The New York herald., 1877-12-17
CHICKERING HALL.

REV. SAMUEL COLCoRD REVIEWS MR.. FROIH.
INGHAMs RELIGIOUS BELIEFS.
Chickering Hall filled with people yesterday AZ
tcrnoon to near the Rev. Samuel Colcords discourse
on "Ths Trial OF Mr Frothingham's Religious Be-
Meis" Mr. Colcord said MIR. rockingham has given
a his system OF beefs or, more correctly his
systcm OF dsbelies He calls II "the new faith" Is
II faithS Confcssedly Its chief characteristic
Is disbelief In Christ Is thst new? Ignorance Of
Colds that new? We read that when Paul stood In
the midst OF Mars HILL in philosopnc Athens, his
soul stirred With compassion for some 400 su-
pcrstitious" people who In confessed ignorance OF
God, had erected altar bearing this inscription -
.sTo the Unknown God" This is what Mr. Frothing-
ham calls 'the rising falth;' tho sun that,
though now scarcely visible above tho horizon, is
yet to illumine the earth; 'he babe in the
cradle that is be ana go forth with the sword
OF the spirit in hand the helmet Of salvation
his head to rule and bless the nations Bnt that s
mistake. 1t is not the horn child, the germ OF
manhood giving promise tor the future 1t is the old
man, hoary with years, Scared by the battles Of
turies and broken by disappointment and defeat
1t has had equal chance with Christianity In all the
centuries, and it must be tried by the same stern
tests. II has right TO interpose ptiiul plea for
mercy ON the ground OF its infancy, but We will be
lcnent with Il to-day out OF pity to Its dotage. Let
us submit II 10 some OF the tests by which its chief
apostle In New York would try Christianity. What is
there in the lath itsclf commend IT. What does IL
offer in the way OF solving tho problems that this
hfe2 Tit fails TO the helpful hero 1t ias completely.
Tor II contcssedly gives up the other life.
A NEGATIVE FAITH.
Turning to the pamphlet entitled 1.-THE Rising and
the Setting Faith" py Mr. Fro'hinsham ! and
but only denial For beliefs It gives US
doubts, for statements 1t gives us denals, for
truths u on,rs enigmas When we look for
declaration Of It's principles II only declares It's de-
termination not 10 accept other peoples principles.
The "new faith" is simply a ncgation ana therefore
cannot contribute any thing that will be a help
toward answering the problems that concern this ie
to say nothing OF the other. Mr. rockingham tells
to be homes. and do right, but no fails to gvo
mandment OF Moses Law, ''Thou shalt not steal,"
but CHRIST gives men HIS spirit and they havc love as
q aw-the mind Of Christ as law The s0-called
"new iath" claims that 1t II religion Tor this life;
but what does 1t give TO this liieP What does It
failure from tho very beginning, for II has faith.
no heart, and SO vitality. Now. practically, what
has o
planted its banner among tho degraded OF heaihen
lands. and In the name OF humanity and brotherly
love-ii In no other name-ited them up 10 noblo
liicf What has II done TO exalt the degraded here
and in other civilized andsS Where are Its John
Bunyans and Its Ncwtons?
THEIR WORKS.
religion that Gains 10 be The true one must be
able to answer the cry OF humanity. 1t must be able
10 save men from the power OF sin to pure and holy
lives Ii the pew faith" the one let II sh ow
how It lifis up to nobler manhood. Let 1t
Drlng ltS sous from Iur anu us uauSntcTs from
ends of the earth, ennobed and sanct1ed under It's
power. Where It's hospitals, its asylums for
the helpless, Its great charities? Where theyY
What has the society worshpping ut the Masonic
Temple done IN this direction TO illustrate the vitality
OF its iath, Its helpfuncss toward suffering human
ity its practical brotheriy lover Whore its mis-
sons It's collections Tor the SICK the helpless ana the
poor? What sacrifices OF sweet charity docs II offer
upon It's altar to the unknown God
IL Ia written, "By Ihcir fruits ye shall know
thcm." Here is the troe Of the Christian faith that
has yielded her fruit every season Ia all the centuries
And here the tree OF the faitn Of the unbelievers
'Judge 20 which is best; which is OF the truth"
True science judges causes from results. All
scientists hold that be OF the very first prnci.
pies Of science 1t IS fact OF history mat the purest
and nobIest lie Gods green carth has been born
Of tho Christian iath We know II to be true to-day
Tho world confesses 1t. Can such results follow tho
Christian alh In every cno and In all the ages, and
yet that iaith be an mposture aud Q licf