The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1877-08-06
GhnQmtelEisemra:
The March OF InIIdeIIty ns DIS.
cuASCd III the Edinburgh COun.

The IInrch OF IniIdelIty nv DIS.
cuASCd In the Edinburgh COun.
eli.
Nov York San Of Saturday.
We surmised that the alarming front
presented by modern infdelity would at.
tract the most serious consideration Of
the Pau.Presbyteriau Council in Elin-
burgh. The full reports we are now re.
Ceiving OF that grand CalvinistiC assem.
blage, show that We were not wrong in
our anticipHtions. The question OF the
proper and efficient means Of meeting the
sefried hosts Of the enemies Of historical
Christianity WaS prominent one at Ed.
inburgh.
DR.. McCosh Of Princeton put forward
the most practical method; and his learn
ing, ability asa metaphySiCian and theo-
Logan, and experience As q teacher, COM
manded for his views in the Council, az
they must command for them outside OF
it, tho most thoughtful attention. He
stands in tho foremost rank oil the strenu.
ousopponentS Of the prevailing material.
istic philosophy, which has none Of its
roots in divine revelation, and which
even treats the mind or soul as the
product Of the brain, and not the brain
"a the wandrous instrument used
by the immortal soul. In his position as
President ofPrincelon College, one OF the
largest, Oldest, and most respectable col.
leges in the country, Dr.. McCosh has
the means Of influencing many young
minds, and turning them of from the
broad and well.beaten road OF modern
'Eepticism. This opportunity he has
not failed TO use, with what results his
career At that conservative institution
has been almost too short to show. The
mlieriaIistic philosophy is full OF fascin.
alton for young thinkers, and i,s apostles
are men who stimulate their followers by
reason OF their inspiring eloQuence and
contagious zeal. 1t is also extensively
aoIoring modern literature, and in many
directions making its advances against
the old ideas. lts progress during the
last ten years has been steady, and now
the works of men like Huxley, and Tyn-
dali, and Darwin, though they might
seem unattraclive 10 most readers, have
large and increasing sale, while the
theories OF social life dependent on the
materialiStiC philosophy crop out daily
in popular works, in magazine essays,
and even in the leading articles Of the
journals.
To stay this proud and confident host,
DR.. MCCosh proposes, as we have said, a
practical plan. Other speakers at Edln.
burgh, as for instance, DR.. Patton, Of
Chicago, contenicd themselves with abus.
ing the new teachings and warning the
orthodox against them but the venerable
Princeton President went at tho enemy
in different and wiser way. The ma
terialists, as DR.. MCCoSh we'll under.
stands, are not to be frightened by the
beating OF the Chinese gong9 OF the old
theologians, nor are they to be dismayed
by threats Of Furnishing them with hell
tire. lliS idea is that the ministers shall
devote their time to planting the seeds OF
the Gospel, 10 awakening mems con.
sciences, to showing them the necessity OF
spiritual regeneration, and TO the con-
Quering OF the old enemy OF original sin.
That is, they shall go on in the old ways;
and not spend their time in random as.
saults upon an adversary who usually
can bring to the field Of controversy bet.
ter weapons OF argument than they. The
dealing with the inGdel he would turn
over 10 a special body OF Christian
knights, defenders of the faith, trained
for the purpose. The modern knights OF
the cross would work side BY side with
the parsons, and would relieve the minis.
ters Of the labor OF tackling the aggres.
sive mAIeriaiist5. Drilled and disciplined
for this particular work, they would have
a: their command arguments drawn from
Revelation, philosophy, history, and
science, 80 thH. they could meet the foe
on equal terms
There is much to commend in this plan
OF Dr.. McCosh. The great mass OF theo.
logianS now are pretty sure to get con.
fused, tripped, and demoralized in con.
troversy with the mNterialists, for while
the matcriali.ts are naturally we'll inform.
ed "a to the old positions Of orthodoxy,
and Of course know the exact strength
OF their own, the t!ieologianS venture
on ground with which they are not so
familiar. 1t thus has happened that the
malcriaiists have treated the assaults Of!
The theOloGiana with good deal OF con,
tempt, hardly deeming them foes worthy
Of their steel; while the theoiogians,
though denying that they were vanquish.
cd aud still confident Of their cause, have
expended themselves too often in unavail.
ing abuse. II such a trained body Of
Christian apologistS a. DR.. McCosh advo.
Gates were formed, doubtless the two par.
ties would be more equally matched.
The extent to which the new philoso.
rhy has entered the Church-at least the
Protestant Church--is much greater than
some people imagine. Now and again We
hear Of 3 minister, like Dr.. Blauvelt,
being discovered in heresy because he
announces his sentiments boldly; but
there are many others Of the clerical pro.
lesion who, though scsrceIy aOknowledg
ing the fact to themselves, have had their
faith undermined; while the spread o!
the new doctrines among tho lAity has
been srea: and rapid. It is plain that
Inc Church must in some practical way
'St about to stay this progrcss, il it i,
able The plan OF DR.. McCosh, therefore
deserves the most careful study. It's no
too mnch 10 say that the Christian faith
"a We have known tits inimmincnt dan
ger IRON the attacks OF these antagonists