Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851Various
History
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. III, No. XVII, October 1851
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
worldliness, "caring for none of these things," and finding in such
phenomena as Millerism and Mormonism, only occasion for insane
merriment, instead of deep religious and philosophical inquiry.
The indestructibleness of the religious principle in the human soul!
This is the great lesson read to us by such events. Even this nineteenth
century with all its secularity, has not wholly drowned it. It breaks
out in the midst of every form of worldliness. When untaught in respect
to the true path, it follows the wildest imposture; and, as though in
awful derision of the inability of the mere secular spirit ever to
satisfy the deepest human wants, a Kingdom of the Saints settles itself
in nearest contiguity to what would seem to be the exclusive territory
of Mammon.
We can only call attention to this strange phenomenon without going into
any discussion of the causes of its remarkable success. As we have said,
it is the only case of a distinctly new religion since the days of
Mohammed. Yet still it may be compared with other anomalous religious
movements that have characterized the present century. Most of these
have already had their growth and decline. Some that started with more
enthusiasm than has ever been claimed for the Mormons, have, for years,
been dying out, or only manifesting an outward and formal existence. On
the other hand, too, a similar fate has attended most of the schemes of
Socialists, and of those reformers who have relied solely on some
doctrine of political economy, while ignoring, as far as they could, any
recognition of a supernatural religionism. In distinction from both
these, Mormonism has flourished because it has possessed the element of
vitality which was respectively wanting to each. The religious sects to
which we have alluded (and we mean of course such as may be justly
characterized as unscriptural delusions) have been too unworldly for
success. They have lacked the secular element. Schemes of mere social
reform, on the other hand, have been dead from the beginning. They have
been wanting in that vitality which alone can come from a real or
pretended connection with a future life, and a supernatural world.
Mormonism professes to wield both powers. Whatever may be thought of the
first founders of the sect, the multitudes who from all parts of the
United States, and from England, and even from the Continent, are now
crowding to the Salt Lake and the modern Canaan, give evidence of a
power of tremendous reality, however much it may be above the
comprehension of the shallow witling, or the mere secular political
economist. The cause must have a universality in some way corresponding
to the wide effect it is producing. But be it what it may, the lesson
taught is most timely as well as important. It is, we repeat--and it
will bear to be repeated--_the indestructibleness of the religious
principle in the human soul_. If this have not the true nourishment, it
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