The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-04-19
DEAN TANLEY.

N0e'''"'"N 'Oo0S|S' So|'S Wy JIG IseN. TOl
A. A. Hodge, of Princeton, on Dean
Stanley. We have observed with regret
the line of remark which has been fol-
lowed in the evangelical Christian press
on the death of this distinguished prelate.
That Dean Stanley possessed many high
and beautiful traits of characteristics he
was most cultured scholar and charm
ing writer-and a man in many ways
most attractive and lovable we should be
the last to deny. AS Dr. Hodge observes,
" he personally realised in an eminent
degree, his friend Matthew Arnolds
phrase of sweetness and light His was
a fine nature, refined by exquisite culture
intellectual, learned, full of grace and
power, in virtue of that tact which is the
talent for using all the talents most effec-
lively. He was the young nobleman in
the gospel whom Jesus regarded with
love in which complacency entered as
well as benevolence while He judged and
condemned him. He was the pupil and
Incompatible biographer of Arnold, the
bosom friend of Maurice and the Hares,
the elect of Prince Albert, the teacher of
the Prince of Wales, the friend of the
Queen, the Primate of Westminster Alb
hey" Ali this is true, but DIR. Hodge
adds; "The Dean appeared at this dis
lance to have possessed consummately all
the choicest accidents of an ideal Chris
tan minister, the only thing lacking being
faith in the Christian religion" (our itaI-
ics). This is an important modification
in the portrait Of minister of the gospel.
If it were so. it was grievous fault.
The newspapers certainly have colored
this picture in very different way The
secular papers have held him up as the
most illustrious churchman of his genera
ton, and the religious papers (aye
straight-laced Presbyterian papers, have
echoed this verdict. 1t has been the
fashion to praise him, and the Christian
press have labored to set him forth as a
grand example of splendid Christian
life; and the trait in his Christian char
acter which has been most extensively
expatiated on is his Christian charity
his broad and catholic sympathies for the
whole Church of Christ, endowed and
unendowed, Presby terrain, Congregation
al, or Episcopal Baptist, Methodist, or
Lutheran. Ladies Of enlarged views
have loved to linger over the memory of
the courtier-priest, who had in his veins
the blood of the Plantagenets, and whose
life had been a protest against whatever
there was Of narrowness or asperity in
Christian conduct. There is to be an
American memorial window of him in
Westminster Abbey, "the list of sub
scribers," as we are told by the Rev.
Phillips Brooks, being of widely rep
resentative character" The effect of the
innumerable and ardent panegyrics that
have been lavished on his memory by the
press of America and England, has been
to call anew attention to his published
works, which are sought with avidity,
and read with delight, by Christians of
all denominations-especially those who
are very DESTROYS to be regarded as Gull
tured and free from provincialism.
Now in the present article Prof. Hodge
subjects the theology of Dean Stanley to
an examination, and what do we find |
Let Prof. Hodge (whose judgment on the
subject will be respected, at least, by
answer
In this book rChristian Institutions
ne sums up his religious life, and dies.
10 the exercise Of that power which his
practised talents, his acquisitions, and his
unparalleled advantages Of position gave
him, eC cathe1rd Of the central Church |
Of the Protestant world, he finished his
ife by deliberately substituting the es-
senoe Of natural Deism into the place,
and Disgusting it under the sacred name
and symbols, Of the historical religion Of
Jesus Christ. Claiming that the essence
Of Christianity is simple morality, he did
this immoral thing. While protesting to
render version Of Christianity, as pure