Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1882-12-23
HENRY WARD. .BEECHER'S
Paper on "The Progress of Thought In
the ChUrch'' Condemned by the
Bsptisfs OF New York.

NEW YORK, December 22.-The Rev. T.
A. K. Gessler, of Brooklyn, on Monday last.
read a review before the Baptist pastors OF
Henry Ward Beechet's recent paper in the
North American Reuiew on "The Progr, IS OF
Thought in the Church." No clergyman,
Mr. Gessler said, occupies a more command
ing position than the pastor OF Plymouth
church, and ne philanthropist, patriot, or
lover of Christ would willingly forget the 10, :
600 utterances which have fallen from his lips
in the past IN the cause OF humanity and reli-
gion. When such a man speaks, words are al
ways worthy OF careful consideration. Mr..
Beecher's views of the progress of thought in
the Church are optimistic. He says that
sectariapism is giving place to liberality OF
views, and a minister may now change his
demon nation and Cause as little excitement
as would be aroused by his moving from
one city TO another. All this may be true
to some extent, but it is also true that it is
the men of solid, sterling convictions, who
are not swayed by every popular breeze, that
the world honors last and most. The soldier
who has no enthusiasm for his own regiment,
but who trains with every regiment and all
regiments, is very likely 20 prove a hummer
II the last. The notions which Mr.. Beecher
holds up to ridicule are the sterner dosmas
of Calvinism, and be looks upon their
dee 1dsnce as an evidence of the progress
OF thought in the church of this country. 1t
should be remembered that these sterner
doctrines have never been held largely in
America, while the great underly ing truth OF
Calvinsm, "the Lord reignetb," is more
potent to-day than it ever was before. The
most remarkable part OF Mr.. Beeche,' 5 essay,
however, is his hint OF the insuficiency of
the scriplural testimony on the one hand,
and his openly expressed hope and conf
dence in the scienti fc results Of our time on
the other. The source of final resort, he
says, Ia the development of human
reason, and religion has much 10
hope, and old theology much TO
fear, from scientific development. "Here
certaisly," said Mr.. Gessler, sis remarka-
BILE spectacle. A Christian minister who has
became disguised with creeds and finds the
Scriptures no longer authoritative, turns to
scientific theory, which leads it's inventor
to agnostieism and -infidelity, while still
a place as preacher of that COS
pei which depends for its 6ual confirmation
upon the New Testament alone. II any man
was competent TO speak of evolution in its
relations to the Scriptures Mr.. Darwin ought
TO be that man, and he has said that science
and religion have nothing to do with each
other, except as science makes man cautious
about accepting any theoretical creed. |
Heckel goes further, and avows athe- |
ism, pure and simple, as the result of evolu- |
lion. A theory which begins without a God |
and ends without future will seem 10 most |
men poor substitute for the certifudes of |
he New Testament The cause of Mr.. |
Beecher's change OF base, the reviewer said,
vas his departure from a simple and sincere |
eliance on Gods word. With any mooring
,ut that of tine Bible preacher is cure to |
lrift on uncertain seas, and Mr.. Beecher is
a that position now. Mr.. Gessler's paper
vas discussed BY many of the clergymen
Who had listened TO it, and the encomiums
"a saed unon il were ruapy -E------t