Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 April 1895 — ETHICAL CULTURE SOCIETY. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ETHICAL CULTURE SOCIETY.

Something of the New Cult Which is Gaining Prominence. The movement of ethical culture now so prominent in all sections of the United States and portions of Europe had its origin in New York city, where the first ethical society was founded in 1876. The attitude of the New York society has been from the first neither irreligious nor anti-religious. In the opening address which Prof. Felix Adler delivered on May 15,1876, the watchword which he suggested for the new movement was: “Diversity in the creed, unanimity in the deed.” He also emphasized in those remarks that belief in any of the received doctrines of religion should not hinder any one from joining the new organization. Neither

should a negative attitude toward the current religious teachings be a hindrance. Those who aspire to become good men should be welcomed to the new fellowship, no matter what their opinions might be on questions of theology or philosophy, Prof. Adler stated at that time. All that was expected was a sincere interest in the moral improvement of the individual and of society, and a willingness to waive points of difference and to come into fundamental agreement with others animated by the same desire. These views had been known by a number of Prof. Adler's friends for some years prior to the organization of the society. Prof. Adler was at that time professor of Oriental literature at the Cornell university, and when a number of friends of the cause of ethical culture were prepared to form a society he resigned from the faculty of the university and entered the field in which he had long been desirous to labor. It was a labor of love for him from the beginning and still is such. A>t first the new society was the target for much hostile criticism and even bitter persecution. Like all new movements it required time to be correctly appreciated, and in the beginning it was misinterpreted. The fact that the Ethical society did not affirm any religious belief was regarded as positive proof that its members and its leaders were'at heart hostile to religion. But this was a mistake, and as time went on it was perceived to be such. The prejudice which the society at first excited has abated from year to year. Some of those who were its most pronounced antagonists have become its well wishers aud supporters. The change of attitude against the society is shown by the fact-that the legislature of the State of New York has conferred upon Prof. Adler legal authority to perform the marriage ceremony.

FELIX ADLER.