New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-02-24
ROBERTSON AND NEWTON.
FIRST Pho ,CRfPrON IHEN ACCEPTANCE - An
ANALOGY SUGGESTED.

FIRST PwO,CRiPTION HUN ACCEPTANCE - An
ANALOGY SUGGESTED.
To me razor Of The Trt6UHe.
SIR: In Brighton, England, over thirty
ycars ago there lived whose sermons and lectures
have probably OF Importance in determining
the tendency Of the Church IN England aud the Eplsco
pal Church IN this country. than any other influence
whatever. | refer 10 the Rev. Fred. william Robertson.
HIS life WIS pure AMI noble, his views are
very generally accepted now. believe. as orthodox aud
sound doctrine -ccrtiuly they 50 considered By
IN" majority VI leading minds In tue English Church.
And yet stopfDrI Brooke tells Us:
Within short space OF six months The bad not from
tho desire OF being peculiar not with any thought OF
SELF but from faithful following. aud bravo speaking
Of what he believed to 30 uIe-Pul hlnseu mo op,,
position with the whole accredited theological! world
~ Brighton the question Of the Sabbath, the
Atpncment. Inspiration and Blp'.sm' Inc results
were sad and drctry him. Al, words were garblc,l.
passages sermon. divorced from ther context
were quoted against h!iI persons VINO f0ld NOT uler
stand him hear MIN and look at him ~ strange
phcn ,inenon. . People were s1lemnly warned
a inst aim those who sn little or his doctrine and
less OF himself attacked him openly. with
m apparent motivcless bitterness. 10 had
World and that %T itscf was rcyoaonary lie was
called Ncologian. Socialist, scopc all the cruel armory
fanaticn. and especially the weapon of bud terror
used against him.
In reading Roberts1ns letters. one Is almost startled
TO such passage rs this:
NeologiansIn Is a largo wor and embraces an almost
endless variety OF Views but to be candid, look upon
Bblioatry with quite "a much dislike AS Arnold diu-as
pcrncios dang to true views Of God and MS re-
veatio the race ami tue cause OF much bit
Ter Protestant Popcry claims ot infhlity Of Inter
probation, which nearly every party puts forth believe
Bbioatry to he supersous "a false, and almost rs
dangerous rs Romanism.
Mr. Robertson sermon on the Trinity seems to nave
passed unno,ces, but IL opens somewhat sgniiicanyi
The doctrine Of the Trinity Is the Of all that knowl.
edge which has as yet been gained by man; say snoa
yet. For presume not To maintain mat III tho ages
which are to coe hereafter our sa MOI t o
superseded by higher knowledge we preauIo ,1 49, 70
that In state OF existence futurcyca even mere
upon this earth at that period which Is my sterousiy
son OF Man"-thorc shall not be given to
vision OF the Eternal" IN comparison with VINCE prsn
and clcarness our present knowledge OF inc iThiy
shall he aS rdm"ntary and a. childke rs me noweaHc
CHRISTIAN. A clear statement OF the deepest
doctrine that man know and the intellectual con
cep,ion OF that doctrine are py no ndtn' acht
arc pnzhlri and perpened by WORD. we Nm, uSn'
mei externally Trintarans IN differ from each other
though using the same words Is greatly ~ Unitarian
differs rfOni u Trnitarian.
The similarity between Mr.. Robcrtson's position and
that OF the Rev r. Ieber Newton will at onco present
tseilt every mind Their line Of intellectual Thought
S. seems TO me- In exactly tho same direction bo'h
endeavor to look below the mere popular state
ment OF dogma tho underlying, spiritual meaning
both believe Church to be living
not nIed and dead. Robertson lived thirty years ago.
andth world has made progress one would THINK
since then. Were he thinking preaching now, VINO can
doubt that his advance would always lie IN the direction
OF frccr more spiritual less popular theology ne was
always fearless aud ontspokel he never Kept 20 ise
new light or thought and IL II simply .nronSh thc
perfect honesty and good faith that Mr. Ncwson
gives offence to timd and conservative iii1s' hany
In the Church agree, substantially. WIN uIi "i.
Newton has said. but they deprccate his rishness W
giving his views such publicity. TO scholars sucu
things he said with impunity," they excaim put
not to the mass" ~, IT,
think VIC should consider the tolerant wide, aIe'
biaclng spirit or the English Church; ana niorc-we
should endeavor to Initiate that spirit hat poiicy' 81
wise. iar-seeng We should conclliatc ihsteau III
allie
such honesty such fear.essncs, such fah as tt oi s
Newton A. | lie
Nttr- York, Feb. O, 1885.