Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-03-21
DIR. MUNSEY'S SECOND LECTURE
AND SERMON.

On Saturday night, large audience
assembled at the Methodist Church to
hear the second lecture of DIR. Nun
sey. His theme, as previously an
nounced, was Man. A great part of
the lecture was metaphysical. As all
action is from within, as the body is
the subject of some indwelling power,
the profound Investigator sought to set
before his hearers his theory of Mans
internal organism. The discussion
was deeply interesting. His theory is
we'll known, both in Psychology and
Theology, as Trichotomy. As Tri-
chotomist, he divided man into body,
soul and spirit. The body is of the
earth, earthly, the spirit is divine, and
the soul binds the two together, thus
making man one complex, threefold
unity. Trichotomy is by no means a
new thing. There was no little dis
cussion on the subject in the fourth
century. Tertullian opposed the the
ory and the great Augustine thought
it best not to give it place in Theology.
From time to time it has had its advo-
Gates, who insist that certain great
points in Theology can be explained
on no other theory. In fact the COM
mon system does not attempt to ex-
plain hoao Mans moral nature was
tainted by the fall; it simply adopts
the facts in the case contained in the
Sacred Record. One exception we
would make: old German theologians
teach that there was certain quality
in the forbidden fruit that disordered
the moral faculties, just as an unwhole-
some food disorders the stomach. 1t
is astonishing to see what sound, SEN
sible, consistent systems they can con-
struct on such miserable absurdity.
But Trichotomy claims to explain ho'u
sin affected Man, and hO,o the regener-
alton restores him. DIR. Munsey, in
his honest exploration in search of
truth, has adopted this theory as the
only one by which he could solve prob
lens that have presented themselves
to inquiring minds for solution from
the very birth of christianity. He
stated it quite clearly.
One thing is certain, If ever Theolo-
gy gets beyond its old landmarks, it
must ask aid of other sciences, and
Psychology seems her most natural ally.
We were therefore, much interested
in the discussion on Saturday night.
Toward the close he touched on the
creation of Man, and discussed, though
briefly, the phrases "in our image,
after our likeness, Here in treating
of the counsel held for the creation of
man, he plumed his imagination for
one of the most dazzling displays 1t
has ever been cur fortune to witness
on the rostrum. Careering, and
whirling, and decussdt;ng in gorgeous
gyrations, his wondering audience be-
held him press into his service the
most brilliant figures and the most
beautiful terms, until language itself
seemed TO faint and fall beneath the
spur of this vigorous rider.
On Sunday night he preached from
Psalms 1O2, 1913. OF course he dis
cussed the great subject-Laying the
Foundation of the Earth. While he
did not seem inclined to exalt Geology
in the discussion, he yet admitted the
grand truth to which her revelations
have led, that between the act of ere
alton as announced in the first verse
of Genesis and the creation of Man
there interviewed immense ages, du
ring which the earth was in process of
preparation for man. The first por-
ton of his sermon was based on this
theory and from il he dedueed some
startling and beautiful truths. Ac-
cording to Geology the word day does
not mean twenty-four hours, but vast
cycles of ages of irregular length
When Geology first presented this as
founding truth to Theology, who had
taught so long that six literal days
we're meant, fierce and protracted
struggle ensued, in which Geology
triumphed. In these days only few
theologians Of large culture can be
found to deny the sublime truth.
In this discussion the orator had all
the advantages of single theme, the
lack of which trammeled him in his
lectures. Some of his interpretations
were very happy. who" said he,
would have received the Bible, if it
had spoken of the Earth as turning on
its axis aud revolving around the sum-
The Bible does not teach science,
but gives its truths in the peoples
language. To one Interpretation We
demur. The Hebrew word for God
in the account of the creation is Flo
him. The termination is plural. The
grammarians call it the plural of ex-
cellence. Our orator would translate
il Gods, in the plural, which is cal
culated to convey wrong idea. He
wound up this excellent sermon with
a magnificent eulogy on the church
that ought to have thrilled every
nearer. After summing up the bene-
fits and blessings she confers upon us,
reeounting her triumphs, and declar-
ing her future greatness, he broke out
into that sublime language of the
Psalmist, "If / forget thee, . Jeru-
salem, let my right hand forget her
cunning. If do not remember thee
let my tongue cleave to the roof OF my
mouth; if ] prefer not Jerusalem
above my chief joy" The close Of
this sermon vas grand.