New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-10-04

real comfort and no mere phrases-heaveny realities
not earthly reasoninga these forehodngs Of change
bring constantly increasing number OF Christian stu
dents TO the feet OF the Lord colleague OF mne Prof
books In rebus graosims ad religonem ct honestatem
pertlnenubus conyenire omnes gentes." Dr. Hasc,
Young theOogan Of the University OF Jena, In Dis ex
ccllcnt and most important book, Huiterus ke1i-
| Yivus," published In 1923, raised the objection
ply would agree with that statement The
Iash Nationalist withdrawing his assertion, enanRT1
the Omnes gentes into fere Omnes gentes, very
slight alteration indeed by which, however bational-
ism, according 70 the ideas OF students OF uViniS ~
Another element Of higher Importance cOnrlDutea 70
di;erfd H5iei ibH mean obso e names Of Rational
ism and Sprtualism would not allow 10 ne suDSa ny
under Themselves. renewed examination OF tne iIa
nature of religion had taught Scheiermach that to
traditional definitions did not come up 10 ~. roa an
religion the feeling OF an absolute depenuoH 80
Goj within the Christian church. consciousness OF stu
and OF the Redemption OF Christ, whlch nu t Hos avs
put forth prominently enough m e ly ali physical
investigations, all theses whatever lnat % ,nel,nc
derived by street inference from the profound ie9is
S sinfuIness ana the certainty Of redemption were
excluded from the d0gnatlcal ~ t eat many OF
snch were now more for Christian plety a. IA ~
aversion to the incOmpreheh rv the orthodox
TSrsfians slightly modifying their creed began TO take
an intermediate position Des"een. on ,,vor o,nonc
% circles i'm Prussia Although Schleermacher
continued TO have ms t r. Hue tn him 10 own
that his influence gradually made religion respected ny
The late King and his father, who both held moderate
views points OF religion, have likewise contributed
not little TO revive Christian fath III their country
Frederick william Ill called pOus men INTO MS coun-
ell and ntrusted others with the highest clerical Offices
Being assisted by Altensein, the Prussan Minister OF
state Ecclesiastical Affairs, by his adiutant the Gen.
Wzleber, and other men OF similar religious per-
suasOns he supported Christian associations such as
the Societies for the Propagation OF the Gospel among
the Jews and heathen and tue Bible societies. he dey0
ted himself TO urgical studies with view To reform
the ritual or public worship ana promoted variety OF
other interests of the church sun more countenance
was given to Christian endeavors, when he was sue
ceeded by his greater and more talented SON Frederck
William Nv. His not "a fatth OF ancient orthodoxy,
but of modern pety nurtured partly by philosophical
speculation partly by 9sthetcal pursuits Oh the same
character the religious views and feelings OF his
highest functiOnarie particularly OF his devoted per
sOnal friend the Minister OF otle, Llsnh0II VINO aiso
enjoyed the intimacy OF Schleiermacher 10 was not the
orthodoxy OF Hengstenberg but more liberal theology
that was particularly favored by INC ate hlHR, sugh
as is cultivated in your COngregalOnalist schools.
Ever since the year 1914, wnen John sigisinund,
Elecfor OF Brandenburg adopted the reformed
confessions instead Of Latheranisn. which was the
established religion OF his country, orr Prusslan
sOvercgns with their families have always protested
spirit of liberation, and have, moreover exred them
selves effect union OF the several denominations OF
the Protestant Church. We be allowed to say that
even among the Pussian people the tendency TO union
Evangelical Church became the established church Of
the country A new epoch may be dated from the APP
Eg1nGsiisehe KrcheR-sttHg in 1929; inl5much as 1t
seems owing TO his influence that the orthodox party
been of a more gentle biblical claracteI, gruuu.
ally became more poemicSl and aggressive.
Although
proper limit OF justice aud moderation, yet lt must be
avowcd-as it has been even by liberal a theoOgan
as Prof IIasc in Jenatha Prof cngstonberg eminent
talent an editor made Ms journal the head paper or
Germany that concentrated and strengthened all the
Christian clements Ia the beginning confessional
quarres were excluded altogether out when the
Of the Lutheran Hood were swelling and SURFING Hengs-
tenberg himself yielded 10 their force, and from 1914
ErGHgeltsche hGchcH-eltHHg, without breaking with
the United Church OF Prussia, unurod the banner Of
Lutheran cOnfessOnalism, yet so 10 give at the
time considerable check TO tho Lutheran separation.
Let me now turn 70 ne later period Oh my me some
ia the third dCceuuum OF our century, the dominant
power OF mind ayerted the thoughts Of men from
theology into the channel Oi philosophy, substituting for
religious AIMS pllOsOpaca plODeuS ~ tho year 1913
Uegcl was called to chair OF Berlin University, ana
began there his Philosophical lectures. You could
hardly perceive any CHRISTIAN tendencies elthef Ia MS
life in his writings before the Berlin period. IL was
the atmosphere Of the Prussan capital and the union
with plCu5 "e thal nplCgAteu DVVl ms Liihd ahl
his philosophical system with Christian principles. Az
ter his death the school OF the founder divided into
distinct parucs. a minority, WIN GO5sche IOf tlelr
leader, faithful 10 the symbols OF the Lutheran
creed, while others imDued - they were WIEN the spirit
OF sPno1l, NeII huiiiet mo uo"uIlsGL pan
thcl5m by Strauss For some time conservatism in point
Of religion seconded by political conservation IN tine
spirit OF Tie Holy Alhce between Russia ffu'Sla and
Austria, aud was supported IN addition by me political
ubsOutsm OF France under the BOurbOn until in $780,
by the Revolution OF july, I1nan CathOhc aDs0lutsm
broken to pieces The victory gained by liberalism
in policies prepared the way Tor the radical Hegeian
school first IN Germany ana afterwards IN switzerland
theology eject Uf these tendencies
much TO fOment an antiChristlan philosophy
t. give oirth 10 new schoO OF historical criticism
founded by Blur in Tublngen In the this great
but when, by slow degrees, lifted tie yai that COW
cred his negative position, IL became evident that his
system OF Christianity, sweeping OFF even the slightest
traces OF the supernatural, was nothing more than
ratiOnalisc product Of dialectlcal deductions which
PLAN history was hidden TO obey. From Baur an
arbitrary though often Ingenious criticism has taken
its rise thai, having Tor rs center now tie University
OF Zurich, has spread widest in the Swiss Dutch
churches and Is more or less ayowed by the socalled
ProtesGnten-Vcrein in Germany.
I'm Prussia the powers destruction were successfully
subdued up 70 the day OF the downfall OF Mtller late
been so deprecated by the public or been asaled with
the luminosity by parties Numerically opposed to
each other this true and faithful servant Of Christ
Toward the end OF his admins both ratiOnasts
of the ProtestanenVerein and Lutheran confessional
impossible that the establishment OF the United
Prussian Church could be kept up longer II he
great majority had clamored for brought about at
the beginning OF the year 1922 Miiher dismissed.
1t cannot be said with any justice that under the admin
israiOn of his anti christian aneCCes
astical system had been substituted for formerly
contrary has to pass of what had been the hope Of
the whole evangelical part OF Germany; the unpara-
ced victory which God granted to the nation in the late
war has not regenerated us Ia hlth and elevation
VI our souls To HIM. On inc contrary, the new
epoch that been inaugurated far human eyes
can see. proves Itself to be compromising dssou-
ton OF positive faith and Christian interest," and this is
not only tho in few parts OF tue country, but
throughout the whole OF Germany. Yet, whether what
seems 10 us a beginning of decline be correctly Judged
10 be So TO what extent be carried do not
to assert. The Church, theology anu Christian
lie nave had their progress and reges counting back
from the days of the Reformation to the days of their
origin. from times back the sixteenth century;
nor Will IL be otherwise with regard c. the future deVel
opment OF the Church OF Christ Our understanding and
our moral state will ever alternately move on OF turn
back and opposed 10 the kingdom OF the Lord realm
OF Antichrst will remain and viii continue to grew
until it be destroyed by the last victory. May the Lord
give clear eyes and hearts, In order that from
an the alterations that His Church has undergone till
now there may rebound to US an everlasting gain.
Amen.
ADDRSDUM.
To this matured account OF Dr. Thouck, which have
had the honor to read you reverend gentlemen and
dearly beloved brethren, beg TO add few words 1t
cannot escaped you that the person OF our be-
loved aud venerated DIR. Tholuck himself has remained
IN the background OF his sketehmore than any OF
us could have wished 1t is his extreme modesty that