, 1874-02-01
LIE AAA4AANNEA
EXPRESSES tho belief that
CORRESPONDENCE.
CHICAGO ORTHODOXY.

70 the Editor Of The Ch;1a1o Tslbuss:
Il ia possible for & man honestly to pursue =
dishonest course. He follows line Of action
and speech utterly at war with his professed
principles; and at the Same time he is either
unconscious Of the contradiction, or else thinks
ho sees what is an adequate excuse for it.
Writing, and preaching, and acting. in " q
Pickwickian sense,' has become so common that
ono might suppose tho WHY French diplomat q
theory OF the political use OF language had bo-
coma the accepted rule in theology, and that
s'speech Tas gwen to man to conceal Lis
thoughts"
It's q transition age, when men are being
pushed into the new, and ye! are trying to cling
10 the old. This is parity an excuse for the at-
titude Of churches and ministers. The conser-
yatism here manifested is natural, and, to a Ger
tain extent, usoiul: only it is not quito 30 good
as outright honesty. The temptation to it is
atrong: for he, whose conscience will allow him
to hold such position has the double advan-
taee Of boiug popular With the crowd that de-
mand 3 nominal orthodoxy, and, at the Same
time, OF being perfectly FREQ in his private be-
iefs snd private uttesances.
There are those who, at the cost Of abuse, Of
friends, and luriug future prospects, have said
what they believed in plain language,
ind taken tho consequences. There are many
not to uso stronger word-vho to-day are con-
ceating their beliefs, or yelling them in lam
guage possessing tho convenient quality Of 3
double interpretation, and SO are maintaining
their positions in pulpits and churches from
which o thorough ontspokcnue.s would exclude
them. Ministers are watched By eaGer listeners
on Sundays, with the same interest that follows
Il hght-rope performer. This interest Is to see
how nicely he balances himself between ortho-
do1y aud liberalism, whilo extremists on both
sides claim that when he docs fall it will be to-
ward them. Liberals gapo nstonishod at
doctrines .i tnss 1ssr,, hare Hn,,;+ been familiar
only it is SO wonderful to hear them from ortho-
dox lips and then it il 60 nice and pleasant to
have all the advantages OF both extremes CONF
binea.
Men Of orthodox churches boest to liberal min
listers, ''Our minister breaches inst as liberal
doctrine Us you;" aud liberal laymeu sny, :; We
Lave no need to help build or support liberal
churches for we can get it all in orthodoxy" At
the same time liberal ministers and churches
are prescribed and banned There 8eeEns to be
zuired. I know OF those who do not 1esltate to
confess that they like tho doctrine, but do not
Ike to be called "Ebeza1."
know ministers who confess they believe
what they dare not preach. They bold in their
educated heads and eecrot hearts what would
claimed to the pews. Thus, purposely or not,
they help maintain gigantic pretense, and
make it harder for al 1aquiring souls to be
honest, and they thus also help to maintain q
theological prescription against many with
MY fsss ss utter
| ances, too numerous to mention, have given
rise to this line Of thought. TTo or three
marked expressions Of belief have lately deter
mined NC to make my thought public. The
expressions referred to are an ortho-
dox minister's doctrine Of conversion, :,
the Rev. Mr. McKa,g's last Sunday mornings
sermon published in Tile TRIBUNE. and IN article
in the Alliance Tor Jan, 10 On "Ihe Bible
In regard to these, will make general
statement to which l esk the candid attention
Of Ill. With some inaignidcant notifications, the
Alliance article, the sermon, aud tho doctrine Of
conversion might hare been written By Tbeo-
dore Parker, signed by Matthew Arnold, and
rould undertsko to get Tor them the indorse-
ment Of eyory liberal" minister in Chicago.
DR.. Charming might have demurred at them. 4
very radical friend remarked to me within day
before the Presbyterians will bo claiming
that they have alwags REGARDED the
Unitarians as orthodox" Tho render
will notice that. in the three points
above mentioned. are represente ed all tic lending
orthodox denominaticns-Congreg egationahsts,
presbyterians, Methodiats+ Episcopalians, Bap-
tistB-aud yet all these points are utterly ire
concllable with any printed orthodox standard
Of healiaL