New-York tribune., 1885-07-06
MR.. BEECHER ON THE FUT URE CH URCH


WHAT EVOLUTION Is DOING FOR RELIGI0N-THE
LIBERTY OF KNOWLEDGE.
Mr. BeecLer announced yesterday that he had
changed his intention of preaching next Sunday in
Plymouth Church. lie had made his arrangements
expecting that the 18th Regiment of which he is chap
lain would 90 to the State Camp on July 1o But the
authorities at Albany had ordered it to go Pceksk on
Jdy he would have to give up preaching in his
church. as a regiment in camp without chaplain,
might as we'll go home. He added that his sermons
upon the deeper themes of theology and science, such
"a Miracles prayer, atonement the Divine Savior,
and Immortality which were all above the horizon out
side the churches and IN the realm OF philosophy would
DO reserved for the autumn
In his sermon yesterday Mr.. Beecher said that
Spencer led modern thought in England, and Haeckel
Germany. Spencer seemed to be coming to the real
truth. If he lived Herbert Spencer who had given to
the world more than any other man in tho realm OF
philosophy, might become the ablcst defender Of
Christianity Bnt the Continent the aeckel school
were absolute atheists and proessed absolute
ncgation of all religion With believers in evolution
divided they i'll Engl and on the Continent
and with the acceptance OF the doctrine by many III
| churches was evolution to tear up the pulpit and
overthrow those spiritual truths on which human
character is founded On the contrary, it will lead
the human to higher and nobler condition.. The
church would be favoraby affected by investigation OF
the truth Absolute hbe,ty would be one of the
achicy ycmens under evolution. Any pattern of church
to group they pleased IN ehurches. to inspire
and MAINTAIN conduct and character. This was the
church, peculiar mission tO form moral conduct and
spiritual c aracter 1t shone iii every avenue OF human
nature, and built mp men in Christ Jesus. Ii poured
a light upon all human nature and illuminated the
whole world and to the changes caused by evolution
Mr. Beecher said it would put the exlernaities Of the
church "a different light The ntral idea would be
spirituality in man. day high and noble man,
who did the special teachings Of some church,
sill regarded as an outsider. The day would come
when spiritual character would dominate. When that
day the Unitarian aud Unyersalit sunday school
children would not be excluded from the ranks on St.
Children's Day II Brooklyn. [Applause.
The despoiism aud conceit OF the church would be
cured Men would longer believe that grace
could be got outside OF the Church. A monopoly OF
Gods affection by The churches would be exploded:
Quarresomeness would no longer disgrace institutional
Christianity growing spirit OF unity was fast
overcoming the sprit of contention 1t was 10 be
hopes that the proyerb would soon nurture. " know
they Christians. they quarrel So Theology was
not hall black laced now ~ u had been hcne'oh
hopeful. genial and loving. There had been
am, lioration in th. matter OF amasement a
Sunday school picnic would have made John Calvin
run shouting: d" Horror! Horrorv
Nothing IL evolution dsslred to ehaee the church
Tho Providence which inspired growth upon growth
wa evolving tue church. One might think IRON the
zeal with winch the pulpit IN genera a-saied evolution
that afraid Of being oycrhrown. Bnt the true
ehurch aYd the true preaching feared nothing Inc
of soul soul was the strongest IN the world
The function OF the preacher. groit soul inspired ny
God and the cternitIcs calling men to unscn-uous
things MT mere lecturer but teacher of the super
sens and the divine could not be .aied ana would
not be lost. But n wider held and nobicr work would
be his 4 Fathtr-God. watching caring. preserving,
would quench the lurId light OF atheism. Morality and
spirituality would be unified Ia the church ot the
future Morality undeyelobed Spirituality
So too. Iral and revealed religion were one:
Evolution would sst forth and enforce these IL would
also purge away the outrageous heaihcnsm that man
wa. s.d by sin from fabulous ancestor theology
mad already dropped much, and would drop much
more. Original sin and the eternity. OF conscious
suffering woull 60 The moral sentiment OF the people
bad changed that the old Theology could no longer
be borne The Biolc would be regarded daily food
the thing, meu needed would bc used from IT.
In conclusion Mr Bcecher said that all these changes
would be gradual but certain. Theology. and the
churches undergoing n process oi evolution bat
not of destruction. But what was not worthy 70 live
was being destroyed. Evolution adverse TO the
ella M OF antiquity The church which was bound and
,ntombcd wouid hear the voice: - Come forth y and
ont of the crypt aud grave it would To be oosed
and let Co. Men would be -e free for nobler thoughts
and higher lives Liberty OF Knowledge would lead 10
the clear sunlight Man sinful and God was ready
to save him from sin, and that truth the future
would be founded