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

In the March number of the FOrtnigttty Re
rie,r inst issued by Holt Williams Mr.. Leslie Stephen
discusses the question, Are still Christians, ia reer
ence TO views that subject recently SET iorh ny
Strauss and repeated by other modern critics In ING
opinion Of Strauss there can be no COMPROMISE pee"oo"
Christianity and Rationalism Every attempt 10 accom-
pish this object is only lamenable waste OF ingenuity
Such statement Is regarded by Mr.. Stephen as an e1
traordinary fact He has doubt that Strauss speaks
I'm the name of numerous and intellectually powerful
class Nor the importance Of the question be Denied
IL involves the inquiry whether the love OF uuh c
mands the sacrifice OF all those beliefs whch alone rch
dered the world beautiful even toerabe 10 the sooa
and 10 the wise OF former generations what tleh' no
asks is the state OF mind of those who have not listened
to the prophets OF modern skeptcism but whose
intellects arc yet too active to be content with
pure absence Of deasl Mr. Stephens treatment OF the
subject Is desutOry and vague without announcing any
positive conclusions, but offering many significant sug
gestons 10 thoughtful readers He Is clear however
on one point, namely that unsecaran Christianity ~
an absurdity. Such an amalgamation is just as nm
possible as a triangle that Is neither scaene nor soscee
nor equilatera II amounts to the assertion that the
doctrines which the very hfeb!ood Of the Ola
creeds that once stirred mems hearts TO mc are TO be
respectfully shelycd and that morality can do very wen
without them. 70 proclaim unsectaran Christianity ls
in fact, to proclaim that Christianity IL dead The es
sence the belief the belief in the divinity OF Christ
into account Is without true vital force. lnhdes,
heathens and UntaIans reject the single influence
which alone can mold our lives in conformity with the
everlasting laws of the universe. Unsectaran IL un
christian. But the pregnant question at ISSUE
Whether Christians, tho writer IN the conclusion
Of his paper preserves omnous slence-An article
OF quite different character In the present number Is
by Dir. Francis Cation the causes which operate
to Create Scientific Men," which he presents sum
mary Of the views of NJ dc Caudol 10 in work
the History OF the Soreness" Among other points, 1t
Is maintained that the influence Of dogmatic creed Is
unfavorable to the development OF science Sun the
religious man and the scientific have certain traits
in common. The former Is attached by his heart TO
his religion, and cannot endure even a scientific
discovery which calls in question its truth. The lat
ter seeks truth regardless Of consequences and is ready
to abandon an old opinion for one which has more
probabilities in its favor Butneither the religious man,
nor the scientific man win consent TO sacrifice his
opinions to material gain, to political ends, or to pleas
ure Both agree the love Of intellectual pursuits, and
in the practice of simple, regular aud laborOus lfe'
and both work in disnterested way for the public
good striking illustration OF this argument Is found
in the number Of clergymen's sons who have dstln-
gushcd themselves as scientific investigators Ii Is 80
large make lament the void in the ranks OF
caused by the cebacy OF the Catholic clergy