Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1881-01-13
Rev. r. NJ. Webster's Lecture.

/ Notwithstanding the WeatheF va:
extremely cold, and the walking most
execrable last Friday evening, Rev
r. N. Webster was greeted by fail
! audience composed of our best, ans
most intelligent, people. Rev. Mr.
| Norris, IN brief and pertinent remarks
introduced the speaker. Mr.. Webster
is always welcomed most cordially by
our citizens, among whom he laboreC
zealousIy and conscientiously for four
years as pastor of the Congregations
Church, endearing the hearts Of ali
to him by his innate love for that
which is true and genuine in all things,
more especially those which have tc
do with the rearing of the superstruct
ure of character upon the stable
foundation of gospel truth as enun-
ciated by God through His prophets,
and later, through His Son, in the
"good tidings" to all men.
Three Representatives of The
New Orthodoxy; was the theme
which was discussed for over an hour
by the speaker in manner that
elected the closest attention Of hi:
audience to the closing sentence
The speaker adverted to the fac
that the present has been denominated
the Iron Age. We cross the great
oceans in iron ships. We span the
continent with iron rails. We trans
NIT our thoughts by iron wires and,
in fact, iron enters largely into almost
everything we have to do with. Iron
is fact-a hard fact. In the realm
Of thought the mind is coming to seek
after facts hard facts. We are a
practical people, and demand practical
calculation of theories. In the
religious world this demand has grown
till it can not be put away, or quieted
by the 'say 500 Of bodies or factions,
or of any man or set Of men. Hence,
there has grown spirit of skepticism
largely the outgrowth Of a desire tc
get at the truth. The rocks tell truths
which we cannot gainsay. Science
is full of new developments which i
were vain to ignore. The Bible ant
Science do not clash whea each is
rightly understood. The rocks and
the ores encompassed with debris must
be subjected to refining fires before
the hidden gold becomes a tangible
reality. The dro-s mast be burnt
away to find the hidden treasure. So
the utterances of centuries ago--the
Hebraic writings in the light of a
broader intelligence and moro perfect
knowledge must be tried in refining
fires of reason and discriminating
sense, that that which is TRUTH may
stand. The old Orthodoxy strictly
and literally Interpreting the ancient
sacred writings have tended to develop
an antipodal faction which clings as
tenaciously to ats belief, ignoring the
beliefs of the so-called Christian
world, as to incite antagonisms which
il were better did not exist. Between
these two stands the growing element
which says: Come now, let US reason
together" and try by refining fires
the validity and stability of all things,
that that which is valuable may re-
main, and that which is hay and
stubhle may be swept away,
On the question of the Atonement
the speaker occupied what is termed
theoretical ground" He stands where
DR. Thomas, Of the NJ. E. Church
stands, and where score of represent.
ative divinss of America stand to-day,
believing that the death of Christ was
foul murder rather than the execu-
ton Of preconceived plan Of
Almighty Love, for the salvation oil
man through the blood shed on Cal
vary. God saw that sin in the
world could cruelty His Son, not that
He willed that so base tragedy mast
be, but that in the very nature OF
things it aoould be. Christ died fol-
principle. True character and the
noblest Christian manhood cannot be
other than the fruit Of so great a
sacrifice, when properly understood.
The Three Representatives of the
New Orthodoxy" were Rev's Robert
SON. of England, Mcleod, of Scot
land, and Bushnell, of America. The
speaker dwelt briefly on the lives of
these eminent men who have paved
the way for wider range of religious
thought. Though all are fallen asleep
they yet speak to earth's millions
Their lives were sweet and holy. They
were ostracised by the religious world,
but thousands are calling their names
blessed as their burning thoughts per-