Christian, Catholic or Protestant, Methodist or Baptist,
Presbyterian or Lutheran, Calvinist or Arminian, Unitarian or
Trinitarian, one and all, have one and the same ultimate object: To get
into right relations with God, each according to his own conception of
God, and what he understands to be his will concerning him. However,
in the more rational interpretation of religion in these later times,
the element of fear of punishment hereafter has been almost, if not
entirely eliminated; and the religious objective is made the highest,
noblest, purest, and best possible life in this world, for _its own
intrinsic worth_, and without any reference to any future life, resting
firmly in the faith that he who lives right cannot die wrong.

Hence, religion does not consist in creeds, dogmas, or beliefs; nor in
forms, ordinances, ceremonies, or sacraments, as I was early taught to
believe. But these are, one and all, but so many varying _forms of
expression_ which religion takes. They are all only so many different
ways, means and methods religion takes to attain to its ultimate
purpose and aim. They are only so many different paths which different
men take in their search for God.

And is there but _one_ true path to God, while all the others only lead
to hell? And if so, _which_ is the right one? Ah, herein lies the
fruitful source of most of the world's tragedies and sufferings! It
was this that burned John Huss, Savonarola and Bruno. It was this that
lighted the fires of Smithfield and hung helpless, silly women in New
England, as witches. But thank God, it is abating and the dawn of a
better day is in sight.

I have long since come to believe that all who honestly, sincerely, and
diligently seek God will ultimately find him, in some way, at some
time, when God sees best to reveal himself, no matter what method may
be pursued. I do not mean that all methods are equally good; no, not
by any means. The quest for God may be helped or hindered, advanced or
delayed, accordingly as the methods of search may be correct or
erroneous. But I do mean to say that I do not believe the Infinite
God, who knows the hearts of men, and will ultimately judge them by
this standard, will forever hide, and deny himself to any, in whose
heart He sees honesty, purity, and sincerity of purpose and motive,
because in their finite judgment, they were unable to intellectually
determine just which was the right, or best way;--and this, whe