ETHEREGE

(eth’é-rej), Sir George, English writer of comedy, born about 1635, died about 1691, He studied at Cambridge, travelled afterwards on the Continent, and then returned to enter himself at one of the Inns of Court. Devoting himself le to legal studies than to literature and society. he wrote several plays. In 1664 he ha his first comedy represented, The Comical Revenge, or, Love in a Tub, which was well received. Four years later his She Would if She Could appeared, a brilliant play, though frivolous and immoral. Eight years afterwards (1676) he produced his best comedy, The Man of Mode, or Sir Fopling Flutter. Etherege’s plays are witty and sparkling, and the characters, genuine portraits of the men and women he saw, are vividly if lightly drawn. ETHICAL CULTURE. It has been said by a prominent leader of the movement for ethical culture that the one dogma admitted is the doctrine of personality. The movement eliminates from its teaching all hitherto received religions, admits no Christian symbolism, and acknowledges neither a personal Creator nor a personal Saviour. Christ is, however, highly reverenced as aman. The world as it should be is regarded not as an unattainable though beautiful ideal to be admired and longed for, but as a po ible reality to be achieved by strenuous concerted action. The means by which it is hoped to bring about this much-to-be-desired result is the reaction on each other of carefully selected and highly cultivated personalities. Such virtues, therefore, as kindne , pity, justice, charity, temperance, and chastity are deemed le nece ary as a personal moral duty in each human being than as a means by which a perfect world may be attained. Man’s duty is towards no divine being, but to his fellow-man. In place of that help from above which theologians deem needful to attain even a short step in the direction of perfection, the power of conscience is considered as sufficient for all needs, and disciples are counselled that they should More strictly, then, the inward judge obey, since they no longer believe in divine anger or approval. Germs of the movement may be found in many writers, and Emerson seems to have foreseen it when he said: “The mind of this age has fallen away from theology to morals. I conceive it to be an advance.”’ But the obvious founder of ethical societies was Felix Adler (born 1851), who, in 1876, established in New York a Society of Ethical Culture. He also set in motion such useful work as training-schools, kindergartens, and nursing. In 1885 his a ociate. W.Salter,established the Chicago 234 ETHICS Ethical Society. Both have written extensively on the subject; while English supporters of the movement include Sir Leslie Stephen, Sir J. Seeley, Profe or Sidgwick, and others. Several ethical societies exist in Britain, carrying out much educational and philanthropic work. There are both Sunday services and Sunday schools, and in many cases the branches are more or le closely affiliated with labour and its a ociations. With regard to this community of work and aim, it may be noted that while ethical culturists look forward to a time when no man shall exploit his fellow human beings for personal ends, absolute equality for all is not promised, being recognized as impo ible. —BIBLIOGRAPHY: Felix Adler, Creed and Deed; W. M. Salter, Lthical Religion.