New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-09-23

80 no 70 forbidden TO maintain himself by other oc-
cnnatonD The valiant defenders OF the Christian
religion IL is frankly affirmed by the writer little suspect
how entirely their valor is dependent upon the conn
dance with which they prosecute their boldes researches
into the foundation the current Christian dogmas'
II that confidence should fairly begin to waver ioT'
with signs Of rOut and OF panic would oyerspread ue
palhd faces repeat the assertion 1t 49, therefore,
simply impossible for the th2ologian TO discuss the
Christian faith with anything like the requisite sci
eutihc indifference TO results and consequences" lie
could with thousandfod impartial composure SIT
in deliberate Judgment in the case OF trial
where his own life and fortune were AT ISSUE
But with the scientific searcher after reD-
gious truth the case ut once Is changed He mas
no conviction either OF the truth Of the current Chris
tan views Of their practical importance to anybody
He only learn whether those views are true or
false His to guard against mistakes in
reaching his results, content Huxley quantity re-
marks, "to follow reason and fact singeness and
honesty Of purpose, wherever they may Lead in the
faith that hell of honest men will be more endurabe
than paradise full OF angelic shams. new order OF
work. It will thus be has been created by the spe-
cla religious emergencies OF the day. For this work,
the theoogan proper, was no more originally intended
than he was for military commandant or civil
engineer Against taking part in it, he is not only
pledged but paid and is wholly disqualified for its exc
cuton by all his mental prejudces and habitudes as
well as by his inevitable regard for what he deems TO
be the most mOmentous consequences to the whole
family OF man. The work. therefore, according TO the
writer is 10 be accomplished by the thoughtful and
scholarly riends OF re on among the aity. They are,
in all respects free 10 serve the Christian cause at
pleasure They have dread either OF resignation or
deposition II they venture 10 "put forward their per
pexities" no one beyond handful of local church
officers can call them in question Unlike those OF purely
theological education, they have been trained TO dstus
authority, and to rely upon experiment analysis, and pa
ten research for the acquisition They are thus
prepared from the outset apply to Christianity the same
secular spirit OF investigation which the scientist applies
to hs peculiar province But, inquiries the writer, VIII
Christianity be able to stand thorough scientific sift
ingl II not he replies TO his own question, so much
the worse for Christianity. II Christianity is hereafter
to command place among men of thoughtiulness ana
culture it must secure their acceptance on the same
grounds as other scientific questions. Unless TINS
ia done, each OF the forms Of religion which
are brought forward in the name OF modern
thought and culture TO take the place of Christianity
must continue less successful in the struggle Tor
the mastery Norris true that the men OF thoughuu-
ness aud culture who now demand TO have sclentlhc
basis for their religious faith, all belong TO the present
generation of inhdels. SO far from 1t, many OF these
men claim and wish to keep the name OF Christians.
But they feel know religious truth for at
least as valid they know any other truth
Ihey feel and rightly feel that Christianity, as theo-
logically established very often not rested upon evil
dence which would nationally satisfy fearless scien-
tifc thinker" But the various antchrisan forms OF
faith in the several Christian countries are
put forward with at least vast array Of truly scientific
seeming wonder, then, that some form or other
of anchrstan eredence is accepted by such constantly
increasing numbers throughout the Christian Church.
The only remedy for this is If the thing be possible 10
place Christianity, in comparison with all other systems
of religion, upon truly scientific basis Whatever
current Christian dogma found unable to give truly
,gfttsr IaHo rafau
from the truly scientific thinker must Of course, at once
put aside all claims upon the credence Of the truly
scientific thinker" Here then is wide field
for the momentOus Christian service, into which
our Christian aymen ought at once TO enter. Having
engaged in the work. there should be no sign or show OF
vaclation. Every lChristan dogma, however sacred,
must be fairly placed trial before the world Of
science on the simple issue of its truth or falsehood
The whole conduct Of the inquiry should be in purely
secular and non.regious spirit by strangers to all
theology. Truth and truth only truth not as con-
sequence. but a truth for only valid reasons
truth at the mercess exposure Of all errors and all
sophstries truth at all and truth at all hazards
such alone De the constant witchwords" The re-
lation OF the Christian lsymen who engage In the
inquiry the scientific skepcs presented in iorcble
terms.
Whenever, after the essential preliminary stages OF
careful preparation the discussion OF the current Chris
nan doamas stall have been undertaken by our Christian
laynen truly scientific spirit and with the simple
esd IN view OF deciding from tue strictly scientific stand
point in how far those dOgmas either true or false
forthwith Christian laymen viii discover that they
merely working at cOnInOn problem with all the
leading modern skeptcs who possess the truly scientific
tone and temper. For the leading modern skeptics
mentioned do not by any means propose 10 dispense
beliefs are Christian. Conversely, they merely
propose 10 dispense with All such beliefs,
whether Christian AntichristaD, cannot
bfave the light, and seek rather than shun fearless
scientific scrutiny. They do not demand that tue
Christian dogmas shau De set ASIDE by the modern
sivaut merely because such dogmas chance 10 be the
current Christian ones Conversely, they cOutne them
either every Of those dOgnas must be fairly rested
upon evidence and reasoning OF like character 10 that
which claims our assent 10 Ordinary scentnc PROPOSE
tous aud take its legitimate place as ia itself part
of that every one OF those dogmas must
be frankly conceded to have no scientific basis aud
be discarded as having neither part nor lot With
science.
The article, on the whole. is Of revolutionary
10 call forth surprise at It's appearance in
Scrbner and many passages but for the evident good
faith aud earnestness OF the writer would suggest the
suspicion OF subtle irony.
The miscellaneous departments OF the number,
usual. show variety and ability. AprOpOs of Mr..
Whelaw Reid's discourse The Scholar in Politics."
the editor remarks that there is considerable
number OF American scholars mixed up with every
scheme iniquity the country TO lead
pec the country is not 10 be saved by scholarship
alone" But this is not the ground taken by Mr.. Reid.
" WHAT we really want" SAYS the editor, is gentlemen
in politics." Which the author of the discourse would
ne last to deny Indeed there is not little truth
in the assertion OF Scribter, that 81 political
men were only gentlemen, even If they more
than ordinarily intelligent, We should find our
political affairs good condition, and the ques-
lions that stand before in fair way OF being prop
ery adjusted" Congress does not suffer from lack of
knowledge and culture half as much it does from lack
Of principle 1t is the who push personal and party
purposes that poison legislation If Congress
posed oflgentlemen, could even dispense with what
D. Iotfo oHfIau
The shrewd comments Of the editor on the extraya-