The Press.
London, England, 1853-12-10 00:00:00

PROFESSOR MAURICE.

OUR contemporaries have not yet exhausted
the subject of Professor MArRICE'S deprivation.
More than one of them persist in regarding it
as an act of the Church of England, awl for-
bode dismal consequences. We cannot at-
tach to it the same importance. Much of the
controversy has been caused, we think, by the
narrow grounds on which the Principal of
King's College has chosen to rest the decision
of the council. Every one admits that Pro-
fessor MAIIRICE is pious, active, and of blame-
less life ; and further, that he exerts that
influence over others which an earnest and
religious man, with high intellectual endow-
ments, is almost sure to secure, apart from the
dogmatic results of his inquiries. But his
professorship bound him to teach the doctrines
of the Bible to young men in a Church of
England College : his own mission, as deter-
mined by himself, seems to be to solve scep-
tical doubts and objections iu theology, awl
to settle certain unsettled questions in politi-
cal economy. Now. whilst he himself believes
that these two objects arc perfectly compati-
ble, it is surely competent for the council of
King's College to pass an opinion upon a que,-
tion so material to their interests. They may
think the work of a theological professor dis-
tinct from that of a religious inquirer, if not
in
all points, still in some grave ones. They may
deem it best to combat error, not by constant
reasoning with it, but by replacing or fort-
stalling it by positive truth. They may sup-
pose that a professor whose career beyond the
walls of their institution is "one vovay.e of dis-
covery" may be likely to send idlers to sea.
A Liverpool firm which had chartered a ship
for the Lobos Islands for guano would be sur-
prised if the master took a look after Sir JOH
FRANKLIN on the way home. The council of
King's College is not an ecclesiastical synod,
but it has charge of an important place of
education. and anything that might affect its re-

DECEMBER 10, 1853.

putation or its fortunes is legitimate matter
of inquiry for them.
This would be the ease even if Professor
MArnicee inquiries were considered upon the
whole successful. But they may question
their success. There will be found in his
writings many things which most people
think novel, though their author finds them
in the Bible and the Creeds. There is a view
of the Athanasian Creed, of the Atonement,
the Judgment, and Eternal Life. These
weighty topics are beyond the cognisanee of
a newspaper. but not of the conned. Mr.
MAURICE'h theory of them may seem to that
body vague and indefinite ; or. where definite.
erroneous. If such is the result they have
arrived at. the public will hardly fee'. that iu
acting upon their decision the council have in
any way compromised the Church of England
or exceeded their fnctions. Most men will
probably overlook the yOlBOll4 which Dr.
JEEP' has put forward to get at broader and
safer standing-ground. They will accord to
the directors of a great place of education the
right to maintain its efficiency by all moral
and lawful means, without raising the cry that
"the Church of England is in danger," when
the latter see fit to make a change in the stall
of their professors.