New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-15
PULPIT SKETCHES.
THE REV JOHN W. CHADWICK, OF THE
SECOND UNITARIAN SOCIETY, BROOKLYN.


held looking the formation of second society," and
in tho following year the first public religious service
was held The constitution Of the society contains the
following artice "Thc pastor and congregation con-
stute the society and subscription assent to any
formula of faith shall be required qualification for
church membership" Calls we're extended in several
directions, without result, until 1853, when the Rev.
Samuel Longfellow accepted the pastorate and in
stalled on the 26th Of October. lie resigned In $50
and the Rev. Mr.. Staples succeeded in 1861 but his
brilliant ministry cut short-in 1854 by death, and
the Rev. John White Chadwick, uutricd youth yet
in his theological swaddng Clothes was invited to the
palp and ordained in December of the same year
The New Chapel il was called for time, occupies
pretty with ample breadth space at the juno
ton of Clinton and Congress-sts The low, brooding
structure hugs the ground tent-like, and one might
pass by without noticing but for delicatey proper
toned shaft-lke campanle rising from inner anglo.
Alphabetically the building has no significance be-
yond its agreeable provision for the business of the
weekly meeting which has both religious and social
intention. There is slight hint OF Greek cross in
the interior proportion. The vide stretch Of ceiling.
unbroken by lantern, with the depressed walls and
the hattened side windows suggests gloomy, cavern
ous auditorium at first but the impression gives
way to a certain comfortable, neghborly presence in
the air. the pews gradually NIL with chatting,
friendly class of people who know another There
i no hush Of silent prayer for the lively, kindly inter-
change of greetings grows into sort of muiied poly
UhOnic prelude to the coming service.
The pulpit end il taken MP by three arched chambers
or inches Tie pulpit occupies the middle and largest,
with the organ at its left and the clergy room at tho
RIGHT There Il a circmar archcd apse with a skylight
over the preacher and pulpit, and sweep of warm
maroon across the wall behind the eyes Of tho
congregations and gives the preacher due background
and relief The building provides sttings Tor perhaps
600 persons The service is Of the simplest typo,
almost Quakerish, or quite-apart from the three
hymns which are sung generally ~ me people 70 PLAIN
and single baritone voice. Not Christian or reig-
ous hint symbol meets the eyeno font no altar no
holy table. Only, large Bible lies on the pulpit, but
this is hidden behind broad bank OF flowers:
And, viii shortly appear, the Bible itself
holds its place rather under the spell of ongrooed
tom and conycntionalty than by force OF any religious
THE SOCIETY AND THE MINISTER
This society sprang from and represents with grow.
ing emphasis the radical railroads.&c. side of Unitar
anism. 1t sharply antagonizos the old society minis
tered to first By Dr. Farley aud now by DR. Putnam. IL
represents the aggressive, destructive criticism OF the
advanced German school, among whom Ewald Kuenen,
De Wette schenkel, Strauss, Keim, Renan, Francis
Newman and Matthew Arnold representative
names and il carries the work Of brisk, unresng
propaganda pushing and res0ue not only through the
mnstratons of the preacher bat by the active di'ibu-
ton of his printed sermons and pOlemic writings
through the channels of trade and also at the yestibue
of the church Indeed it may be said that Mr.. Chad
wick the leading spirit and probably the strongest,
best equipped maa among tho American rationalisto
Unitarians.
the old historical faith disc0ses strange and bewllder-
ng world with it, unknown fauna aud fora its unae-
customed landscape, lights and shadows Of unwonted
range an atmo, that suOcates brings giddnes
and an abiect disheartenng loneliness. II i, difficult,
perhaps well nigh impossible for such inquirer. with
the most chyalrie selfabnega;ion, 10 present finely
tempered, lfe-lile, achromatic impression OF such
LcrsOnage and bis personal and spiritual environment
Yet Mr.. Chadwick is among the most significant
preachers of the time IL Is impossible TO ignore
yacate him his errand by either superclous uncon
Germ or a neat GpOthegm. Dir. Cha twlck - the most
effective exponent of destructive criticism now IN tho
field All that sharp patient, ptiless analysis ana nos
tie scholarship have developed lies at his finger tips.
He not among those pOrtenOus plodders and sappers
and miners, but he knows better than they how to ut
ize the results of their labor for he write in such
idoms and with such direct, quick penetIatlSe ygor
that he OyerIides little middng nen with scarcely
show of force fence. For he manages his deduc-
TONS distractions and postuates IN such way that
they lose their dryness and to bud and blossom
under His touch He is himself so much alive, 30 richly
yitaZed in both brain and heart that the strong deep
rapid current of his thought takes up blood asd
catches human pulse before it reaches the birth Of ut
terance. SO that dogmatis and diaeccian as no Is,
he becomes at the time picturesque and dTa-
matte His conclusions do not float, spectTe-like,
vaguely in mdair, teasing the eyes. They materalizo
properly and take solid flesh before us One might
easily grow dreamy and haf-cOnsciOus with volume
of Herbert Spencer or Matthew Arnold in hand but
there can be no such thing whie Chadwick has the
floor. For he l. much OF mystic. and SO plies that
witchery and spiritual fascination felt in Tauler FOX,
Woolman and John Brown, and there is no getting rid
of him shaking him OF until he wills 10 let go. SO
face face and heart to heart with man, instead Of
an intellectual movement.
Besides, Mr.. Chadwick is not merely professionally
in earnest His is not the enthusiasm of mere scholar
ship. He is glowing, possessed man. Ills pen is In
deed mghtier than the everyday sword He Is filled,
oapturcd by the completeness of his faith in unfath.
No priest prostrates himself abjectly utterly
before the Real Presence its altar throne than Mr..
CHADWICK before the new eyansel of science and
reason So there the havoc and catacysm of orum
bed systems all about He strikes often and heavily.
He ignorant and unconscious of peril or persons and
his lance is in rest ready for tilt with the Old be
lcfs Yet with all this yehenence and ard0r OF war
fare h il n calm, secentred, winning preacher; his
voice is full of great tenderness and unconscious
melodies of innermOst feeling Nhile almost panthe
i,t and acknowledging with shrinking and misgiying
the personality of God his brief prayer Is inexpressiby
solemn and suiu,ed with awe and subduHg reverence,
such as rarely finds in the hippant, peruDcOry
routine of much orthodox supplic9tion no there
religious quality full of and sweetness at tho
inner fountains In spite OF the baroness ana emptiness
of his system And this can be only limited at In rapid
outline.
WHAT MR. CHADWICK DOES NOT BELIEVE.
For him there is no inspired Bible or authoritative
revelation. The Bible is a group of fraudulent pre-
tensions with hardly sound. uuimpeachablo book
within its canon and the best of it stands falls ut
the bar of any mans There is much good
and truth elsewhere-possibly more Truth is in per-
petral hux II dies when gathered up in a creed. So
creed and all. go by the board There Ii no such
thing "a experimentation There is 40 Jesus the only
beg0tten Son OF God-ony the son Of Joseph and Mary
after the hesh among great brood Of children.
There is no resurrection Of Jesus-all misconoeption.
Miracle, are offence and sc0rn. There Is no such
thing as divine redemption for the race is naturally
SO religious that it would be supcriuity Faith as
grounded in supernamrasm and the subjective lie il
a mirage and cheat. Reason and science are the only
faith and the sole ground Of faith
To-day Mr. Chadwick concludes the twentieth year
of his ministry "A much loved man-poet, scholar,
preacher-uOt only IN his own hock but among many
outside who have felt the charm of his glowing in
Gividuality "
S0UE TgTSU STOEIES