Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-11-17
" oRCEsT Err
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER IL, 1871.
ThcnlngicnI Di.cns.ion.

One or two religious newspapers, such as III
ous Herald, and several Others which the editor
of Zon's Herald regards as either very hetero-
dox or positively iufdcl in character, have been
engaged in carious discu.s sion. The Chicago
FIRE has raised among them question OF what
in the theological schools is called "dogmatc
theology" On one side, it is argued that the
Chicago Indignation was caused by the direct
purpose aud procurement of God himself; it
was divine judgment; Chicago was wicked
city which needed the publication Of fire, ms
discipline. Therefore, he inflicted on that city
the Judgment Of Are, intending it, also, as
warning to other wicked cities; for, as lions
Herald expresses it, "he gives specimen bricks
of the house Of judgment" On the other han 7,
it is maintained, that the fire was The result of
human carclessuess and rccklcSsncss, which dis
regarded natural laws, and allowed Chicago TO
be more like a finder box than a well built city.
ToFescape such disasters nan must use with
more care those natural elements which are our
daily servants, build in such way as will pre-
vent CONGREGATIONS, prepare more effective agen-
cics for checking them, and, in all respects, do
more faithfully what natural laws require.
IL - Abl pui pNlibcS ~ ti-sirN IA AAiio NOuAlp-
versy on either side, nor shall we attempt to de-
eide between the contendiug parties. Zion's
Herald, as a sound Methodist, cannot really
mean TO deny human responsibility for dis
asters caused by human imDrulence or miScon-
duct; nor can it. actually intend to teach that
God is the author Of whatever sin is committed
when some snealling ruffian sets fire to a human
hahtation or a great factory full Of people; or
when a man destroys himself and brings down
his family to the lowest places of misery by
means of ntemperance. Looking at the latter
case, will the editor of that paper say: God did
it; II is adivlue Judgment on that family, which
is intended, also, as a divine warning to other
families?" We think not. He will, on the
other hand point out the responsibility of the
transgIessor who causes such ruin; and he will
seek TO reform such men and prevent the sin
which brings such judgments on families;
aud We don't believe, that. in doing so, he would
suspect himself of lighting against God" We
are quite as sure that he not accustomed to deny
that we shouldpay due regard to what are called
natural laws in order to guard against conflagra-
tons preserve health, and prevent disasters of
every kind.
Those who reject the doctrine advocated by
Zion's Herald, describe it as medieval supersti-
ton, aud the Herald describes their doctrine as
'tinfdelity" The ablest and most candid oppo-
nent of the Herald is the Toledo Index which,
nevertheless, goes to the farthcst extreme in the
other direction. The Index believes in God,
Does it deny that God, as Creator of the uni
verse; is the author of natural lawsP That is
to say, will it deny thar they are part of the dl-
vine older of the universal We think not, for
it has faith in God and viii not, probably, ex-
clude Him from nature. There is in certain
minds tendency of thought which excludes
God from the domain Of natural science, re-
jecis speculative philosophy, knows no meta
physics which the methods of physical science
cannot manage, and speaks OF nature as doing
everything. Need of the Supreme Being to ex-
plain its phenomena, compels matcralists to
personify nature, and to speak of its laws as if
they were gods, Or at least, living and powerful
entities. Physical science itself has exploded
the old doctrine of Spontaneous generaton;'
therefore life and action in the dead, inorganic
matter of nature did not come from itself; bui
atheism meets this difficulty with personifica
ton. The Index will not do SO. Hence, it will
admit that God is in the universe; that he made
it and established its order.
1t appears to us that these disputants should
lay aside all combative dogmatism, and settle
candidly the points in which they agree. Hav-
ing done this, it win be much easier to discuss
their actual differences with intelligence and
success. Men educated in different schools OF
thought, and not accustomed to use the same
terms in expressing their views of particular
points of doctrine, are likely to make their
differences seem greater than they are; and they
can not fail to do this when they meet in public
as dogmatic cOmbatants. If they would hon
estly understand each other, aud really search
for truth, they should begin by settling fairly
their points of agreement.