New-York tribune., 1884-01-14
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
THE ANDovER REVIEW.

professors Of Andover have Just established Is ho'
only interesting for it's contents but also as an
event in the course of what has been called ho"
movcmout - or - new departure in theology The
Seminary n AndOver was cradled III AZ ''h">P'"
of controversy. The orthodox" at that time IN
Eost.n New England were divided INTO TWO
schools There were the old Calvinists who eInhg
moro closely To the Westminster Catechism-to inc
doctrine of the responsibility OF mankind lo Aua
sin. the inability of the fallen Will 10 anything
good. and the imputatOn of the righteousness Oh
Christ to the elect. There were the Hopknslans the
d,seiples of Hopkins and Emmons. who asserted
81 natural ability" remaining IN the WILL insisted
that the individual is accountable only for his own
snritual acts but outSrippcd the other party in the
emphasis which they laid on predestinaton' ana
made divine efficiency the ground and canse OF
MANS theories even of such as are evil. Whether
Uopkiuslanism was a softencd OF an eNaceroateo
,vne of Calvinisn was mOOted question mo
which we have no call TO enter. But these parties
united in founding the Theological Sciool az An
dover Thus to unite them required adrOiJ ulpio-
macy: but even this would not have aVaiieu H""
not the presence of the Unitarian revolt driven '''
,,o sectious of the adherents of Puritansn to
combined resistance. In the presence OF coiin.o"
danger they shook hands. They joined III framing
,ad to be irnnosed on all officers of the nstltu-
g., 90 the end of time This creed passed over
.h;- ro;rts of difference but made up for TINS py
fol and minute declarations on all points u'eni'"
t.t, nartiss essential to Orthodoxy. The first
;.un,lent of the theological chair Leonard Woods
by dexterous management kept the peace az ial 's
he himself was concerned among the cohllcl'"S
pbases Of Orthodox opinion Other professors were
less wary and less fortunate. Even Froie79or 9'u,
art in his day, was widely suspected OF aXlty ana
beterodox leanings. When the successor Oh Dr'
Woods. Professor Park. took his place, new era
xas comiupln The old division of Calvlnist ana
Uonkinsian was nearly forgotten But Professor
PARK was New School" man; he taught doo-
triue of moral agency which the rigid predeStIh'tl
ans of either of the former parties would nave pro-
nounced latitudinarian. In his theory OF "t the
mower of contrary choice" divine ehc'Ch'9
would have seemed 10 some OF the fathers - nave
given wav to human efficiency For series ol
wears Professor Park was the object OF VIuieh' at
tack rs being too liberal in his theology. lie was
1opd,v occnsed of teaching contrary to the creed
which he had promised to follow HIS great ahIily,
aided by the tendencies of the time enabled him TO
ontlivc this antagonism. His eager advcrSarieS "eu
and left none 10 carry on their warfare
Oflatenew questions have come up. New issues have
ariseu Among the younger ministers l)r. NeNhh
Smyth. by his stimulating and suggestive Writings
had drawn to himself much admiration. Inc re-
manning professors at AndOver after the resignation
of Professor Park, desired that he should succe'u 10
the theological char The trustees OF the seminary
,nnoirted him But opposition arose largely for
the reason that Dr. Smyth had favored the hlpothe-
sis of continued probation after death as possible
for certain classes to whom the Gospel has not been
here made known Other questions especially ihe
nroblem of inspiration and of Biblical authority
were mingled in the discussion. At length the IS
itors a trumyirate whom the founders create" as
the guardians of Orthodoxy, and clothed win
mowers proportiOnate to their responsibility de-
cliued TO sanction DR.. Newman omyths appoint
Notwithstanding, however. in the terms ol tnelr
decision all condemnation of hls opinions In "lth-
standing the confirmation of Dr. SmS th ana III the
conservative reaction connected with It, Professor
Park isunderstoo TO have been prominent ana ac-
tive In an acute pamphlet he has sought to prove tha
the hypothesis of continued probation the admission
that there is any kind of dOctrna or ethical error ID
the Bible and the " moral view OF the Atoncmeht'
are inconsistent with the AndoVer Greed. lie mas
songht TO prove also, that only literal not "
opaliGed. subscription, nora subscription FOR sub
stance of doctrine" is consistent with the declared
will of the founders and the solemn obligation OF
the professors Both of these positions, 1t Is under
stood are rejected by Professor +. c. Smyth and 10y
his associates the younger professors VINO nave
lately been appointed to Office in the institution IL
Is in the interest of what they term progressive
Orthodoxy" that The ARdOrr HerteU has been
started Adhering firmly to the substance ol evan
pelica doctrine, they believe that orthodoxy snoulu
not he immutable but should welcome new light,
and modify its formulas as the advancement OF
science in all directions may demand. The iorHer
hrdover organ which has been conducted for many
,eora v Professor Park-The EibijOthccd >dcrd-sncc
Il viewed the new movement" with antlpathy, ana
was a weapon against its promoters, cOuId alI"id
them. of course, no help. 1t has now been trans
ferred TO Obcrlin. 1t has gone West" 1t is sgnl-
fcant of curious changes in theological though''
that Oberln, the Characteristic features OF whose
tbeoloey were formerly under the ban at AndoVeT
has become the refuge of imperiled conservatism
Before this arrangement for the transfer ol me
T;bJjofbeca Sdera was made, however, the existing
faeulty at Andover had matured their plans Tor
the publication of the new Rertep the hrst
number of which is before Us. Ii is intended
for lav,nep as we'll as for ministers. 1t does
not sound a war-nOte. 1t does not intend
TO fin its pages with controversy. Christian mis-
sions Christian life, social and ethical topics VIII
receive their due attention 1t is not to be doubted
nevertheless that the ideas connected with current
religious debates will find ample expression The
frst article from the pen of Professor r. e. Smyth,
l. a vigorously written statement OF the theological
positon of The EerieC. We do not see That II con-
tans ANYTHING that need provoke the dIspleasure OF
eonslderate readers whether they belong to the
stricter or more liberal wing Professor Je"ctt $
paper on the Norris Gifts TO the Andoyer School
hears strongly on the subject OF the rlght inter-
nretation of the Andover creed. 1t IS evidently
intended TO suggest that the appeal which the
opposing party have sometimes threatened to make
TO the Supreme Court of Massachusetts would be OF
no avail The decision of that court long ago IN the
Norris case was strongly on the side of liberal
construction of the Andover fOrmulares.
In relation TO the disputed theological questions,
the article of Professor George Harris esuccessor
of Professor Park. is of particular interest 1t is
IN. ~nVl IL
calm aud strong paper, Professor Harris substantl
Ill, onnroves of the work lust named as concerns