The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-04-07

of this city. In that article he makes
series OF propositions which, we suppose, he
holds to be proved by his handling OF
them. They are % that the present
state of religious opinion throughout the
world is extremely critical CD that theo-
logians no longer speak with authority !;
(3) that those who uphold orthodoxy cannot
agree Oh what ground to defend it (D that
materialism all over Europe is respect
fully listened to when it atiirms that the
claims of revelation cannot be- MAIN
tanned (5) that the existence OF God
and of future state, the origin OF man, the
nature Of conscience and the distinction
between good and evil are all open ques-
tons; (G) religious opinion is moving with
increasing speed along track which It viii
never retrace and toward issues infinitely
momentous. Fortunately for the present
generation Of Americans and Englishmen
Mr.. Froude prophesies that they VIII
pass away before the inward change viii
| show itself in marked external symptoms
and that at present none Of those symptoms
are apparent. And yet we doubt not Mr..
Froudc writes ugubriously for English and
American readers on the propositions given
| herewith.
| We have few comments to make on
those propositions severally, believing that
they fairly represent the tenor Of the entire
article Of the eminent writer named. And
first, it is evident that he falls into the
common errors of writers Of his class in
contounding religious opinions with re-
ligion. There is u marked distinction be-
tween tho two, as little reflection will
convince any thoughtful person. Religion
itself is question OF fact rather than Of
opinion The outward forms of religion
may change and the opinions concerning
them vary, while the facts which bind re-
ligion to the human soul or the soul to
God remain intact. Religious opinions
may tremble without placing religion itself
in critical position. The statement is rather
vague, too, in its application to the world
He does not tell us whether he means the
Christian religion or the religions Of the
world that are thus critically placed. We
assume, however, that the former is meant,
and therefore admit that while religious
opinion is in critical position religion it.
self is as firm and mistaken as q rock.
Mr.. Froude's second proposition is half
truth only. Theologans no longer speak
with the authority OF the fathers or the
apostles, but they speak, nevertheless, with
authority within their respective ranges Of
| thought, so far as their utterances are con-
sistent with the common sense and common
sentiment Of the masses. And here it is
safer to trust the average scholarship Of the
age on theological and doctrinal questions
| than the extreme opinions Of few eminent
men. Take, for example, the recent utter
ances of Canon Farrar and Mr.. Beecher on
future punishment. The average scholar
ship Of England and America has strongly
condemned and effectually disproved both.
And, indeed, these two eminent preachers
have publicly and to great extent modified
their first statements of this doctrine. In
the ancient sense of the term we have very
lew theologians among us to-day. Religious
literature is read more or less by nine-tenths
of the English-speaking population of the
globe, and all the cardinal doctrines Of the
| Bible are known and understood now be-
fore the theologian appears in the commu-
nifty. The secular and religious press often
precede the preacher, SO that there is no
reason now, as there was in the olden time,
that theologians should speak with author
ity, unless it be with that Of "Thus saith
neediul now as ever-indced, we believe
more than ever.
We should like to have orthodoxy defined
! before we defend it. II Mr.. Froude or any
one else thinks that the religious opin-
ions" which he refers to are synonymous
with orthodoxy he and they are mistaken
We judge from his third and fourth propo-
sitons that he includes in Orthodoxy" the
old opinion that the world was made in six
| literal days of twcnty-tour hours each that,
rs the Richmond, Va., astronomer, Jasper,
declares, the s'sun do move and the earth
stands still, and other opinions which both
religion and science have long ago out
grown. But he is grievously at fault when
he afiirms that the existence Of God,
Of n future state, the origin of
man, the nature of conscience and
the distinction between good and evil are
open questions to any considerable extent.
1t may be true that materialism is respect
fully listened to when it speaks on these
points, but Mr. Tyndall's prayer test and
Professor Huxley's lectures in this city are
pertinent illustrations, within easy remem-
brance, of the weight which materalism
carries with average scholars in Europe or
America A respectful hearing was given to
Colonel Ingersoll in this city by persons who
admired his wit and laughed at his carica-
lures of religion, but did not believe a word
he spoke. SO that respectful hearing
must not be COMPOUNDED with belief. The
origin of man is the only prominent relig-
ious question to-day on which scien-
lists and theologians are not agreed.
The special point being whether man