New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-01-21


diction that the statement, The Bible must
co. is altogether premature, Int there can be
no risk in saying that many of the old beliefs
about the Bible are already doomed. lt Can no
more be superseded than You can rise above
Homer, or Plato, or Shakespeare, and the Oh
vine revelation, which you find just as truly IN
the great Oriental religions as you lind 1t In the
religion of Israel though not in the same de-
gree, can 10 more be explained away than you
car disabuse yourself of the belief In the CIR
cumambient air. Aud this point needs not only
to be made, but remembered, in view OF the on
coming debate The Bible has long been the
best-abused book In the world. 1t has been
taken out of its place in the prOvidentlal order
of history and made to serve purposes for when
it was not intended, and to bear the weight OF
doctrines for which it has no clear warrant 10
lift it anew into its proper historical ana ethical
position must be the upshot of the present ais
cussion, and will be the happy result of the
freest criticism that can be applied to it. But,
in reaching this result the book VIII practically
cease to be game for any special religious body.
1t must he studied for what is in it, and men
wish to have it say. Nothing can now hinder
the reaching of this higher result"
It was the brave and gifted Norman Mcleod
who uttered this noble protest against the ola
idea of converting the heathen-a protest winch
ought to be remembered and acted on by the
missionary societies to-day: as 1t not mon
strous to make the man they ordained on the
banks of the Gauges sign the westminster Ion,
fesson of the Church of Scotland, or the Deco
Of Demisson and Protest OF the Free Church !
Was that the 0isest, was it the Christian way
of dealing with HindOosY The doctrines or
their Confessions might be true In themselves,
but the Confession was document closely con,
nected with the historical development ana
with the metaphysical temperament OF inc
people who had accepted it, and might not be
equally suitable for those who had not the same
| traditions and tendencies. Was II necessary 10
| give these minute and abstract statements TO
| Orientals, whose habits of mind and splrltual
aflinities might lay better hold on other aspects
of divine truth, and who might mould the
| ology for themselves, not less Christian, out
| which would be Indian, and not English or
Scotch 2 Let them prepare the lilndoos to form
| a church for themselves. Give them the gun.
| powder, and they will make their own cannon !.
If clergymen will become editors, they must
expect to receive the usual treatment accorded
to these useful men. Tho Rev. DR.. j. NJ: Keld,
| OF the Methodist Missionary Society, tells thls
| good story about himself: While he was en-
| gagged in editorial work. some time ago, he was
| inS tied to preach in Chicago. As he took seat
early, in pew to mediate on his sermon, he
| discovered that prayeT-meetiDg was gong on
| in the adjacent room. and that he could over
| hear what was said. Presently loud ana lusty
brother engaged in prayer, and the bulk OF the
| petition was for the preacher oil the evening
| who was listening. After touching on various
matters. in which he thought the Lord needed
| information, he said 40 Lord, bless him who
| is to speak to us this evening. lie Is poor
| weak man but make him power Bless his
message We know thai he is only an editor,
and that he is rusty but do, Lord, ruO the rust
| on
The Philadelphia Press heard of a clergy
man of this city who in one of his prayers re-
Gently asked for the conversion of his choir,
and makes il the occasion to condemn the bad
taste OF such performances. The manners OF
| this CLERGYMAN it says, must certainly have
been neglected in his youth, or else he is trying
| 10 attract audiences by reputation for eccen-
| tricity, ard on either suppOsitIon his church
had better quietly advise him to seek a profess
sion where the prophecies f0im less con
spcuuus part of the needed credentials
| Clergymen need to be gentlemen as much as
to be Christians, and man who neediessly
| gives ofeDse IN public, and then Is unable TO
| sec the wrong can never command the conf
dence which a clergyman needs In order to
| be a successful teacher of righteousness
One of the rising younger cleTgymen Of the
West ia the Rev. +. c. Ray, OF Hyde Park, Ill.
Mr.. Ray began TO preach when twenty three
years OF age, having formerly oeen se1ue h IN IN
now pastor exhibits phenomenal growth
since his connection with it.
The Clersland Herald asserts. and apparently
proves, that the title City OF Churches does
not so properly belong to Brooklyn a. to Cleve-
land. 1t thinks that while BROOKLYN might
have formerly deseryed to be so called It's re-
ligious strength in the last few years has been
waning.
The Catalogue Of the Protestant Episcopal
General Theological Seminary, of this city,
Just issued. shows that there are seventy two
students in that institution and that financially
il is in q tlourishing condition. Several now
buildings are soon to be erected