Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-01-23
A Startling announcement.

4 Startling announcement.
TO the Editor of the Globe:
''The air is full of strange changes and
movements in tbs religious world.''
This startling announcement was made
to humanity through the medium of the
st. Paul and Minneapolis Pioneer Press,
in its twelve pase Sunday edition of Jan.
IA, 1883, by its editor; hence its weight,
and our absolu certainty that there can
be no mistake alb ut it.
At the same time, and by the same ora
Gle, we were informed also that when the
great Henry Ward Beechcr stood
boldly forward as an apollo
gist of the creed of Herbert Spencer
:" the world was not startled;' and, as if
this was not enough, as humanity stood
aghast at the revelations already made and
with bated breath scanned the page, dread
ing to know more-yet, at the same time,
anxious for the latest truth, what was
revealed? Why, the fact that the world
had actually ceased to regard Mr.. Beecher
as an " infallible religious guide" So
During the historical portion of mans
existence, at periods when intense need
has been felt for guidance, in response to
these necessities, there have usually arisen
great spiritual and intellectual teach
ers; instructors whose clear
insight, often partaking OF the nature of
prophecy, has lifted them above the haze
and mist of earthly passion into an atmos-
phere where, with purely spiritual vision
they have discerned truths wholly unintel-
ligible to those less richly endowed.
Now, Mr.. Editor, in view of the excessive
wisdom displayed by this wonderfully
brilliant satellite, which has so suddenly
shot athwart the literary horizon, may we
not, with some degree of reason, suspect
that even now we have such
an one among us? And when
in sober earnest, we are informed that the
indications are that ''the religious world is
leaving the beaten path which it has trav-
eled for centuries" are we not justified in
regarding this wise young man of the Min
neapolis and st. Paul Pioneer Press as a
veritable John the Baptist of modern
thought?
Hitherto we had supposed that, with the
exception of All occasional ripple caused
ny oCCCAlI1ClGJ3 VI lnO1N1O-
ual determination to attract attention.
nothing had occurred within the last quar-
ter of a century to distract the calm tran
guilty of the religious world; neither had
it been supposed that anything was likely
to occur which would in any wise interfere
with the common religious belief that
Adam actually received the apple from the
hand Of Eve, that Jonah actually swallowed
the whale, and that the sun did stand still
on the plains of Ajalon.
1t is true that for some time theories
have been ado&t which are not strictly in
harmony with the cosrnogony usually sup
posed to be Mosaic, and also, that during
the last half century an eccentric indiVid-
ual named Darwin has been endeavoring
to attract attention by scattering broad
cast over the world teachings
which are not exactly in har
mony with the doctrines contained
either in the "thirty-nine articles" or III
the ''shorter catechism," but which, never
theless possess inherent qualities which
seem to recommend them to the Judgment
of humanity. We are not unaware Of the
fact, too, that many scholars, including
within their number some of the most emf
nent thSologians OF Europe, have been at
work for years, in the vain hope of harmo-
nizing contradictory points in the sYnopti
cal gospels, the disagreement of which
deeply affects the very foundations of the
Christian faith, and, also that it has been
rumored that Eusebius, an ancient father
in the church, has been arraigned before a
tribunal of his own order in answer to the
charge of forgery, and of adding to' the
sacred scriptures.
Is has also been asserted, on good aU-
Shortly, shat Buckle, Viscount Amberley,
Harriet Martineau, Colenso, Draper, Waite
and hundreds of others, including within
their number the brightest minds in Europe
and America, have not been strictly or
thodox, and that these persons have not
only entertained hereticel opinions them
selves, bet that they have also published
their views to the world.
Yet, with that calm Indifference to scien-
tifc discovery and accumulated historical
facts, which usually characterizes prophets
and sssrs, we find that our st. Paul
and Minneapolis Pioneer Press sage
has never allowed his mind to be
disturbed by any of the results of modern
research and criticism, bat that he has
chosen rather to depend for his inspiration
in interpreting the signs of the times
wholly on the priesthood. Hence, when
the Rev Hsbsr Newton, who has doubtless
been forced into his present position by
the demands of an intelligent audience,
pronounces the Bible as little else than
myth, our hero is at once prepared to
supplement his opinions, and to publish
to the world that the air is really full of
strange change, and movements in regard
to its religion, and that, for a fact, the
religious world is leaving the beaten track
which for centuries it has travelled.
Duluth, Mimi, Jan. Is. E.B. G.