuddenly，announcedthatthesainthadperformedthemiracle，andinstantlypriests，people，choir，andorganburstforthintoagreat\"TeDeum\";
bellsrangandcannonroared;aprocessionwasformed，andtheshrinecontainingthesaint’srelicswascarriedthroughthestreets，thepeopleprostratingthemselvesonbothsidesofthewayandshoweringrose—leavesupontheshrineanduponthepathbeforeit。Thecontentsofthesepreciousvialsareaninterestingrelicindeed，fortheyrepresenttousvividlythatperiodwhenmenwhowerewillingtogotothestakefortheirreligiousopinionsthoughtitnotwrongto\"savesouls\"bypiousmendacityandconsecratedfraud。Tothescientificeyethismiracleisverysimple:thevialscontain，nodoubt，oneofthosewaxymixturesfusingatlowtemperature，which，whilekeptinitsplacewithinthecoldstonewallsofthechurch，remainssolid，butwhich，uponbeingbroughtoutintothehot，crowdedchapelandfondledbythewarmhandsofthepriests，graduallysoftensandbecomesliquid。Itwascurioustonote，atthetimeabovementioned，thateventhehighfunctionariesrepresentingtheKinglookedatthemiraclewithawe:theyevidentlyfound\"joyinbelieving，\"andoneofthemassuredmethattheonlythingwhichCOULDcauseitwasthedirectexerciseofmiraculouspower。
So，too，Ihadhereanopportunitytostudyoneofthefundamentalideasoftheprevalenttheology——namely，thedoctrineof\"intercession，\"whichhasplayedsuchapartnotonlyinCatholicbutinProtestantcountries，——theideathat，justasinanearthlycourtback—stairsinfluenceisnecessarytosecurefavor，soitmustbeintheheavenlycourts。IwasmuchedifiedbythewayinwhichthisdoctrinewaspresentedincertaingreatpicturesrepresentingtheinterventionoftheAlmightytosaveNaplesfromtheplague。Oneofthem，asIrememberit，represented，onanenormouscanvas，thewholetransactionasfollows:IntheimmediateforegroundthepeopleofNapleswererepresentedontheirkneesbeforetheirmagistrates，beggingthemtorescuethecityfromthepestilence;fartherbackthemagistrateswererepresentedasontheirkneesbeforethemonks，beggingfortheirprayers;themonkswereontheirkneesbeforeSt。Januarius，begginghimtointervene;St。JanuariuswasthenrepresentedasonhiskneesbeforetheBlessedVirgin;theBlessedVirginwasthenpicturedasbeseechingherdivineSon;
andheatlastwasrepresentedaspresentingthepetitiontoatriangleintheheavensbehindwhichappearedthelineamentsofavenerableface。
Onecanunderstand，afterseeingpicturesofthiskind，whatErasmuswasthinkingof，fivehundredyearsago，whenhewrotehiscolloquyof\"TheShipwreck，\"themostexquisitesatireonmediaevaldoctrineevermade。Afteramostcomicalaccountofthepetitionsandpromisesmadebytheshipwreckedtovarioussaints，Adolphussays:\"Towhichofthesaintsdidyoupray？\"Antonyanswers，\"Tonotoneofthemall，Iassureyou。Idon’tlikeyourwayofbargainingwiththesaints:’DothisandI’lldothat。
Hereissomuchforsomuch。SavemeandIwillgiveyouataperorgoonapilgrimage。’Justthinkofit！IshouldcertainlyhaveprayedtoSt。Peter，iftoanysaint;forhestandsatthedoorofheaven，andsowouldbelikeliesttohear。ButbeforehecouldgototheAlmightyandtellhimmycondition，Imightbefiftyfathomsunderwater。\"Adolphus:\"Whatdidyoudothen？\"Antony:
\"IwentstraighttoGodhimself，andsaidmyprayertohim;thesaintsneitherhearsoreadilynorgivesowillingly。\"
Inthecityitselfwerefilth，blasphemy，andobscenityunspeakable。NostrangercouldtakehisseatatacafewithouthavingproposalsopenlymadetohimwhichwouldhavedisgracedPompeii。Cheateryandlyingprevailedonallsides。Outsidethecitywasbrigandage，——somuchsothatvariouspartiesgoingtoPaestumtookpainstocombinetheirforcesandtobeararms。
This，then，wastheoutcomeoffifteenhundredyearsofChristiancivilizationinalandwhichhadbeenentirelyinthehandsofthechurchauthoritieseversincethedownfalloftheRomanEmpire;acountryinwhicheducation，intellectual，moral，andreligious，hadbeenfromthefirstinthehandsofabody，claiminginfallibilityinitsteachingoffaithandmorals，whichhadmoldedrulersandpeopleatitsownwillduringallthesecenturies。Thiswastheresult！Itseemedtomethen，asitseemstomenow，areductioadabsurdumoftheclaimsofanychurchtosuperintendtheeducationofapeople;andifitbeinsistedthatthereisanythingexceptionalinItaly，onemaypointforexamplesofthesameresultstoSpain，theSpanishrepublics，Poland，andsundryothercountries。
BeforegoingtoItaly，Ihadtakenpainstoreadasmuchaspossibleofthehistoryofthecountry，and，amongotherworks，hadwadedthroughthetenoctavovolumesofSismondi’s\"HistoryoftheItalianRepublics，\"aswellasGibbon’s\"DeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire\";andthishistoryhadservedtoshowmewhatanybodyofecclesiastics，notresponsibletosoundlayopinion，maybecome。InlookingoverthepasthistoryandpresentconditionofItaly，thereconstantlyranginmyearsthatgreatwarningbyChristhimself，\"Bytheirfruitsyeshallknowthem。\"
CHAPTERLXI
INLATERYEARS——1856—1905
OnmyreturntoAmericaIremainedforashorttimeasaresidentgraduateatNewHaven，andtheregainedafriendwhoinfluencedmemosthappily。ThiswasProfessorGeorgeParkFisher，atthattimeinchargeoftheuniversitypulpit，anadmirablescholarandhistorian。Hisreligiousnature，rootedinNewEnglandorthodoxy，hadcometoabroadandnoblebloomandfruitage。Wittyandhumorous，whiledeeplythoughtful，hisdiscussionswereofgreatvaluetome，andourlongwalkstogetherremainamongthemostpleasingrecollectionsofmylife。Hehadageniusforconversation;infact，hewasoneofthetwoorthreebestconversationistsIhaveeverknown，andhisinfluenceonmythinking，bothasregardsreligiousandsecularquestions，wasthoroughlygood。Whilewedidnotbyanymeansfullyagree，I
cametoseemoreclearlythaneverwhatareallyenlightenedChristianitycandoforaman。
IhadreturnedtoAmericainthehopeofinfluencingopinionfromaprofessor’schair，andmydearoldfriendProfessor——afterwardPresident——PorterurgedmetoremaininNewHaven，assuringmethattheprofessorshipofhistoryforwhichIhadbeenpreparingmyselfabroadwouldbeopentomethere。AfewyearslateraprofessorshipatYalewasofferedme，andinawayforwhichI
shallalwaysbegrateful;butitwasnottheprofessorshipofhistory:fromthatIwasdebarredbymyreligiousviews，andthereforeitwasthat，havingbeenelectedtoaprofessorshipinthatdepartmentattheStateUniversityofMichigan，I
immediatelyandgladlyentereduponitsduties。
InstalledinthisnewpositionatAnnArbor，Inotonlythrewmyselfveryheartilyintomywork，butbecameinterestedinchurchandothergoodworkasitwentonaboutme。Fromtheforceofoldassociations，andbecausemyfamilyhadalsobeenbroughtupintheEpiscopalChurch，Iattendeditsservicesregularly;
and，whileitrepresentedmuchthatIcouldnotaccept，therewerenoblemeninitwhobecamemyverydearfriends，withwhomI
wasgladtowork。
Ithasalwaysseemedtomeratheranamusingepisodeinmylifeduringthisperiodthat，inspiteofgravedoubtsregardingmyorthodoxy，myfriendselectedmevestrymanofSt。Andrew’sChurchatAnnArbor，andgavemefullpowertoselectandcallarectorfortheparishatmynextvacationexcursionintheEast。ThisinduetimeIproceededtodo。AttendingtheconventionoftheEpiscopalChurchinthedioceseofWesternNewYork，Iconsultedwithvariousclericalfriends，visitedoneortwoplacesinordertohearsundryclergymenwhowererecommendedtome，andatlastcalledtoourrectorateamanwhoprovedtobenotonlyablessingtothatparish，buttotheStateatlarge。IntheannalsofAmericancharitableworkhisnameiswritlarge，thoughprobablythereneverlivedamanmoreaversetopublicity。Hehassincebeenmadeabishop，andinthatcapacityhasshownthesameself—sacrificeanddevotiontoworksofmercywhichmarkedhiscareeraspastor。
Astomyreligiousideasingeneral，theywereatthattimeinfluencedinvariousways。Ireadmuchecclesiasticalhistoryasgivenbyleadingauthorities，ProtestantandCatholic，andinvariousoriginaltreatisesbythinkerseminentinthehistoryofthechurch。Amarkedinfluencewasexerciseduponmebyreadingsundrylivesofthemediaevalsaints:eventhequaintestoftheseshowedmehow，inspiteofchildlikecredulity，mostnobleliveshadbeenled，wellworthytobeponderedoverintheselatercenturies。
Thegeneraleffectofthisreadingwastoarouseinmeadmirationforthemenwhohavetakenleadingpartsindevelopingthegreatreligionsoftheworld，andespeciallyChristianity，whetherCatholicorProtestant;butitalsocausedmetodistrust，moreandmore，everysortoftheologicaldogmatism。Moreandmoreclearitbecamethatecclesiasticaldogmasarebutstepsintheevolutionofvariousreligions，andthat，inviewofthefactthatthemainunderlyingideasarecommontoall，abeneficentevolutionistocontinue。
ThislatterideawasstrengthenedbymycarefulreadingofSale’stranslationoftheKoran，whichshowedmethatevenMohammedanismisnotwhollythetissueoffollyandimposturewhichinthosedaysitwasgenerallyrepresentedtobe。
Influencewasalsoexerteduponmebyvariousotherbooks，andespeciallybyFraPaoloSarpi’s\"HistoryoftheCouncilofTrent，\"probablythemostracyandpungentpieceofecclesiasticalhistoryeverwritten;andthoughIalsoreadasantidotesthehistoryoftheCouncilbyPallavicini，andcopiousextractsfromBossuet，ArchbishopSpalding，andBalmez，FatherPaultaughtme，asanItalianhistorianphrasesit，\"howtheHolySpiritconductschurchcouncils。\"AtalaterperiodDeanStanleymadeasimilarrevelationinhisaccountoftheCouncilofNicaea。
TheworksofBuckle，Lecky，andDraper，whichwerethenappearing，laidopenmuchtome。Alltheseauthorsshowedmehowtemporary，inthesumofthings，isanypopulartheology;and，finally，thedawnoftheDarwinianhypothesiscametorevealawholeneworbofthoughtabsolutelyfataltotheclaimsofvariouschurches，sects，andsacredbookstocontaintheonlyorthefinalwordofGodtoman。Theolddogmaof\"thefallofman\"
hadsoonfullydisappeared，andinitsplacethererosemoreandmoreintoviewtheideaoftheriseofman。
Butwhilemyviewwasthusbroadened，nohostilitytoreligionfoundlodgmentinmymind:ofallthebookswhichIreadatthattime，Stanley’slifeofArnoldexercisedthegreatestinfluenceuponme。Itshowedthatamanmightcastasidemuchwhichchurchesregardasessential，andmightstriveforbreadthandcomprehensioninChristianity，whileyetremaininginhealthfulrelationswiththechurch。IalsoreadwithprofitandpleasuretheRev。ThomasBeecher’sbook，\"OurSevenChurches，\"whichshowedthateachChristiansectinAmericahasacertainworktodo，anddoesitwell;also，thesermonsofRobertson，PhillipsBrooks，andTheodoreMunger，whichrevealedabeautyinChristianitybeforeunknowntome。
Anotherinfluencewasofaverydifferentsort。FromtimetotimeIwentonhuntingexcursionswiththepastoroftheMethodistEpiscopalchurchatAnnArbor;andthoughhemadenoparadeofreligion，therewasinhimagenial，manlypietywhichbetteredme。
ButIcannotsaythatthisgoodinfluencewasalwaysexerciseduponmebyhiscoreligionists。Therewasespeciallyone，whorosetobea\"presidingelder，\"verynarrow，veryshrewd，andverybitteragainsttheStateUniversity，yetconstantlyplacinghimselfincomicaldilemmas。Ononeoccasion，whenIaskedhimregardinghisrelationswithclergymenofotherreligiousbodies，hespokeoftheRomanCatholicsandsaidthathehadmadeadeterminedefforttoconverttheBishopofDetroit。Onmyaskingforparticulars，heansweredthat，callinguponthebishop，hehadspokenverysolemnlytohimandtoldhimthathewasendangeringhisownsalvationaswellasthatofhisflock;thatatfirstthebishopwasevidentlyinclinedtobeharsh;butthat，onfindingthathe——theMethodistbrother——dislikedthePresbyterianDr。Duffield，whohadrecentlyattackedCatholicdoctrine，asmuchasthebishopdid，therelationsbetweenthemgrewbetter，sothattheytalkedtogetherveryamicably。
Atthispointinourconversationapuzzledexpressionoverspreadtheelder’sfaceandhesaid，\"ThemostsingularexperienceI
everhadwaswithaFrenchCatholicpriestinMonroe。Beinginthattownandhavingadayortwoofvacation，Ifeltitmydutytogoandremonstratewithhim。Ifoundhimverypolite，especiallyafterIhadtoldhimthathisbishophadreceivedmeanddiscussedreligiousquestionswithme。Presently，wishingtomakeanimpressiononthepriest，IfixedmyeyesonhimveryearnestlyandsaidassolemnlyasIcould，’Doyouknowthatyouareleadingyourflockstraightdowntohell？’Tothisthepriestmadeaverysingularanswer，——verysingular，indeed。Hesaid，’Didyoutalklikethattothebishop？’Ianswered，’Yes，Idid。’
’Didn’thekickyououtofhishouse？’’No，hedidn’t。’’Then，’
saidthepriest，’_I_won’t。’\"Andthegoodelder，duringthewholeofthisstory，evidentlythoughtthatthepointofitwas，somehow，againstthePRIEST！
AsaprofessorattheUniversityofMichiganlecturinguponmodernhistory，I，ofcourse，showedmyfeelingsinoppositiontoslavery，whichwasthencompletelydominantinthenation，and，toallappearance，intrenchedinourinstitutionsforever。FromtimetotimeIalsosaidsomethingswhichmadethemoresensitiveorthodoxbrethrenuneasy;though，asIlookbackuponthemnow，theyseemtomeverymildindeed。Inthesedaystheycouldbesaid，andwouldbesaid，bygreatnumbersofdevotedmembersofallChristianchurches。TheseexpressionsofminefavoredtolerationanddweltupontheabsurdityofdistinctionsbetweenChristiansonaccountofbeliefswhichindividualsorcommunitieshavehappenedtoinherit。NothinglikeanattackuponChristianityitself，oruponanythingvitaltoit，didIevermake;indeed，myinclinationswerenotinthatdirection:mygreatestdesirewastosetmenandwomenatthinking，forIfeltsurethatiftheywouldreallythink，inthelightofhumanhistory，theywouldmoreandmoredwellonwhatispermanentinChristianityandlessandlessonwhatistransient;moreandmoreonitsuniversaltruths，lessandlessuponthecreeds，forms，andobservancesinwhichthesegemsareset;moreandmoreonwhatdrawsmentogether，lessandlessonthatwhichkeepsthemapart。
Ibecameconvincedthatwhattheworldneededwasmorereligionratherthanless;moredevotiontohumanityandlesspreachingofdogmas。WheneverIspokeofreligion，itwasnottosayawordagainstanyexistingform;butIespeciallyreferred，asmyidealsofreligiousconduct，tothedeclarationofMicah，beginningwiththewords，\"WhatdoththeLordrequireofthee？\";
totheSermonontheMount;tothedefinitionof\"purereligionandundefiled\"givenbySt。James;andtosomeofthewonderfulutterancesofSt。Paul。Buteventhisalarmedtwoorthreeverygoodmen;theyweremuchexercisedoverwhattheycalledmy\"indifferentism\";andwhenIwaschosen，somewhatlater，tothepresidencyofCornellUniversity，Ifoundthattheyhadthoughtittheirdutytowritelettersurgingvarioustrusteestopreventtheelectionofsodangerousaheretic。
ScatteredthroughtheMichiganuniversitytownwereanumberofpeoplewhohadbrokenfromtheoldfaithandweregropingabouttofindanewone，but，asarule，withsuchinsufficientknowledgeoftherealbasisofbelieforskepticismthatthereligiontheyfoundseemedlessvaluabletothemthantheonetheyhadleft。Thiers，Voltairianthoughhewas，haswellsaid，\"Theonlyaltarswhicharenotridiculousaretheoldaltars。\"
Someofthebestofthesepeople，havinglostverydearchildren，hadtakenrefugeinwhatwascalled\"spiritualism\";andIwasinvitedtowitnesssomeofthe\"manifestationsfromthespirit—land，\"andassuredthattheywouldleavenodoubtinmymindastotheirtremendousreality。Amongthosewhothusinvitedmewereacountyjudgeofhighstanding，andhiswife，oneofthemostlovelyandaccomplishedofwomen。Theyhadlosttheironlydaughter，abeautifulcreaturejustbuddingintowomanhood，andtheythoughtthat\"spiritualism\"hadgivenherbacktothem。Astheytoldmewonderfulthingsregardingtherevelationsmadebysundryeminentmediums，Iacceptedtheirinvitationtowitnesssomeofthese，andwenttotheseanceswithaperfectlyopenandimpartialmind。Isawnothingantecedentlyimprobableinphenomenaofthatsort;indeed，itseemedtomethatitmightbeablessedthingiftherewerereallysomethinginitall;butexaminationshowedmeinthis，asinallothercaseswhereIhaveinvestigatedso—called\"spiritrevelations，\"nothingsavetheworthlessnessofhumantestimonytothemiraculous。Thesemiracleswerethecheapestandpoorestofjugglery，andthemediumswere，withoutexception，ofatypebelowcontempt。Therewas，indeed，arevelationtome，notofaspirit—worldbeyondthegrave，butofaspirit—worldaboutme，peopledwiththespiritsofgoodandlovingmenandwomenwhofind\"joyinbelieving\"whattheywishtobelieve。Comparedwiththisnewworship，Ifeltthattheoldwasinfinitelymorehonest，substantial，andhealthful;
andneversincehaveIdesiredtopromoterevolutionarychangesinreligion。Suchchanges，tobegood，mustbeevolutionary，gradual，andinobediencetoslowlyincreasingknowledge:suchachangeisnowevidentlygoingon，irresistibly，andquiteasrapidlyasisdesirable。
Therewereothersingularexperiences。Onedayastudentsaidtomethatanoldmanlivingnotfarfromtheuniversitygroundswasveryillandwishedtoseeme。Icalledatonce，andfoundhimstretchedoutonhisbedandgreatlyemaciatedwithconsumption。
HewasaHicksiteQuaker。AsIenteredtheroomhesaid，\"Friend，Iheargoodthingsofthee:thouarttellingthetruth;letmebearmytestimonybeforethee。IbelieveinGodandinafuturelife，butinlittleelsewhichthechurchesteach。Iamdying。
Withintwoorthreedays，atfurthest，Ishallbeinmycoffin。
YetIlookonthefuturewithnoanxiety;IaminthehandsofmylovingFather，andhavenomorefearofpassingthroughthegateofdeathintothefuturelifethanofpassingthroughyonderdoorintothenextroom。\"AfterkindlytalkIlefthim，andnextdaylearnedthathehadquietlypassedaway。
AfteraboutfiveyearsofdutyintheUniversityofMichigan，I
wasbroughtintothemainchargeofthenewlyestablishedCornellUniversity;andinthisnewposition，whilenorealchangetookplaceinmyfundamentalreligiousideas，therewereconflictinginfluences，sometimesunfortunate，butinthemainhappy。InotherchaptersofthesereminiscencesIhaveshowntowhatunjustattacksthenewinstitutionandallconnectedwithitweresubjectedbytheagentsandvotariesofvariousdenominationalcolleges。Attimesthisembitteredme，buttheultimateresultalwayswasthatitstirredmetonewefforts。WhateverillfeelingsarosefromtheseonslaughtsweremorethanmadeupaftertheestablishmentoftheSageChapelpulpit。Ihaveshownelsewherehow，atmyinstance，provisionwasmadebyapublic—spiritedmanforcallingthemostdistinguishedpreachersofalldenominations，andhow，theselectionofthesehavingbeenlefttome，IchosethemfromthemosteminentmeninthevariousChristianbodies。Myintercoursewiththese，aswellasmyhearingtheirdiscourses，broadenedanddeepenedmyreligiousfeeling，andIregardthisasamongtheespeciallyhappythingsofmylife。
Anotherfeatureoftheuniversitywasnotsohelpfultome。I
havespokeninanotherchapterregardingtheestablishmentofBarnesHallatCornellasacenterofworkfortheChristianAssociationandotherreligiousorganizationsoftheuniversity，andofmypleasureinaidingtheworktheredoneandinnotingitsgoodresults。AtvarioustimesIattendedtheservicesoftheYoungMen’sChristianAssociation;andwhiletheyoftentouchedme，Icannotsaythattheyalwaysedifiedme。IamespeciallyfondofthepsalmsattributedtoDavid，whichare，forme，thehighestofpoetry;andIamalsoveryfondofthegreatandnoblehymnsofthechurch，CatholicandProtestant，andespeciallysusceptibletothebestchurchmusic，fromBachandHandeltoMasonandNeale:butthesortofrevivalhymnswhicharegenerallysunginChristianAssociations，andwhichdatemainlyfromtheMoodyandSankeyperiod，donotappealtomybestfeelingsinanyrespect。Theyseemtomeverythinandgushy。
Thisfeelingofmineisnotessentiallyunorthodox，forIoncehearditexpressedbyaneminentorthodoxclergymanintermsmuchstrongerthananywhichIhaveeverused。Saidhe，\"WhenIwasyoung，congregationsusedtosingsuchpsalmsasthis:
\"TheLorddescendedfromabove，Andbowedtheheavensmosthigh;
AndunderneathHisfeetHecastThedarknessofthesky。
\"OncherubimandseraphimRightroyallyHerode，AndonthewingsofmightywindsCameflyingallabroad。
\"Hisseatisonthemightyfloods，Theirfurytorestrain;
AndHe，oureverlastingLord，Forevermoreshallreign。
\"Butnow，\"hecontinued，\"thecongregationgetstogetherandalotofboysandgirlssing:
\"Lawd，howoftIlongtoknow——
Oftitgivesmeanxiousthought——
DoIloveThee，Lawd，orno;
AmIThine，oramInawt！
\"There，\"saidhe，\"isthedifferencebetweenareligionwhichbelievesinarighteoussovereignRuleroftheuniverse，andamaudlinsentimentincapableofanyreal，continued，determinedeffort。\"
Imustconfessthatthisviewofmyorthodoxfriendstrikesmeasjust。ItseemstomethatoneofthefirstneedsoflargebranchesoftheChristianChurchistoweedoutagreatmassofsickly，sentimentalworshipofnooneknowswhat，andtoreplaceitwithpsalmsandhymnswhichshowafirmrelianceupontheLordGodAlmighty。
ItiswiththisviewthatIpromotedintheuniversitychapelthesimpleantiphonalreadingofthepsalmsbythewholecongregation。BestofallwoulditbetochantthePsalter;theclergyman，withaportionofthechoir，leadingononeside，andtheothersectionofthechoirandthecongregationatlargechantingtheresponses。Butthisis，asregardsmostProtestantchurches，acounselofperfection。