New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-07-30
RELIGIOUS INTELLIGENCE.

THE CHURCU.-An article i'll the August num-
Der of The North american RericW by the Rev.
Henry Ward Beecher has been made the topic
of discussion in number of religious journals
last week. Progress of thought, according TO
Mr.. Beecher, Is not away from religion III
America. The religious sentiment was never
so strong and active ~ 1t Is now. The changes
are in general for the better. There Is less
sectarian division and greater liberty OF
thought. "Evcn that magnificent sect that
boasts that like the eternal Arctic zone IL never
changes, has come under amelorating lniln-
ences." The pulpit is improving It's methods.
There is going on transition from the creeds
of the past TO the formation OF creeds adapted
TO the present wants and present knowledge or
truth. The essential characteristic OF this
transition is the substitution of the theology
OF EvolutiOnlsm fer that OF OalNlhlSih' Dar-
winism should he heartily welcomed, with
open arms and eXultaton, as a release from
the hidecus nightmare of ages Oh Mr..
Bcecher's article The Christian Union says:
THAT Mr.. Beecher has rightly interpreted the
progress of thought in the Church as radical
can only he doubted 10y those who do not desire
to see The Interpretation of LIES mystery
afforded by the Westminster dlylnes - no
longer held outside decreasing circle OF pro-
fessiOnal advocates, who a hundred years ago
used it, who now barely venture even to de,
fend it. The world is rpenng, II 1t be not al
ready ripe, for new reading OF tins riddle OF
the ages. We are very sure that Mt Beecher
has some clearer thoughts on tins subject Than
is by nature a prophet; his conceptions OF sin
and penalty, OF pardon, atOnement, redemption,
of inspiration and the divine lie, are positive
beliefs He has never belonged to the lgn0ble
army of what Benton called the ARhS. III he
turns away from the medieval horror the
hideOus nightmare of ages 1t is because he
has found purer, better and more ennUbllng
faith 1t may not be clear as cry stal; it Is not
reasonable To ask him ut his age To begin
nineteenth century Institute of Theology. Bnt
h. Affirmative
fully clarified he may wait too long. There Is
no want in this age so great as the Wani OF
new statement OF theology, there Is no man
whose statement would be sure OF so many
readers wishing to be convinced. For there 10
no man who so singularly combines the threc
qualities necessary to graphic with tins prop
lena philOSOphic reason, broad sympathy
with men, ana n profound spiritual insight
The CORgregdhORdHf says IL llehrv warn
Beccher were as learned rs he Is brilliant he
could scarcely have written some OF ne most
Objectionable passages i'll his late article on
Progress of Thought in the Church., IN Inc
North american Rcrier; while, II he were
severe as a lOgIclan rs he Is adventure rus as Il
rhetorician, that discussion might have been
still further prunCd. lie knows too little, and
he proves too much 49,. The sh0alcst place
in this unprOiound paper Is lis attempt, by the
drgumentum dd iridiGm as applied to God, to
overthrow the oIthudoX theology" I'm this
article" The Christian Register says" the hope
full. generous enthusiasm Oh Mr.. Bcccher nature
his broad cathOlicity, his mistaken confluence
in the value of the religious sentiment, his
acuteness as an observer, and his rare power OF
statement, all find free and ample play. lie
assumes with abundant reason that Il great
change, progressive and prophetic, Is passing
over the public mind IN matters oil religions
truth . The article concludes with Il glow
inc prophecy on the future Of faith. / hat a
son of LYMAN BeecheT could write 1t Is suiil-
cient justification OF its title. There has been
a progress of thought in the Church, and 1t
has not been confined To Mr.. Beechcr either
When we carefully compute the personal eqla-
ton or the individual observer III this instance,
and eliminate any minor errors OF statement
we are obliged to confess that Mr.. Bceche1
has reported the signs of the times with con-
siderable accuracy, and that he himself Is only
one among a large number whose enhghtened
views of rel zion are the result OF forces winch
he describes, and which are destined To achieve
still greater victories" The ChurchDldR says ::
What Mr.. Beecher may say on any point OF
theology can have no Importance az IA discus
sion but is very significant as showing the
religious drift OF the day. No believer IN
Christianity, rs based on the Incarnation, can
accept evolution as divine mode OF action,
except with a limitation which makes 1t prac-
tically of very little moment. III cannot Apply
10 Christ, nor to those who, by rcgeneraton
are made partakers of His lie Our cher
interest in this matter is that Mr. Beccher Is the
representative of large following. Ills words
will give others courage 10 speak, ana maze
II, ii
i'm those of whom he is the exponent. His re-
lations to the COngregatIOnallsts are we be-
lieve of the lOosest, but he still claims TO he III
that body as a recognized teacher. mat II
will utter any protest rs hardly "a be expected.
If it do not il is certain that all who have any
faith in Christianity, or in Christ as the lncar-
nate Son, will hasten TO leave communion
where these divine realities are denied, ana the
Gospel of the Incarnation and OF the KcSurrcc-
ton is supplanted by the gospel OF evolution.
The falling off III the number of churches in
this CITY within the last decade, The Church,
man thinks, should teach the impoltan. lesson
not to organize Il parish before II Is wanted.
II is easy enough for few dlsaiicctcd or
enthusiastic persons TO start out and begin a
CONGREGATION, but to find or create demand
for il sufficient to keep II alive ana pay eH-
oensps il uultr another matter. OF the eight
IN ten churches which seem to have been
droDped from the list il Is safe TO say that the
majority were unCallcd for, or mt least. repre-
scented movements which were premature.
Parishes which deserve to succeed Will now
and then fail through mlsmanagemcnt hut
wheh there is not sufficient material III neigh
boIhood with which to organize, and insure a
steady growth, failure Is inevitable. People
would do well to learn that parish, IKE Il
grocery, depends on those conditions ana sur
Toundings which are likely to bring 1t attend
ancc and support, and that neither can be ex-
temDOfiZed nor COmpeIled
, DIR. Jubb. of the Congregational Home Mis-
sion Society of England, referring to efforts TO
evangelize Ireland, writes to The u-ondon)
Nonconformist: "Our committee are incrcaS-
ingIy impressed with the fact that 1t is next to
| impossible t. get Roman Catholics IS, to enter
Protestant churches and chapels. The power
! of the priests has been, and Is cen low, such
that their followers dare not attend worship in
orr buildings; but they will listen TO the
preaching OF the gospel in the open ar or ~
tents. They are not compromised I'D ms anu
| tbrv will receive kindly the evangelist who
visits their cottage and who, abStaining from
| ali attacks on their Church or their priests,
sncaks TO them of the things pertaining to the
| kingdom of God. Tent services have been
| 81 have been