New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1873-12-28

London letter wr ter furnishes the fol
lowing interesting episode to New Yori
paper:
DIR. Carpenter seems likely to become the
next DOGGY IF the theological world. The
family Ut Carp enters is well kno IN az
belonging to the most conservative branch
| of the Unitarian denomination, in which
two of them are preachers OF the old
fashioned sort. He himself has long been
supposed to hold the doctrines of that sect
| in their most moderate and innocent form.
and it Was. no doubt, on that account that
| the clergymen of Sion college recently in
vited him to read paper before them.
| may premise that Sion college is an Angli.
| can and religious institution, wherein the
bishops and clergy of London periodically
| assemble. listen to paper Or lecture, and
then discuss the same. There were, on
| this last occasion, about $50 of the most
eminent prelates and olergymen present,
| and also Q sprinkliDg of scientific men,
! among them Tynaall, who is very
oftep, like certain parsonage
in the book of Job, present when
the holy ones come together. Dr.. Carpen-
ter took for his theme, the Reign Of Law"
and his treatment Of it gave rise to a sensa-
tion-l may. almost, say, q scene of nearly
a fearful character. 1t has been hushed up
here; no paper would dare to face the eccle-
its publication. DR.. Carpenter cast utterly
aside the Duke of Argyle's accommodation
of the reign of law to theological exigencies,
and maintained that nature represented
kingdom Of orderly evolution, which had
never been in aded by anything arbitrary,
preternatural, or supernatural, and his ad-
dress ended by tho emphatic declaration,
that all the liturgies, litanies, collects and
prayers that were ever uttered never haG
inf1uenced-never could infuence-the
course of this universe, nor mankind,
nor q single individual, in the slightest
degree. There was terrible silence when
the doctor sat down. Presently there arose
an eminent London clergyman, who said
that if he believed The declaration Just made,
he would ascend his pulpit next Sunday
only to announce that the church would be
forever closed from that hour Then he sat
down and another painful silence occurred.
All eyes were turned upon the tall, thin
doctor, with his intellectual face, to zee
what effect the remark would have on him.
ll had none; he belongs to the school Of
thinkers whose motto is Truth, whatever
the consequences" Then one after another
the clergy men rose, and there was bur
ricane of stormy protests. The amount Of
them was "This can not be true, for it
would close our prayer books" Carpenter
seemed to b. unmoved even by this argu-
ment But when the rest of the company
had exhausted themselves. Professor Tyn-
dali arose, and, with q slow and solemn
voice. said:
IL am speaking to men of education and
men of learning; to men who have studied
in universities, aud have read history and
observed the course of nature; and 1 feel
constrained to ask You as gentlemen of cul-
$ure whether it is really possible that you
can have any belief in the efficacy of prayer
to affect tins universe in the slightest de.
gree r.
This in Sion College! This to hundred
and fifty clergymen who read prayers every
day! Their breath was fairly taken away.
Only one seemed to retain enough to falter
ont motion for adjournment, which was
adopted in mOurnful silence.