New-York tribune., 1883-06-17
1tBEBAL THEOLOGY AT ANDOVER.


The commencement exercises at AndoVer
Theological Seminary during the past week
are likely to mark the opening of new epoch
in the history of NewEngland Congregauonai-
ism. For a long time an earnest ana ra'hei
acrimonious controversy has been IN progress
between the faculty of the seminary, VINO eS-
pouse what is called the New Iheology' anu
eminent diyines in the denomination, LED Dy
.Joseph Cook and The CongregdtiondhSt, VINO
insist upon rigid adherence to the
Old Theology, or, as they style it, the New
England Theology. There are many poihts Vi
divergence, but the chief bone OF contention
is in the department of eschatology, OF tue
doctrine of the final things pertaining to death
and the state after death. The Old Theology
teaches that there is no probation after death
that the righteous at death are freed from all
sin and enter Immediately into eternal SAINT
shin: that the wicked enter at once upon Sc
we're and eternal punishment. The New
Theology teaches that there is probation
after death; that even believers are
NOT sinless at the moment of death
and must pass through an Intermediary state
before entering into perfect blessedness; that
the wicked, who have not accepted the
Gospel in this life, will be granted period OF
probation in which they may accept It after
death; and that it is not clear about the pun
ishment of the impenitent being unendlng,
since the ultimate fate of individuals is yelled
in mystery, as we'll as the question whether
all will attain the blessed goal or not.
II was thought that this long controversy
would eliminate in an explosion at the Semi
nary anniversary exercises last week. An
unusual number of alumni were in attend
ance. attracted by the fact that three new
professors were TO be installed, including the
Rev. George Harris as Professor of Systematic
Theology, who was known to be disciple OF
the New Theology. Mr. Harris was to deliver
an address, and it was expected that the dis
cussion at the alumni dinner subsequently
would bring the champions of both sides to
the front The Rev. Joseph Cook was
present. visibly loaded for the fray, and
thero was on tho part oil the
New Theology defenders no dis
position to abandon their ground. MIR. Harris's
address appears to have done great deal
toward convincing the advocates of the Old
Theology that the occasion was not opportune
for n demonstration by them. He spoke with
much gentleness but also with great iirmness,
carving n vast majority of his hearers with
him. The spirit of his address, rs well as the
broad position Of the new school which he
advocates, are shown by tho following
passages:
The value OF the oreeds OF tho past IS that they show
the Christian conciousness OF the time. There must be
conformity with the living spirit Of the present age III
old sysems do satsfy the demands OF present IN
oury we are accept them as hnaL There Is re-
-1,I,t.,. 10
our,eyes When within the Church there is reaching
ont after new interpretations, may suspect the
bealthiness Of his own thinking II not In
accordance with the spirit OF the age Too
much has been claimed for the Bible and too little
that IL absolutely tree from iperfection and that II
ia not inspired What the Bible Is actually found TO be
must enter into our view of IT, Its use in the Church
I'M, been not upon sheer STARK authority but upon
Ga truth That we should be slow reconstruct ancient
theories IA the dicum OF wisdom. II our belief must
rest upon argument lot 10 be moral argument our IN
erpretaons OF the Bible must not be separated from
reason The maady Of our times Is agnosticisn-more
dangerous than iuadey. Defects In preaching have
thrown glamour OF yagueness over Christian beliefs
theology which chiefly concerned TO bo esteemed con-
stent TO trace pedigree OF orthodox succession
n decaying dryrot, and IL certain that men VIII
| cut it down and cast II into the fro
The final sentence quoted was greeted with
vigorous applause, showing that the majority
of his audience sustained this unnlistakable
allusion to the Old Theology. When the alumni
assembled at their banquet nearly all traces of
trouble had passed away. Most of the speakers
were guarded in their utterances and avoided
irritating illusions to the controversy, which is
believed to be buried for the present at least.
Still it is likely to break out again in the near
future Neither Mr. Cook nor the other expo
nents of the Old Theology are disposed to aban-
don the field. They maintain that the pro-
fessors occupy an untenable position in accept
ing the old creed and at the same time holding
their liberal views, and predict that they will
be obliged to abandon one or the other before
many years.