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Literary
December 20, 1844
The Ottawa Free Trader
Ottawa, La Salle County County, Illinois
What is this article about?
Orestes A. Brownson delivered an address on social reform before the Society of the Mystical Seven at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., examining various reform schemes and concluding that the Christian gospel provides the true solution, urging adherence to faith over doubt.
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OCR Quality
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Full Text
Orestes A. Brownson
Has delivered an Address on Social reform, before the 'Society of the Mystical Seven,' at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. The address is not very elaborate—that is, not very elaborate for Mr. Brownson—examination of the various schemes of Social Reform which have had their brief hour in the world's speculative history; and the conclusion at which he arrives, may be readily inferred from the following extract.
'I have pored over this question of social wrongs and social evils for many a long year. I have given to it the best years of my life, my purest and sincerest thoughts. Forgive me, when I tell you that I have come to the belief that no new solution of the problem is needed, or to be sought. The solution is given us in our faith as Christians. I have listened to all the solutions that have been offered. I have not followed one, and now another. I have at last come back to that given by the ever blessed Redeemer. It is in the gospel. If any of you have been tempted for a moment to seek a solution elsewhere, to listen to those who are crying out Lo here, or Lo there, I pray you to return to the Gospel. In that, and that alone is our only hope for man, for society. Serve your race, seek to do them good, but beware how you suffer yourselves to question or doubt the efficacy of our holy religion. I speak from experience. I have been in my day among those who doubted, who denied; suffer me to say, and I say it from a heart broken with grief for the past, beware of your first doubt. Cherish it not for one instant. It may seem to be merely speculative, and you may believe yourselves honest, sincere; but I tell you it is more than speculative. It is terribly practical; and you cannot indulge in it without sullying the purity and breaking the integrity of your characters. Through that doubt corruption will enter, and happy will it be for you, if, through the mercy of God, you are recalled to faith before it has spread over your whole heart and soul.'
Of all the writings of Mr. Brownson which it has been our unhappy lot to peruse, this extract is the best.—N. Y. Times.
Has delivered an Address on Social reform, before the 'Society of the Mystical Seven,' at the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn. The address is not very elaborate—that is, not very elaborate for Mr. Brownson—examination of the various schemes of Social Reform which have had their brief hour in the world's speculative history; and the conclusion at which he arrives, may be readily inferred from the following extract.
'I have pored over this question of social wrongs and social evils for many a long year. I have given to it the best years of my life, my purest and sincerest thoughts. Forgive me, when I tell you that I have come to the belief that no new solution of the problem is needed, or to be sought. The solution is given us in our faith as Christians. I have listened to all the solutions that have been offered. I have not followed one, and now another. I have at last come back to that given by the ever blessed Redeemer. It is in the gospel. If any of you have been tempted for a moment to seek a solution elsewhere, to listen to those who are crying out Lo here, or Lo there, I pray you to return to the Gospel. In that, and that alone is our only hope for man, for society. Serve your race, seek to do them good, but beware how you suffer yourselves to question or doubt the efficacy of our holy religion. I speak from experience. I have been in my day among those who doubted, who denied; suffer me to say, and I say it from a heart broken with grief for the past, beware of your first doubt. Cherish it not for one instant. It may seem to be merely speculative, and you may believe yourselves honest, sincere; but I tell you it is more than speculative. It is terribly practical; and you cannot indulge in it without sullying the purity and breaking the integrity of your characters. Through that doubt corruption will enter, and happy will it be for you, if, through the mercy of God, you are recalled to faith before it has spread over your whole heart and soul.'
Of all the writings of Mr. Brownson which it has been our unhappy lot to peruse, this extract is the best.—N. Y. Times.
What sub-type of article is it?
Essay
What themes does it cover?
Religious
Moral Virtue
Political
What keywords are associated?
Social Reform
Christian Faith
Gospel Solution
Doubt Warning
Moral Integrity
What entities or persons were involved?
Orestes A. Brownson
Literary Details
Title
Address On Social Reform
Author
Orestes A. Brownson
Subject
Before The 'Society Of The Mystical Seven,' At The Wesleyan University, Middletown, Conn.
Key Lines
'I Have Pored Over This Question Of Social Wrongs And Social Evils For Many A Long Year. I Have Given To It The Best Years Of My Life, My Purest And Sincerest Thoughts. Forgive Me, When I Tell You That I Have Come To The Belief That No New Solution Of The Problem Is Needed, Or To Be Sought. The Solution Is Given Us In Our Faith As Christians.'
'It Is In The Gospel. If Any Of You Have Been Tempted For A Moment To Seek A Solution Elsewhere, To Listen To Those Who Are Crying Out Lo Here, Or Lo There, I Pray You To Return To The Gospel. In That, And That Alone Is Our Only Hope For Man, For Society.'
'Serve Your Race, Seek To Do Them Good, But Beware How You Suffer Yourselves To Question Or Doubt The Efficacy Of Our Holy Religion. I Speak From Experience. I Have Been In My Day Among Those Who Doubted, Who Denied; Suffer Me To Say, And I Say It From A Heart Broken With Grief For The Past, Beware Of Your First Doubt.'