The sun., 1884-02-17

The student OF the evolution OF Christianity
will be grateful for the reprinting by the
Messrs. Scrbner OF the Lectures on the Eastern
Church. delivered by DIR. STANLEY while dis
charging tho duties OF Professor of Eccesias-
tical History at Oxford 1t is true that the
comprehensive scheme OF inquiry originally
contemplated is here but partially carried ont.
the authors plans having been interrupted by
his appointment to the Deanery Of Westminster
Among the branches OF his subject which no
has beon unable to investigate may DO partic-
ularly named those fragments or offshoots OF
the Easlorn Church which survive in tho Mes
toriun. the Armenian. the Georgian the ia
cobite and Maronite. the Coptic. and the Abys-
sinian communities On the other hand Dean
Stanley. besides going over much Of tho ground
already traverscd by Milrnan. had time before
he was prevented from pursuing these re-
searches. to examine two remarkable ard still
impcricctly understood aspects OF his theme.
to wit. Mohammedanisnl. considered in its rea-
tions to the Eastern Church. and the Russian
Church. from its foundation BY Greek mission
aries to its reconstruction by Peter the Great.
1t is by directing special attention TO the lec-
trres in which these topics arc discussed that
We can best illustrate the breadth of view and
tolerant spirit by which Doan Stanley's contri-
buttons to the history o! Christianity are 80
forcib,y commended.
How noteworthy 1t In. for example. to see an
Anglican divine acknowledge frankly that
Islam Is the only one OF the higher religions
which has hitherto made great md con-
tinned progress in tlro vast continent Of
Africa. md this. too. although at the date
OF Mohammod's birth Latin Christianity
was. to NIL appearances. ilrmly rooted in
what were known till recently as the States
OF Barbary. while Eastorn Christianity had
l..nn fal tn,
Reminding us that Aollalnmed is placed by
Dante In the Inferno" among the chief hero
siarchs. DIR. Stanley insists that Moham medan-
ism should 10 regarded as an eccentric
kerctical form of Eastern Christianity rather
| than rs n distinct and anta:onistic religion.
| Islam was In fact" the extreme Protes tantism
| or orPuritanism Of the East Whether or not the
| iconociasm Of tho seventh century in Constan-
| tinople had any direct connection with the early
oonteniporaneous rise OF Mohammedanism,
there can." he says. "be litto doubt that tho
two movements had rise in tho same fssiing OF
| reaction against the excessive attention to the
outward objects OF devotion. In tho case OF
Mohammed there was superadded the senti.
rnent. whether initiated from the Hebrew
| Scriptures or instructive In the Arabian branch
| OF tho Semitic race. which returned with oil
| its force To tho belief in tho one unseen
God. The ieonooasm OF Molmmmed far
excsods that either OF Leo the isaurian or OF
John Knox." 1t is further admitted that within
a confined circle OF morality the code OF the
Koran makes a deeper impression than has
beea made on Christians by the code OF the
Bible. though beyond that circle 1t caunot.'
the lecturer thinks. "be said to equal the
vivifying influence which tho Bible has un.
ousstionab,y exercised oven over the uncon
scious instincts and teelings OF Christcndom.'
Al to that manly indepep denee which knows
no false shame or reserve In protesting its re-
liGion in the face Of the world. this Dean
Stanley recognizes rs no less oonspicuousl,
the noldo heritage OF the Turk and the
Arab than Of the Greek or Russian. Il
Is this willingness to own in the sight Of al
men tho faith that is In them that lends t.
cvsry Oriental congregation. bat preGfninonti
TO oyery Mussulman congregation. its mali
distinction from every Western congregation