The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-10-13
ADVANCED THEOLOGY.
Mr., Beecher Expounds the New Doctrines
for Benefit Of Texas Man.
Waco Correspondence Galveston News.

tor BeneHt 81 n TexAs Man-
Waco Correspondence Galveston News.
The News representative was to-day &C
corded an interview with the Rev. Henry
Ward Beeeher at his hotel With a cordial
greeting at the door of his private apartment
the reporter was introduced to Mrs. Beecher,
dignified gray-haired matron of benignant
and motherly appearance and YVES inv. ted to
seat. At once proceeding to the object of
the visit the reporter said:
Mr. Beecher will you favor me with your
views on the new theolegyS What is to be
the outcome of all this new theological up
heaval which is now agitating the great
thin king masses?"
You mean the advanced theolegy2"
Eyes; that Is the phrase by which it is now
Aforementioned theology"
II believe it is so styled in a late volume
of Mr.. Munger's sermOns-a book could
wish every thinking man, at least, would
read. think the new or advanced theology
is to supersede the old 1t has already per-
| meated more or less all of the churches"
but, Mr. Beeeher, how is this to be ac-
complisheda You know that it is said that
! the history of all religious reformations
shows that there has never been q ref0rma-
| ton in the church. While the movements
have usually been originated in the church.
yet no good has ever come of them except
through new organic forms.
! THAT is true, and doubtless the advanced
/ theology is destined in the near future to as
sumo definite shape and organic form. It
will revolutionize the old and reverse ends.
The old theory is based upon supposed
knowledge of God, His nature and attributes,
| His DEGREES and the supposed Divine pro-
! cedure in the government and admfnistra-
ton of the universe. This is the mistake of
| the Calvinistic school, and the Arminian the
ory while protesting to avoid the errors of
! CaIvanism, yet virtually builds IT'S theology
upon the same false premises. Their theele-
gy is false, because it builds upon assump-
| ton and the unknowable Canst thou by
searching find out God? said Job. Men
| know only so much of God as there is di Vim
| ty within them, just as the lower animals
I can only comprehend SO much
Of man as there Is animal in man. For in
stance, you tell your dog to lie down, get up,
! go out, come here, and the like, and he NH
derstands you perfectly. But If you talk
ethics, science and philosophy to him he
| does not comprehend word you say. He
! can only know as much of the outward man
! as there is dog in the man. The advanced
| theology reverses ends. 1t builds on what
! we know of man, and repudiates that based
on what we may never know of God. 1t as
sumes nothing beyond the facts of human
nature-the capabilities and possibilities OF
| man."
"What relation will the advanced Theology
sustain TO the Bibles"
lit cannot afford to dispense with it, hat
it will find new modes of Interpretation in
| the light of modern science and progressive
intelligence 1t can discard the errors which
it contains and retain the good without the
! charge of sacrilege."
"All great movements, Mr.. Beeeher, ear
| but be subverted through organic fOrms
How is the advanced theology to obtain the
supremacy
! I'm many ways. Il has as i have said
permeated, more or less, all of the churches
| The new ideas are studied and examined
and compared with the old by all thinking
people. 1t is no longer sin TO try ane
| know the truth. / had hoped that the
| large liberal element which has
of hate years dominated the Con