Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1878-11-07
JOHN STUART BLACklE.
rue WRITINGS OF AlEANNED SCOTCH
' PROFESSOR.
Vi, Connection with Prominent Institutions
"'o of Learning His Profound Scholar
" sbio-Reyiew of His Works An
Instructive Criticism Of the
Character and Influence
of a Great Man.

correspondence Of the Register.
RIcrNloNE, Va, November Is.
n In not know whether or not many
q your readers are much acquainted
..;,b the writings OF John Stuart Blackie,
-, some of his more recent works have
-, r,sased and indeed fascinated me that
have thought ii might be Of service to
,,ne who have not read them to direct
:, them their attention. He is Scotch
man 4 native OF Glasgow, and is at
nresent Professor OF Greek III the
i.r;versitv of Edinburg, position
,bicb n. has occupied for about
,ueptv.fve years. He is now in the
s.yeptieth wear of his age, having been
horn in July. 1909. He studied quite
,nnmbero of wears in Germany and Italy,
and WAS ior ten or twelve years pro-
...sor Of the Latin language and litera-
,rre in MariSchal College, Aberdeen,
from which place he was called to his
present position.
These lew facts are sufficient to attest
the ripeness of his scholarship and to
oiye Ms the assurance in advance that
whatever NAV come from his pen will
smply repay a careful reading. And
orr experienCe. a. lar a. il has extended,
has iullv sustained such Il apre-asSurance.
He has been quite voluminOus writer;
and when | say this may rather stag
y,r the faith in the real depth and worth
This works which what ! have already
witten has been intended 10 excite.
Very few men can afford to write many
booss. A. but lew have the resources OF
intellect wide and deep enough to sup
ply 80 heavy and severe strain. Hence
W. find in many cases that where
authors have produced many books
their first was the stronger. There
!, not unircqucntly afterwards Il
marked deterioration. The whole in
rrllectual power, and III its highest
freshness. i let out on the first great
throw, and the man has put himself
ont Of breath. The firSt-bOrn Is for the
most part the strongest Maybe this is
not the rule, but ii it be only the eXcep-
ion il has numerous cases under it.
Casting my eye around me on the spur
ui the moment. on my own library,
can see Mills Logic. Grote's History Of
Gr.r,. McCOShS Dirius GOrerHmt1d
Tyndalns Hot as q Mote Of Notioa, Don
adSon's N7r Crtgi,w. Us in my judg-
mpnt marked illustrations.
Now am not qualified To determine
how this has been in the case OF Black
r. a. am not acquainted with any OF
bis works that appeared previous to
~, although hc had issued quite Il
number can say, however, that il in
his late productions there has
frrn any deterioration then his
irt must have been markedly
strong; for while i'm those which have
examined there are no specially pro-
nund philOSOphic reasoning there is
W, in the most oi them Il freshness and
NIgor pl thought AMI expression that Is
worthy ul an expanded and inciSivc in
,r.Irct, and that would lead one To con-
dude that his eve has not become dim
90 hi natural strength ahated.
Il Ha> in lN12 that his work entitled
far Phases ~ NoruiS made its first ap-
prarancc Oh this side oi the Atlantic;
and in calling attention briefly To- some
u the more prominent characteristics
VI his thinking and writings | shall
couple with this one of his still more
recent works tn, Natural History Of
I'''e0n N'ribuD, 1888. And a. these
afr AMONG his latest works, We may as
''ilr that the sentiments expressed in
l.rm are among the most mature OF
hS life. From these two works
4one one can easily learn what the
author II a. Christian, and which
fhaSc of Morals ne accepts. He evil
IDENTIFY has very high appreciation OF Il
E't'r1i religion as antithctic To one that
would make the WjuIiini bDuum the
G,alniAnlng OF a rigidlv orthodox creed.
lie does not Scrm To have much respect
'F religion that would vindiCate its
'-"t to lie and commend itself to men
Hinply on the ground of the orthodoxy
70. Us iormularIes OF faith, or that would
'.ryalr the metaphysical above the
'NiraL Indeed 50 very warm, ii not
'NH'rd does he sometimes become in
~ pTolrNtatlonS against such a religion,
"'a' on some pages OF these works one
you'd almost conclude that he would
-".'! sweep away all formulated and
"D""r!tatIyr statements OF faith. Speak
l'N Tor instance. OF too Jealous adj
"''elce tu creed and too fiery
@' 70 enforce, aS among the forces that
ave retarded the success of Christian
Ct! "h' brought II many times into dis
.'FN'r, he says: 1T is not the busi-
ness "i man To define God at all: our fl
I't rt work IN reference to all forms of the
'"I'li'e ~ 10 acknowledge, to worship,
"" I" obey. But the mcddling intel
'' 0i professional thcOlOgians would
' a'o" matters to rest here; they pro-
U'e' 10 construct certain curious for
.It ..."i% "i doctrlnal orthodoxy, an intcllec-
- ''t 'rAtl IN which was substituted for
r"'InGethiCal faith hvwhich the heath
""''u Iad been rcgencrated. Men were
H anght 10 entertain the thoroughly
=. t.''nFlStian Idea that the acceptance by
"v g"ghitlyc faculty OF an array OF nicely
I,l Ip"irl propositions concerning the
''., y,'Ir nature and the plan of redemp-
,J ' was somehow or other essential TO
1'uh and the nOn-aCCep-
~, ;','y y"' which was held as Justly cxclud-
.2 .'e rccuNant from the communion of
s". ,n''i Ims was sad mistake. The
p, IrhNnclationS which II. Peter -
,a - and the other Apostles ut
+, I' against those who "privilv bring
~, '"hhabIc hcrrSies." were launched.
In, against intellectual heterodoxicS,
~. ~, "saU>t the lustS Of the flesh and all
po,S @ ol Sensualism; but now the hated
rca.. =" hcrrSy was transferred to the
E''n@fy Nn ot not being able to he
.na, Nhal a conClayc OF foolish or pre-
dlP'""uH Churchmcn chose to Law
snS L. amt artificial crecds were forged
,ttUuIinnatrd, and flung with stern
eys.,. ,.eiiIaS and boaStiul defiance against
taI! honest thinker who could not
s,on. ought 10 believe that faith must
RI ~ IN ~. efficacy principally by its pow,
r,,na. olhdmg reason and smotherina
I"'pl StuSe EOJr DL1sss m o-Il