Syracuse University Library
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Gerrit Smith Broadside and Pamphlet Collection

Positive community of Modern Times.

Smith, Gerrit, 1797-1874.

Digital Edition.

This digitization project was supported by Regional Bibliographic Databases and Interlibrary Resources Sharing Program funds, awarded by the New York State Library.

Call number: Smith 718

THE POSITIVE COMMUNITY

OF

MODERN TIMES.

INTRODUCTORY.

This community is being organized on the principle that Man owes all that he is as well as all that he has to the service of HUMANITY. Wealth, Health, Strength, Time, Talents, Affections, and even Life itself ought to be unreservedly consecrated to the Social Well being. For all are demonstrably derived from and dependent upon the Social Co-operation.

Many will spontaneously feel this principle to be true. It will so correspond to the emotions of their own hearts, the aspirations of their own souls, that they will feel that at least it ought to be accepted heartily and acted upon conscientiously and enthusiastically. They will joyfully welcome the prospect of being able to unite themselves in a profound and intimate unity with any who will share with them in so noble a faith.

But the principle is true, whether accepted or not. It is true for those who do not accept it as well as for those who do. For it is a principle that has been demonstrated by Positive Science; Social Science and Moral Science. Virtue and Morality no longer repose in fact upon Theological Dogmas alone for their theoretical foundation. They are based henceforth, and for minds emancipated from theological superstitions based exclusively, upon the immutable natural Laws of Human Organization, social and personal. The rejection of the principle above laid down, and which constitutes the corner stone of the Modern Times Community, may be legitimately treated therefore, henceforth, as due either to ignorance or a criminal selfishness; a selfishness which revolts against Truth simply because it does not like it, albeit a Truth that is at once undeniable and capable of working out for those that do honestly believe in it and obey it, a most glorious salvation.

Its practical working out, however, involves a knowledge of the real attributes of Humanity, and the natural laws of Social Existence and Social Development. To serve Humanity effectually, we must know in what the service of Humanity consists. Humanity is not composed merely of the actual men and women now living upon this globe. As a really one Being, one but composite, Humanity consists far more of the Dead and of the yet Unborn. But as regards the actually living generations, it is not the indulgence of kindly feelings towards them that accomplishes our duty in their regard; although the state of our feelings, in comparison with merely external conduct, is a matter of much more importance than is commonly supposed. To serve even them, however, we must know how to serve them. It is certain that benevolent intentions, when united with ignorance of the true laws of Man's Being, are capable of doing much to curse instead of blessing Mankind, sometimes even more than is done by Malevolence itself.

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The practical development, therefore, of the, Social service demands a knowledge of the true Natural Order at once, in Society and in Morals. This Natural Order has been demonstrated in the immortal Works of Augustus Comte, the Politique Positive and the Synthese Subjective which form consequently the fundamental Law of this Community. The two central conceptions bearing upon and directing our practical life, are but obvious deductions from the grand basic principle first above enunciated ; via. 1st. that Industry is a Social Co-operation; 2nd; that Capital, which springs from and is the instrument of that Industry, is a Social Treasure. But capital demands, nevertheless, a personal appropriation, in view of the freedom of its legitimate consecration to the service of Humanity, as well also as of its efficiency as the natural instrument of the Industrial Organization.

Some Communities have made the Social Regeneration to consist essentially in a common ownership of property and of capital, and the introduction of the system of Democratic Government into the sphere of Industrial Direction. Every such Community has proved a failure. Every scheme, in fact, for regenerating Society or ameliorating the condition of the popular masses,, by any communistic arrangement in regard to property, has resulted only in disappointment, often in ruinous losses to those engaged in it. And Human events taking place always in accordance with immutable natural Laws, it may safely be predicted that a similar result will await all such schemes in the Future.

It is remarkable on the other hand, that every Community founded upon a religious principle has invariably succeeded, succeeded especially upon the very point where the others have failed. Every such community has, without exception, become rich. The explanation of this fact, at first sight so singular, is furnished by positive Social Science; it can therefore be safely relied on, as certain to re-occur in every similar instance. The Christian Scriptures say "He that seeketh his life shall lose it; and he that giveth his life freely for my sake shall find it" The true philosophy of this seeming paradox is full demonstrated by Positive Moral Science, and it is thereby shown to be a simple statement, (the theological element being first eliminated,) of an immutable natural Law. Associations founded in view merely of the material interests - the selfish interests - of their members do not in fact advance those interests; while Communities seeking mainly some higher end, some spiritual (moral and intellectual) end, do in fact bring material wealth to their members. "Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you,"- is a declaration which, understood in the positive sense, is no longer the vague dream of the Fanatic, but a sober statement of invariable fact.

The Devil - to use an expressive Metaphor, personifying Human Selfishness - does not reign absolutely upon earth. He is to-day momentarily predominant simply by virtue of the divisions and discords among the good, and their ignorance of the true Natural Order in Society.

One principal reason, moreover, for the success of the religious Communities, consists in their always virtually concentrating power in a few Leaders. But doing this indirectly, and upon principles that exclude any real discussion, the power of the Leaders is apt to become oppressive, as is always the case with unrecognized Powers ; for an unrecognized power is necessarily irresponsible. In this Community, on the contrary, the Direction while sufficiently concentrated to secure that practical efficiency which is eternally impossible upon the elective system, will be in every way rendered fully and directly responsible to the Community. The combination of efficiency with responsibility is one principal characteristic feature of this Community, and is due to the teachings of that Social Science of which no previous social Movement has had the benefit.

The practical operations of this Community will include every form, every mode, and every degree of co-operation, consistent with the principle of a centralized and individualized Direction. Centering in a one suitable Local it will not be rightly confined to it, but will act wherever it can act to advantage. It will moreover plant the germs of Branch Communities and affiliated Societies wherever opportunities occur, and localities favor. Every truly faithful disciple of the new Faith naturally constitutes in fact a nucleus

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of such a community. A beginning of successful remunerative business has already been made, expressly in view of this Community, and its practical development; and upon the methods to be followed by this Community, the risks and uncertainties attending other Movements - confessedly only "experiments" - have no place. Practical operations will be conducted upon established methods without chimerical schemes; commerce upon commercial principles, finance upon financial principles. That which is will be duly recognized as well as that which ought to be. In a word, every step will be taken in full view of the principle, that in social and moral phenomena as well as in the physical and material, all events take place according to immutable natural Laws.

We are linked at the same time with the movement of Universal Social Reorganization, inaugurated by Positivism. The Positivist Society is a Universal Brotherhood, the Organ, albeit in its germ, of the Veritable Unity of the Human Race. Nor is this grand Universal Movement as little advanced as it valid seem to be to those who know not what is transpiring beneath the surface of Modern Society. The Positive School in all its obscurity is already making good its claims as the Veritable Leader of Modern Thought.

Those whom Public opinion already recognizes as is foremost men are in their turn bowing before the authority of the Positive Doctrine. For from year to year, they are accepting more of its most essential tenets ; and making a shown of coyness about some of the most unpopular among them, are forced in spite of themselves to admit enough to convict themselves out of their own mouths of glaring inconsistency in their rejection of the rest. For the particular Doctrines which, in subserviency to popular ignorance and prejudice, they make a show of combating, are evidently only necessary conclusions from promises which they fully accept, and even strongly insist upon. But popular ignorance and prejudice only continue for a time, and ever finally disappear before the demonstrative methods of Positive Science. (See Dr. Bridges' reply to John Stuart Mill.)

The triumph of our cause is therefore inevitably a question only of time. Every other Belief is undergoing a rapid and irretrievable decay. Public Opinion is constantly approximating spontaneously, without any efforts on our part towards our Faith. We are as yet devoid of all the means necessary for an effective Propagande ; Pulpit, Press and Forum, are alike closed against us systematically. We can but devoutly cherish our Faith in patient obscurity. But for all that, the whole earth is of its own accord, but on many points in spite of its own desires in a contrary direction, advancing towards us, and that too at an ever accelerating rate of speeed.

For further particulars, terms of Membership, &c., apply to the &c. pro tem. John Metcalf, Box No. 26, Station D., New York P. O.

Monday 21st Moses, 79 (21 Jan.,1867).

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POSITIVIST PUBLICATIONS.

Works of Auguste Comte.

Systeme de Politique Positive. 4 vols. 8vo. $17.50.
Catechisme Positiviste. $1.50.
Appel aux Conservateurs. $1.50.

Works of Comte translated.

The Catechism of Positive Religion. Translated by Richard Congreve. $3.00. Postage, 16c.
General Principles of Positivism. Translated from the General Introduction to the Systeme de Politique Positive. By J. H. Bridges, M. D. $4.00. Postage 16c.

Works of the Positivist School.

Notice sur l'Œuvre et la Vie d' Auguste Comte. By Dr. Robinet. $2.50.
Appel aux Medecins. By Dr. Audiffrent. $1.50.
Discours d' Ouverture : Histoire Generale de l' Humanite. By P. Laffitte. $1.50.
Discours sur la Civilization Chinoise. By the same. $1.50.
L'Inde. Translated from the English of R. Congreve, with an Introduction. By the same. $1.50.
Lettre a M. Girardin sur l' Economic Politique Positiviste. By Dr. Robinet. 75c.
The Unity of Comte's Life and Doctrine. Reply to J. S. Mill. By J. H. Bridges, M.D. $1.

Modern Times Tracts.

1. Modern Times, the Labor question, and the Family. By H. Edger. 10c.
2. Brief Exposition of Religious Positivism. By the same. 75c.
3. The Positive Community. By the same. 25c.

N. B. All the above will be sent per mail free, on receipt of the above prices, including postage where so marked.

Address,
Box No. 26, Station D., New York.