Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER IV AUTHORITY " Jr. erois parce qnc les grands savants, les esprit! qui ont le plus honorS I'httmanM avaient la foi."—Lb PfcBB Albbbt. " Authority perpetuates the individual who, as an individual, should pass away, and is, in the main, an obstacle to the advancement of humanity."—Qobthb. Which of these two opposing attitudes concerning authority appeals to the common sense of the reader? True, the occasion which called out the declaration of " Father Albert" was a peculiarly turbulent one, caused by the impassioning question of the separation of Church and State then agitating the French nation. Only the presence of Monsieur Lepine, the Parisprefet de police, rendered possible any kind of order during church service that day. However, the significant words of Father Albert, " trembling " though they were, are cited here because of their actuality, presenting as they do but too faithfully the ordinary basis of ecclesiastical " belief "—with the Romanists, at least, who, having but slight direct acquaintance with the Bible, are unable to fall back on the authority of the " inspired " Word. ''' " I believe because the great savants, the minds who have been the greatest credit to humanity, believe." Now, let us ask, what is the value of what is called " authority "? What is its rdle either in the intellectual or moral world? Briefly stated, it is a reliable sanction for conduct or opinion ; is it not? How, then, can it be seriously claimed that the simple opinion of an individual, however important in public esteem, is worthy to be classed as authority? Victor Hugo is said to have exclaimed on his death-bed, " I believe in God ! " Well! What then? Victor Hugo's simple belief, living or dying, proves nothing—can effect nothing in the economy of the univer... --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.