The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1876-04-06
A NEW pREACnERIN BOSTON.
Ills Mission TO Teach Clear Ideas
ON Reljgion-.A New Depar-

Ills Mission TO Teach Clear Idea
ON Keljgion-,A New Depar'
turc.
From the Springfield Republican.
The sensation OF the Boston clerical
mind this spring is the preaching Oh Ine
Rev. Joseph Cooke. This gentlemaH IL
Congregational clergymen, oil new
York birth, who was settled, some years
400 In LYNN, but who has spent the most
~, ~ vo.rs II bis lie at the English and
Germ,n universities. While at Lynn,
S0 ;nvs,,;"sted the Industrial evils Of
that community with Srea!! care preach
ed upop them with such ylgor IA TO pro-
,Incs nm eruption from the shoe manu-.
fac sT in the pews, which cast him out
of bis pastorate. Having no family, and
being OF a studious turn OF mind, he
sought theological instruction under the
beat modern masters, becoming especially
familiar with the German liberal evan.
gelical Tholuck, both theologically and
personally.
lie has now returned to Boston to
preach, as he says, TO the evangelical
ministry of that city, because he can ex.
ercisc from that centre the widest intlu.
ence, rs he apprehends, on the theological
thought. lie began preaching some months
ago on mondays in the Melodeon Hall. His
audiences at first were small, but gradu-
ally the ministers who flock into Boston
on that day have got wind OF his gospel,
and now the hall il crowded weekly. He
nreoches nm Matthew Arnold, RATIONAL
Ism, relation OF modern science TO the
Bible, and kindred themes, eyincing
great mastery OF his subject and Of him.
self, rising, at times, to plane OF elo-
1uence that enthuses the Methodist
brethren into volley OF amens, but for
the most part expounding, in clear and
close reasoning, the philosophy et his
theology. He recently had two or three
sermons on the causes OF American dis
honesty. His gospel is to teach, he says,
"clear ideas on religion" the harmony OF
science with the Bible, and Of trinitarian
orthodoxy with both, and with reason.
He achieves this last point, practically,
by diyesting orthodoxy Of all its old,
fierce character, and reducing it virtually
10 something which the liberal Christian
sects can scarcely discriminate as differ
ent from their own beliefs.
Il was this union in him Of high cul-
ture, eloquent speech and philosophical
reconciliation OF the old with the new,
that made Mr.. Cooke sought for series
OF addresses to the students OF Amherst
College early in the winter. There had
been some development Of the free relig-
ious spirit among the students that alarm
ed the fathers, and Mr.. Cookies labors,
most acceptable to all parties, seem to
have been the beginning OF reactionary
religious movement that rc.establishes
Amherst in its dominant and traditional
orthodoxy.
The Boston reporter has not yet discov-
cred Mr.. Cooke, but his discOurscs are
having, we hear, a powerful effect on all
who attend them-orthodox, Baptist,
Methodist, liberal-in showing the prac-
teal insigniiicance Of the differences be-
tween the sects and the possibility OF fn-
ture union. This ia not Mr.. Cookies pur-
pose, however. He is no liberal or free
thinker, but his orthodoxy is very de-
sructive OF the old doxy that used to 60
by that name. As new and more au-
dacious departure from that standard,it is
all the more welcome that it clings to the
old name.