The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1885-07-09
THE GIST OF EVOLUTION
Mr.. BEEcHER INDICATES THAT TO BE
DROPPED AND RETAINED.

ligion and tho Whole Human Family.
Essential Spirituality L. the Thing.
Creed Must Fall-Evolation.
NEW YORK, July SIN his sermon Rev.
Henry Ward Bsecher prsssnted reasons in
addition to those which he has given before,
for believing that tho acceptance Of evolu-
tion will not destroy any estsatial elemant
Of religious belief, though it will lead to
many changes in forms and methods
Mr.. Beecher pointed out the fact that
there are two parties among the evolution IN
themselves One led by Spencer, whom Mr..
Beecher regards as the ablest thinker for
centuries, and the other by Eaeckel The
thinkers Of the English school seemed to b.
tending toward q spiritual center, and those
Of Germany and the Continent toward a
materialists center. The formar repudiate
materialiNm, and refuse to 60 further at
present than agnosticlsm. Spencer seemed
to have reached view which Mr.. Beecher
thought might result in his yet being known
as the ablest defender Of the essential ele-
ments Of Christianity that has arisen for
many days.
On the other hand, the materialists of the
continent seemed eager to destroy every
vestige of religion, end any attempt to hold
onto any belief in tn ngs of aspiritual nature
irritated them Half rips students here,
reading their works were very apt to catch
the same spirit, and say that to preach evo-
luton while holding any OF the old beliefs
is follv M ReecSer tharsfora vis,,..i In
vindicate what evolution required to be
dropped. and what might be retained.
Was it to be supposed, he asked, that after
fifty wears of Christian MINISTRY. and with
all its associations dear to him be- would ad.
vocate anv doctrine that would DESTROY the
substance or in any degree even the ma
terial forms of relieiona he woud rather
die. His aim was to give to religion n
wider SCOPE and greater power. He was in
sympathy. not alone with ths church. but
with the whole human family. and his long
ing for wears had been for mch teaching a
would lead them to a higher and nobler con-
dition. Evolution. he continued. surrounds
the church with influences that must be con-
sidered.
No great development of thou9ht corld be
ignored. To rspreB investigation was inn.
possible. Il should he carried on openlv and
encouraged. And 1t should not cause terror.
in the church. Churches were but sssocia-
ions of men and women seeking to develop
their moral and spiritual mature in direct
intercourse with God. And evolution would
not abolish them, but would enlarge their
freedom. Mr. Be.cher expected to see the
day when q mans essential spirituality
would be his title to admission into the
church instead of the ordinances now in
sisted on, and when children would not need
to wonder, in looking at q good man, il he
could possibly 90 to heaven. not bain9 a
church member.
Churches were instructors Of the com.
munities around them in the hiRher knowl
edge. and no other human institution could
replace them a mch. and therefore Mr.
Beecher did not think evolution vould abol.
ish them. though II would doubtlass aimnlifv
and clarity them. Thew conformed to the
requirements of evolution. in that thew con-
cerned themselves with developing men from
lower to higher stages OF Growth. The
charges to ba mada would bs mainly in az
ternal forms The despotism or conceit
which made each church claim To ba the sola
authorized reDosit RI of Gnl,s truth. and the
agent for its propoyation. and the onlv har
bor of. salvation as if the rain did not fan
upou the iust and the uniust. this would 6e
abolished and with it the religions ouarrels
thai have lined the march of Chrissianity
with skulls and bonas and blo,d. AMI that
have made the music of its proeress to be
sehs and weanin1s and sorrows
Mr.. Beecher found an increasin, tsndencv
to unity among the churches. He attributei
this lees to councils and assemblies than to
the increasing co-operation of men Of differ
ent denominations in works of public chari-
tv or condolenca. such as tsmn,ranca
When Catholics and Protestants or mar.
sons of difYerent Protestant sscts mst undsr
such circumstances they kwers surprised to
find somuch genuine and earest Christian
feeling in each other, and this tended to
break down carriers of creed. The tand-
ency in churches to furnish amusemsnts to
the children and adults of their congreya-
tions instead of indiscriminately condemn
ing all amusenents, was one sign Of a natural
evolution already taking place within the
church. and tho summer meetings for in
struction. snch "A the one at Caantaun,a
where laymen. a we'll as officials, took part.
were movements in tina ssma direction of
greater feelom and in liyi ,ualiry.
As to the effect of ths new ideas upon the
pulpit. Mr.. Bescher believed that the true
preacher had function which would not be
delegated to anv other clas, of teachers. It
was not mere instruction in kuowlsdse. but
in Gods love. It was soul actinr moon soul. de-
velooinr ths unsensuous imagination OF man.
The nraacher,. mission wss orowino mora
noble and important. for when the frowuinx
God passed awav he was To preach the
father Qod watching and caring and bearing
burdens. WHOSE very life it il to take care of
life and carry it ON from stage to stage. This
Thought of God would ouench the lurid ieht
of atheism.
Thera would also be a change in the views
of morality and spiritualitv. Thsra ara dif-
ferept bnt only a. the difference betwesn
unrine and r;pe. The definition of natural
and revealed r..ieion would also be amend
Al. There wer, the same Oae was God
speakinp by creation outwardly. the other
bv creation inwardly. Thew light and help
zach other and nnt tooethar in the H0ht Of
avolr,t;on tbav will vat o;va the most T,erfact
v;ew of the divine n.turs
M2nY things IN doctrine now made sub.
iects of controversy would be droppsd. inst
as the old quarrrls over natural ability and
moral inability" The eternal generation Of
Christ, and other questions that have del
uged nations in blood were dropped, and can
tions, would become all the more usuable for
Of II now. To those who fearei tn Lat man
think for themselves with lesserei restraint