New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1859-08-11
nR. Ws,s Address.

The address delivered by the Rev. DR. Bellows
of this city before the Alumni of the Cambridge
Divinity School, at their last annual gathering,
which We print this morning, will interest many OF
our read ,rs not only from its intrinsic merits but
because of the discussion to which the supPostion,
upon imperfect knowledge, that certain positions
had been taken BY the writer, has given rise in
secular as well o. religious journals. Some of our
contemporaries have talked as if DR.. Bellows pro-
posed to found another Holy Mother Church. with
all the ceremonial and psgeantry which Rome has
connected with public worship, himself to be Pope,
q certain Western college to become College
of Cardinals, and clergymen of the present Uni
taIian denomination, the preachers OF the new
eyangel Others have, with equsl earnestness,
contended that DR.. Bellows applied the eplthet
catholic, not Catholic, to the proposed Church,
by which, indeed was intended no new or
eanizatioD, but closer union between existing
sec,s, and greater berslIty in their treatment
Of each other These extreme views, more or less
shaded have obtained credence in yariOu. quarters.
Letters from clergymen aud laymen Of various de-
nominations have been called out, and the organs
of the several religious bodies have We'd with each
other in claiming Dr. Bellows as their own, and in
spprising him that they they alone had the panacea
for all the wants and the oDgiugs Of Liberal Chris
tians Not less entertaining than the eager prose
lyiipg spirit Of the religious journals have been the
wise saws, explanations, expeditions aud Sagacious
advice with witch the secular press has treated the
matter. In this war of opinion, We have not joined
nor do We now propose to assume any part; but
We take pleasure in giving readers the earlies t
opportunity TO peruse discourse which has
awaken such widespread interest
A cursory glance will show that this address is
rather Il criticism upon the religion, or "unreligioD,"
Of the present sge and an inquiry into the religion
Of the future, than attempt 10 css the horoscope
Of the latter Indeed, the passages which have
elected So much discussion are exceedingly brief,
and occur toward the very close Of the discourse.
They are, however, apparently the conclusion
sId consequence of the argument, and embody the
answer which DR.. Bellows himself would give -
the question which as be asserts, the weary,
unchurched humanity of this Protestant age
for he does 10. admit that the Rom,n Catholic
Church IN our days Possesses any vi.aty-is asking
The title OF the discourse concisey expresses the
theory of our present condition, which il elabOr-
atss The Suspense Of Faiih"-Faita il a state
not Of death, BIZ. of suspended snimaton-Faith
waiting In the Unitarian denomination, 10
which the preacher belongs, he perceiyes, with
general prosperity, dependency selfquestion-
"ing and anxiety The particular reason of
this be finds in the fact that the necessity
for 'i!s missionary and UNCONVENTIONAL work
has been taken away by the success Of the
principles 10 the advancement Of which
it was devoted Through other means, through
the spirit of the age, 1.-The rights Of con-
science, the nationality Of method, the freedom of
inquiry, the practical views of religion, for
which, under the name Of Unitarian theology,
I'VE have been conteDding. are rapidly conquering
the mind OF American Chri.tendom"
But there is more general cause Protestant.
isin has also paused, because il has awakened to a
consciousness tina! its tendencies were toward Ia.