New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-05-18
"A REPLY TO DIR. EVER.


TO the Edftor OF The Tribune
SIR: DR.. Ever in his lecture at Newark
as reported in your Of last Saturday mas
his views OF Professionalism with bold ana manly spirit
Every lover Of truth must commend MN ior 'ue
ness with which traced the process OF thought ny
which his school OF the Protestant Episcopal Church ar
rive at their position anagODism to Professionalism
The recognized ability and earnestness OF the speaker
rive 10 his opinions great weight among bis confreres,
and insure him the respectful attention OF
the public Yet the declaration that Pro-
testansm is failure is startling and so contrary TO
most mems thinking in this country-itis so near an a
proach the groiesque for the ordinary American
mind that the impression produced is one Of mingled
surprise and mrth There is something so unuSuai IN"
Quixote in arTaignment OF the great Ieaoeis Vi S
many sided mOvement-in the calling upoI tue ghoSts
of Describes and Luther end MraDeau from the deau'
10 stand up before one in their grave cloIhes' anu W
scoded that men ordinary attainments VIII not De-
lieve that there is not lurking smile, or wink on the
face of the coniurer But it is not So Dr. Ever Is III
eornest terribly in earnest No read his lecture
The second time without feeling that here is man thaV
has come to present standingground through ire
Before beginning his argument the lecturer makes
preface in which he says that to the question: us Pro-
testaptsm faure?' the usual answer is: Look at the
lueifer match and the locomotive and the suspension
bridge and the steamboat and the cotton mIi anu he
fails 10 see the reevance OF such reply NeNertholess
there Is something in the steamboat ana eOoh-mh '
grment-aud something profoundly dihcuIt 10 answer
from Dr.. Ewer's position. Along with the growth Oh
Professionalism there has gone an stimulation OF
the inventive faculties applied TO the industrial arts
and an increase of substantial wealth. The relation OF
cause and effect may be denieI but the coih-
cdence will not be. No can sudy the history OF inc
rise of the trading spirit without noting IT'S hosuly 10
churchy authority. At very early period there eX-
listed In the Free towns an independence which was not
pleasing TO Rome 1t was among these brgesses, who
had been trained BIZ commerce to Selrcauce, hat the
Reformation found its most devoted supporters III
Portugal where according 10 her great bard, CONNER
eal enterprise was declining, the Reformation 1ouhu
few adherents Bat IN the Netherlands where the trad
ing genius was dominant PrOtesantiSm had It's strong
hold. there is connection between trade anu TIo
estantsm how comes it that BRACES and Amsterdam
changed placesl Why the Southern PTOVnceS tha
remained under the authority of the Church. ana were
immensely superior to the Northern in wealth ana taoe
interests at the outbreak OF the Reformation so soon
eepsed by their Protestant neghbor, whose footing on
this earth conquered from the sea by this same in
veutiye faculty? The cotton-mi argument needs an
answer.
But Dr. Ever objects to this inventive faculty. only
when applied 10 religious questions. Does 1t not seem
little arbitrary and unnatural to say that tins spirit
which has formed the New Europe which has proved
itself so bengnant in the industrial and political spheres
shond be the evil genius of gion Is there not some
thing wrong in attitude to the forces OF human
natures lam not sure but the cotton-nhl argument
has great deal in it, am not at all convinced but that
the fair Judgment of most men would say that he VINO
denies that the appeal to the ethical aud spiritual In
sncts of is of any value in matters OF religion
must TO be consistent also say that the absolute pro-
tcctorato Of Louis XIV based upon divine right, was
better than the popular government OF the nineteenth
century and that the inert misery of feudal Europe was
nobler than the industrial vlgOr of this age.
The ordinary mind these three things
together species of the same genus Professionalism,
popular government and industrial enterprise. 1t re-
CARDS them as manifestations Of the same individual
ISM and no argument for the failure OF Professionalism
VIII convince it, that does not meet this point In the
field OF more abstract treatment it suspects tricks but
in that field it appreciate the process The antago
mist of Professionalism should begin here IL he aims at
convection or he will never reach this trading But
this point Dr. Ever passed over as though yeomany
and not worthy of his blade.
The lecturer begins his argument by clearing the field
He wishes his to disengage themselves from all
impressions Of every and nature touching even
God, which you have had ali your lives and touching
the future life revelation, Christ salvation In order
that we may come with virgin minds 10 certain path
way where wish to take you" He then asks them TO
accept certain axioms: "QJ There is God t2J That
that God perfect God OF love- 49, That we each OF
us exist a. That senses give us tolerabiy accurate
intelligence OF that by which we are surrouhueu' All
this is fair and admirable.
But in his first step from this many VIII decline 10
follow because they cannot see any pathway there' lie
describes himself at the door of DEATH asking Is there
an existence beyondi II so, VIII my existence be
eternal or not What the beings that live in the
realm Of the supernatural 2 What are the facts ana
phenomena that prevail in the supernatural y Start
ing now from the axiom that God is love, he says ::
Therefore there is escape from the Logical cOncu
sion that cannot leave in my miserable phght OF
frutess guesswork" If he had said that God VIII sat
isfy this longing IN way, 1t would have seemed
natural But does it follow that God will give us full
knowledge on all subjects which we speculate and
desire greatly TO know May not all the requirements
of love be met by the revelation of Himself to the soul
as the Almighty Father and by the inspiration of trust
in Hint Is not the longing soul satisfied when II ap
precates that it is in the hands OF such loving f"tne
for time eternity Is not this trust the very essence
of religions II Dr.. Ewers conclusion be natural, what
is the province of Reason
The speakers announcement of the purpose OF the
Crisrs coming will appear to many decidedly novel IL
smtes US with disappointment TO learn that lie came 10
help us Of codectures The Christian world mas
usually believed that He TO help us out OF our
sins The life and death Of Jesus have such charm
when considered in relation to sin; they acquire such
leverage the heart when 1t is once aprehended that
all this divine and suffering loneliness was directly re-
lated TO the sinners rescue; they are so powerfully
ever present with calling away from sin, woong
the heart so plain lively that II must needs shut out the
image and stop the its sweet tones or embrace
IT, and quit sin that to be told thata this was only
TO help us out OF cOpjectures, is too much ior
most men. DE- Ewers theory were correct we should
expect TO find the Masters teachings discourses on
society in heaven and hell on the recognition OF each
other and the new life OF the future the nature OF
angels and demons as well as metaphysical reatises
personality Immortality, and the relation Of spirit and
matter But fact these matters are avoided or lett
uncertain When asked for an answer to one OF his
conjectures there few that be saved ~ Jesus re-
called him to matter OF more mOmentous and imned-
ate Importance Strive TO enter IN at the straight
hoe 9th IAN
we have Jesus tacty denied that his mission had any
thing TO do with cOnjectures lie sought to rouse
the ethical instincts OF by quckening that germ OF
goodness which he found in every by the declara