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About Hesperian student / (Lincoln [Neb.]) 1872-1885 | View Entire Issue (May 1, 1879)
100 WVK THY OHKKD. VOL. VIII, llio iirtiulu. Certain uveuts mid periods In liistory aro mentioned as proof Hint the Cliureli litis opposed intellectual progress. But it will bo carefully noticed that the Church mentioned and concerned in all Iheso instances, is the Roman Catholic Church, while the application is made to the Christian Church in general, which, to say the least, is a very fallacious meth od of staling an argument. That the Christian Church lias labored, and still continues to labor, earnestly for the intellectual as well as the moral and social advancement of thu race, cannot he denied. To make any statement to the contrary is only like closing one's eyes against the dazzling rays of thu miu-day sun and then denying its existence. Amatkuk. LIVE THY CUE ED. The word creed seems to be a bugbear to many persons. It is associated in thuir minds with nearly everything thai tends to bring the intellect into servitude. Many would have us do away with creeds altogether. I sometimes wonder it we have not had enough of freedom of the mind. "When we see so much license, to do wrong; such lapses from virtue; such disregard for integrity and upright ness of character, one is tempted to ask what wc have gained from throwing aside all our moorings, only to drift Freedom of the mind is a saying, fast be coming trite, in which many individuals pride themselves, and they manifest thu freedom by ridiculing everybody who may differ from them. Should one happen to subscribe to the creed of any church, their contempt is complete. They fail to recognize Unit the spirit of bigotry which they exhibit towards their opponents, only proves that, for true intel lectual freedom, they arc in a position which, to say the least, does not entitle them to act as judges. To digress for a moment, whether you say that you believe in an "All wise God who made Heaven and earth," or that "matter contains tile potency of every form of life," one is just as much a creed as the other. I do not wisli to determine which is the true creed. Older and more competent minds must determine that. J)ut why claim that all freedom lies on one side, and all bigotry, superstition, and servitude on the other? To us. the word creed is just as good a one as any in the language. I believe in creeds, I believe that every individual should have some fundamental principles upon which he has determined to stand. I do not mean by creed a purpose or am bition, an end to gain in life; these are secondary considerations. 1 can but il lustrate thu difference by a comparison, You would think it a strange thing for an ocean vessel to start on a voyage without compass or chart. Not many would predict a safe journey for such a vessel. Then how much less would any human craft accomplish anything in this life with no settled opinions or principles? They aro neither the way nor the end; only helps to gain our ends. Do not ail corporations, all societies, all organizations, all political parties, have their creeds? You may call them articles of incorporation, platforms, and constitutions, but they bind their members to Mo and believe certain things just as much as a church creed. Then if it is not such a dreadful thing to have a creed, let us have one which neither the ridicule pi the world, the jeers of companions, neither praise nor blame, shall debar us from living. These arc not limes for mere sentimen talities. We ollcn hear it said, "That it docs not matter what a man believes so long as his life is right." This may sound very nice, but carry such a doctrine out, and the results may not be so pleasant to contemplate. As well allirm of a build, ing that, so long as thu superstructure is all right, the foundation is necessarily firm. Such reasoning istiotsound.
