The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-01-14
Modern Scepticisul.


"Modern Scepticlsm In Its Relations to Our Young
Men" Is the title OF address by Rev. Marx Hop
kins D. d., President OF Williams College, before
the International Convention OF the Young Mems
Christian Association, delivered at washington,
May, 1871 New York: American Tract Society.
The argument of this discourse Is somewhat
metaphysical; but 1t seems to US that, spite Of
DR.. Hopkins learning and the strength Of mis- STYLE
II does poor credit to the author Of Lectures on
Moral Science" and Is not such as TO convince any
save one who previously agreed with him. As an
argument before court 0flaw, for instance, or De-
fore any tribunal that demands irrefraRble proof or
even the establishment OF strong probability, 1t
would not stand for an instant.
Sceptlcism or what the Doctor terms ''unbelier"
has by this time, surely, won the right to be
esteemed as the thoughtful and intelligent out
growth Of reason, and not the fruit OF wavward
spirit OF contradiction. 1t Is not the prattle or
babes but the expression OF the careful and
convictions Of men in the most advanced realms Of
thought 1t Is hopeless therefore, to think Of meet
| ing their arguments by childish appeal to au-
| thority. DR.. Hopkins commences by making this
very mistake and quietly takes for granted some Of
the very points at ssue-sucn as the inspiration Of
| the Bible, the Divinity, or essential GOdhood Of
Jesus &c.
The Doctor regards unbelief as "the one great sin
| that stands between man and any good which God
|
between him and the remedy Tor sin." In answer to
tine questions, "Wnat kind OF unbellef Is 1t, then,
dence9-is 1t OF anything that presents ilsel as
truth In the region or pure intelect?"he answers,
| on the ground of evidence was there sln but be.
cause they did not believe In God-because they
| After admitting that belief and trust are both
matters OF the intellect rational processes that de-
tempt to ciinch the responsibility Of HnoeIier and
lack OF trust BY drawing an argument from the con-
..T6e SIN, if any," says Dr. Hopkins, evil lie In
the moral blindness which falls TO see its need and
which iais to accept Of proIiered aid" This is
Illogical man knows when he Is hungry or
would it be In like manner men Know when they
are morally ahungered, and If they do not know then
Know, and, thus showing there are thousands, YES
millions, OF men wno alter having heard and
cided that not tins system, but some other, meets
the wants Of their natures.
That all these dishonest Is more difYicult
OF peer than that DR.. Hopkins Is mistaken. under
the term honesty we include readiness oil the willy
| But Il you say ''these men are not convinced be-
| cause they are blind and cannot see," you charge
| God with making creature having such detec-
aI So see Wec
This would be the same as saying that God creates
some men, the large majority OF mer merely to
consgn them TO hopeless, moral deatn-a PROPOSE
| ton too basphemous ana defamatory OF God Tor
any one TO entertain, unless he were believer In
the socaed doctrine OF election In Its most odious
| form. 1.-The greatest men have always been build
ers," says the Doctor. 'But sceptlcism mega
ton It's work IS destructive" &c. This Is
not entirely true. Scept,cism may commence by
denying denying tnat a partial statement is the sole
| rational sceptic goes further, and afirms the
more general and inclusive truth. ANY one who
| believes that gas lights are better Than tallow
Candles and VINO. therefore, deserts the use OF the
| latter VIII, by the person VINO knows no better
| means OF artificial illumination, be held TO be
| unoellever or scepo In the matter OF tallOw
| candles
Sceptcs 1t Is true often destroy the old temples
and break the Idols, out 1t Is that they or some
may build again on larger plan: Ihey have tho
they not in truth more deserve This title than those
who cling to the old and oppose the building OF the
"Much OF what is called science is mere infer.
ence," says DR.. Hopkins. This Is true. But how
called theology inference land such infer.
ence making out The nature OF God TO be unjust
and cruel and abOmlnaole that, we're any one to
paint the character Of criminal In cOlors dark,
men would stand aghast az the picture and declare
But the differences OF science are ever mar
monious and are daily strengthened by being sub
Jected 10 new tests by thousands OF independent
servers.
Tne question OF the truth or Of the falsty OF the
nerences or science Is constantly being settled be-
OF science are tangible and open 10 universal In.
specton. DR.. Hopkins mentions the instance ad-
duced oy Darwin oil the Dlack bear seen by hearnes,
swimming hours with widely open mouth thus
catching, almost ike whale, insects the water"
We accept, says he, the lact affirmed by Darwin,
but must ulssenL from his inference that, by thus
dong the progeny or The black bear may In time
Tine inference IL not made by Darwin, but by Dr.
Hopkins himself, nor Is IT, as stated by the Doctor,
In accordance with the theory OF the origin Of
species.
species, and reading tae section headed beaded ION the
cular Habits and Structures" 1t Will be seen that
the instance selected by Dr. Hopkins is but one and
by means the most Conclusive, OF very many
cases WHICH form series, and when studied In con.
nectlon make cumulative argument that Is fast
! gaming the assent OF scientists and thinkers
/ throughout the world.
Darwlnism NUMBERS also among Its converts
many dvines OF all schools who hnd IN TINS theory
n0nlns al variance with their religious beiieis.
Darwlnsn Is Well able TO keep on Its way without
the aid OF DR.. bopSins even IN spite OF mis- Opposi-
! iion But II VIII not he many years in our opinion
| before The Presden Of Williams College will find
tnai he cannot afford TO remain without some better
knowledge OF Darwlnlsm, sucn a knowledge as viii
enable MN 10 attack IT, If 50 disposed with other
weapons than those drawn from theology or mere
| rdlcue.
The Inspiration and Vitality Of the Sacred
scriptures.
, To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
nave perused with pleasure the letters that have
appeared IN the HERALD respecting the Inspiration
and vitality OF the sacred Scriptures. A Uatbotic
| from conviction. sui assume the right TO consider
the above topic from the Protestant STANDPOINT
! VIZ, private judgment. Your correspondents an.
proach the consideration OF the subject somewhat
tmidIy. II II be worth consideration let 1t be an
| preached on a broad basis. "Catholicusn argues
that "the sense OF Scripture alone Is TO be
taken as inspired. not mat every word was die.
tated by the Holy Gnost;' but II the Holy Ghost did
taSe upon Himself the tasx OF inspiring men 10
| commit 10 writing the gospels, II words nave sense
| or meaning and are used ~ convey ideas, ne would
| certainly nave 50 enlightened the apostles to the
| extent Of being able so 10 express themselves with
| uniformity Of expression, so that after genera
tons could not possibly mistake their meaning. But
| the gospels DO admit Of many interpretations and
are full OF contradictions. ~. E.n maintains that
1.-The intelligent reader comprehends the interpreta-
tion SO far as 10 know IL 10 be ruen this IL
contrary TO the act Tor IL Is the inteligent reader
| who mostly doubts the authenticity OF the Bble.n
And what about the millions OF souls VINO cannot
read9 Can the BbIe be said to be an inspired reve.
latiOn TO themY 1t must be a sealed book 10 mil
| Iiuna of children consequently