St. Landry democrat., 1879-07-05
JOHN HALL ON INFIDELITY
The Outlook of Chrfstianity-VGevys of Am
Eminent Presbyterian Clergy man.
New York Graphic.

The Outlook of Chrfst1an1ty-VIevys of Am
Eminent Presbyterian Clergyman.
New York Graphic.
There has been much discussion of late
in respect o the prospect of Christianity
in it's conflict with modern tendencie s.
1t has become theme of frequent ap-
pearance in popular magazines and news,
papers. It can not fail, therefore, to be
of interest to know the views of those
who are most at home in the sphere to
which the subject belongs, whose life
pursuits render them, to a considerable
extent, an authority in regard to such
inquiries.
One of our reporters, g few days since,
called upon 8 distinguished clergyman
of this city, the Rev. DR.. John Hall, for
this purpose.
AS preacher and theologian Dr. Hall
occupies foremost place in his own
religions body and among the clergy OF
the country. No one could be chosen
better qualified for representative and
exponent of the present status of the
evangelical church to voice its hopes
and fears. The conversation ran as fol>
lows:
cit is known to you, doctor, that there
appears to be something like feeling of
distrust in these latter days in respect to
the progress of Christianity. 1t is pre-
dicted, even, by some, you are aware,
that it is destined, sooner or later, to be
superseded by other modes of life and
thought. I should like to ask you how
you regard the situation. Is there any
real ground for such apprehensions as I
have indicated on the part of Christian
people? I suppose that you have no
esoteric convictions as to the subject
none that you wish to conceal or are un-
willing to make public ?" "If you
desire to know my views in respect to
modern infdelity, can tell them very
quickly. I do not hesitate to say l have
no respect for it whatever. l regard it
but as the shallowest pretensions 80 far
as it attemps to compete with or set up
superior claims to the divine revelations
of Christianity"
"Do you not think that Christianity
is more imperiled through the rational.
istic influences of the present than those
of !any former period? % "No. The
church has always had to contend with
infdelity. Every age has its particular
form. The infdelity of the present is
simply that which the circumstances of
the time cause it to assume"
"Does it not strike deeper in our time,
more directly at the fundamental doc
trines OF Christian faith, on which the
church has been built ?" "In what
wayw
Particularly through the influence
of science" "The claims of science
are much greater than can be verified.
The positions of Huxley are only the
old, crude arguments OF Hume revived"
" Would you say the same of Tyndall
and Spencer ?" "Oh, Tyndall is 8 lec-
turer-a popularizer of science. Much
of his reputation Is due to this fact. This
is also true OF most of the other leading
opponents of Christianity of the day
They are prominently before the public
as writer's and speakers, which tends to
give an undue Importance to their state
ments and opinions"
Then you would say there is no reason
for serious a'arm to the friends of
Christianity from the influence of such
persons I" "No; because it is counter
balanced by THAT of equal reputation
as asscient'sts, as, for example, Prof. Guyot,
Dana, Principal Dawson and Others"
''You would hardly agree, suppose,
with the recent article of the Rev,
Phillips Brooks in the Princeton Review"
" Perhaps not. In what particular ?"
"Well, he seems to consider the
dangers from skepticism greater than
you do; its effect upon the Christian
system more damaging and swooping."
" If any one is disposed to be discouraged
on account of the assaults in the present
day upon Christianity, he may take con.
fdence by comparison of them with
those of former days. In the time, for
example, when Voltaire and his asso-
ciates led their assault there was far more
of the educated mind enlisted in such
hostility than now. There was far more
of strong public sentiment on that side,
while the religious life was dead as com>
pared with its present life and vigor. I |
have no inclination to depreciate the
labors of the students of natural science.
[ rejoice in all they have done and are
doing to enlarge the domain of human
knowledge, but science transcends its
sphere when it seeks to interpret and an
bounce, throug b its methods and instru>
ments, the deep things of God-of the
soul-man's spiritual life and destiny"
"You think, then, the doctrines of
inspiration and those of the church,
usually accepted by evangelical Christ
ians, rest on too secure a basis to be /
undermined by science?" "Most GER
tainly. Science can only discover phen.
omena. It runs along a line of cause