Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-11-10
THE CHURCH OF THE FUTURE

Liberal Christian, October 28J
The old controversy with Trinitarian
and Calvinistic theology is over. Not
that the questions are settled, or that
any agreement has been come to, but
that controversy, teXtual and direct,
has done all that it can do. Whatever
scholarship, exegesis and criticism can
do TO prove Trinitarianism or Calvinism
not the doctrine Of Christ and his apos-
ties has been done. Those who cannot
be convinced by what has been already
written, viii not be convinced by any
thing in that line that can be written.
We have only to refer inquiries of a new
7 generation to the old arguments. But
really TrinitaTianism or Calvinism no
longer exists in the strength of the
Scriptural argument of their creeds or
any reasonable defense; but on the
strength of their -intrenchment is useful.
honored and Woodworking churches,
establishments, seets, which cannot
without peril TO their prestige, abandon
their old confessions or creeds. Thew
exist, also, in a philosophy and ontoIogy
which grew out Of them, when they
were believed, during the long contin-
n of which the human mind itself
took on certain ways of thinking and
certain commonplace of feeling which.
originally adopted to meet a supposed
scripturality, to authoritative church
dogma, have now become stronger than
the dogma itself, or the authority thew
grew out of. We have to wait, now
that controversy has gone by, on the
dissolving influence Of general social.
political and educational antagonisms
and controversies have lost their edge.
Il is not that We are settled and of oDa
mind. But larger questions, which are
too serious and grand to be subjects of
personal irritation or OF dongmatic set
dement,, having swamped lesser dis
putes. The modern question Of the
very possibility Of a revelation, or a per-
'sonal God, or an immortal life, or of
moral distinctions, cannot be made mat
tens of sectarian feud. The nature and
authority Of Jesus becomes for the time
a secondary question in the presence
Of the disputed being Of a personal Cod. (
People who are divided on the question
Of miracles viii unite 10 resisEthe at
tack on an immortal spirit or on the
eternal authority Of right, Mr.. Beecher
processes not TO care where we came
from if we only know where we are
going. He is Indifferent whether hts
ancestor was an ape or a lizard, 1
II Only he is assured that he himself is
now a man. But a good many people
viii think that the place from which
we came is likely TO be the place to-
which we shall return; and that if wei
from the dust and the worm, TO
TIE dust and worms We shall 90 back.
Ihey do care TO know something about
the spiritual origin and descent as well
70 hope something from their present
dignity and spiritual aspirations. We
always thought it worth while 10
the fall Of Adams nature be-
cause it involved his posterity. Andwe
not relish the idea Of a brutal so1i a.
well as animal body in anv part of onr
hneal descent. Here is question. then
Of Mr.. Darwin's before which right and
leu wing may well drop their inferior
questions and unite their scattered forces
10 settle it favorably 10 human dignity.
And. really, the habit Of considering
the great and earnest questions proposed
BY modern science has dwarfed our late |.
.heme Of irritated discussion.
{
The rapidly with which the Jewish
population OF the United States increases
comprehension. They are filing
very avenue Of business and trade.
Many important branches are virtually
nonopolized by them. They are largely
b the dry goods line, the trade in horses
md cattle, and many kinds Of manu-
aetUres. They are becoming our
aoney-cbangers and bankers. They
re 1ocking into the learned professions, /
nd filing our laW-schOols and medical !
olleges, and constitute the bulk of the
uests at many Of the largest aud most |
xpensive hotels. They are growing Z
l-elatudinous, rich and powerful. 1t can !
$50 be said Of them, as a class, that q
1ey are good. neaeeabla and Iau-abid !,