The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1882-03-18
APPROXIMATIONS or coNyIcrIoNs.

AZ ilO ptIAOi vi tht WIN hAotoaIt H'N
even at the time Of the revival of learning,
was there more striking and instructive
phenomenon than is now presented by the
magazines and monthly reviews OF Europe
and America. They form, in fact, sort OF
whirlpool of the deepest thought OF the
day, in relation TO the deepest problems
in which the most refined intellecis oil
all the churches and of all phases oil opin'
ion, from the highest idealism to the most
outspoken matcrialism, may be seen EDDY
ing round and round in the most curlously
constant vortex. All schools alike seem to
have discerned that the questions they are
discussing hinge on the same central ana
critical facts, and are, at least, approaching
agreement as regards the descriptive history
of those facts, though differing as widely as
possible as to the Interpretation OF
them. The essays evidence that our time
is one of perfect intellectual freedom ana
equality, and, on the whole, OF mutual re-
spect between the thinkers at either end
of the social scale; OF equal candor oil adj
mission as TO the central facts to be
studied, though, Of course, with equally
wide differences as to the true intcrpreta-
ton of theH, and the true differences to be
drawn. Any discoverer of future
age writing with these publications before
him, would infer that the period in which
the theses appeared must have been one of
curious intellectual frankness, earnestness
and chaos, in which the representatives of
all extremes of opinion compared notes
quite honestly, and not unlrequently in
deep bewildcrmcnt at their wonderful
concurrence rs to the facts to be inter-
preted and their vast difference as to
the proper Interpretation to be
assigned. lie would observe that Romansts
and rationalists, idealists and mate rialists,
all discussed the great questions of the
time with marvellous temperance, with anN-
isty to reach the center of the opposite
position and all with certain success, yet
not SO much success that approximation of
convictions appeared ut all near mt
hand. This would be the true APP
probation of the existing state of
mind Of our day on theological
questions. The intcllccts of our period are
attaining the power to throw themselves
into tho real minds of their opponents,
without denouncing them us evil for diff.
icring from them. They have, however,
AS yet got very little further; the eddy
about the central points of belief still spins
on, the great maelstrom OF doubts whirl
around before the eyes till the reader grows
giddy as he gaze; and perpetual rotation
and not rest, seems to be the final out
come Of all this interchange of thought
on all the cardinal problems of the
universe Yet, is not there hopeful
signs of real approximation of convictions
One thing may certainly be observed in
relation to the great fundamental spiritual
problems under discussion, not only that
the theologians and metaphysicans are
learning TO talk language which men OF
science can understand, and the men of sci
Nh'' w Nbict htuuNllVllS NHlNll lntulOHlutlS
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. can understand but
that the higher scientific mind in spite
of its many apparent substantial victories
isbccoming conscious Of a.certan weakness,
narrowness and unrest in its position, and
is attempting to. gropc' its way towards q
sort of concordat with spiritual faith. The
theologians, so long cntrenched in narrow
and bigoied positions, have at last, through
u long course of wholesome adversely and
persecution, become aware of their charac'
teristic danger OF oircumscription, and are
doing all in their power to master and use
the most successful OF the methods of the
physicists. The happy consequence is that
science, though still naturally enough lit.
tie tcte oxaltee, is beginning to listen tC
reason, even whore reason says that true
sclCknowledge takes one beyond the track.
OF physical laws. In other words, the
chasm between theology and physical
studies is being bridgcd by the temperate,
and frankncss Of the champions of thought