The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-10-14

lous, and would undoubtedly lead to an album
dant crop of hereses in many quarters And
this for the simple reason that the theory of
mans evolution in its logical and necessary
consequences is irreconcilable with the cardinal
doctrines of the Calvinistic faith.-EDs. C. P)
Herbert Spencer on Agnosticism
and Positivism.
1t Is often made reproach against
Christians that various schools of thought
exist among them, that, in other words,
they do not hold the same views in re-
gard to the great truths which they all
alike believe to be fundamental. But do
the opponents of Christianity agree
among themselves any better than its
adherents, or even half so well? The
men who say that the gospel is cum
ningly devised fable, whose power has
forever gone, and that the kingdom of
God, having failed, must give place to
the kingdom of man, ought surely to pre-
sent themselves before the world with
united front. But the controversy which
Is now going on between Mr.. Herbert
Spencer and Mr.. Frederic Harrison re-
veals deep and vital differences between
them. They agree only in their rejection
OF Christ. We are not going to condemn
them because they differ in their views :;
we are merely pointing out that dis
agreements exist among those who are
not Christians as well as among those who
are, and that it is therefore unreasonable
to reproach the followers of Jesus be-
cause they take divergent views of truth
That men should differ in their views is
necessity of their nature but those of
them who heve the spirit of Christ may
d~ell in the unity of love in spite of the
lsnnity I. Jelief. The dispute to which
we have referred is, as might be expected
from The character of the combatants, a
very instructive one for when two such
intellectual gladiators as Herbert Spen-
Ger and Frederic Harrison enter the
arena. some keen and brilliant fighting
may be expected. Both are very skilful
writer's, and if Mr. Harrison is the more
lively and vivacious in his style, Mr..
Spencer IS more than match for him In
sohdlty and depth of thought, and in
clear and searching analysis. Mr.. Spen-
Ger Is an Agnostic, and Mr.. Harrison re-
Gently criticised his Agnosticism rather
severely; now it is Mr.. Spenoer's turn,
and, accordingly in the current number
of the Nineteenth Century, he not only
defends his own beliefs, but also deals
some heavy blows at Mr.. Harrison's Pos
itivism.
Perhaps the most valuable parts of Mr..
Spencer are those in which he explains
his own convictions. His position, in
deed is somewhat difficult to understand.
If be is an Apostle, he is far from being
an Atheist. He believes in Supreme
Being-a First Cause-of which he
speaks, in his grandiloquent and inde6-
mite fashion, as IAN Infinite and Eternal
Energy, by which all things are created
and sustained. " To this phrase Mr.. Har-
rlson objects as a rather equivocal re-
version to the theologic type" Tt is GER
talnly rather remarkable to find Mr..
Herbert Spencer condemned for being
too orthodox. 9" So far, says Mr.. Spen.
Ger, from regarding that which trans
cends phenomena as the 'All-Nothing-
ness (Which Mr.. Harrison had call.
ed it), regard it as the 'All-Being' "
To simple-minded folk it is rather per
picking to find a philosopher talking
about the All Being, the Infinite and
Eternal Energy, the ultimate Reality, as
the Unknowable and Inscrutable Exist
ence but this, at any rate, is clear, th at
the man who so believes is no Atheist.
As to the personality Of the Supreme Be-
ing, Mr. Spencer denies that his agnos-
ticism " IS anything more than silent with
respect to the question of personality :"
in other words, it neither afirms nor de-
MES it, though it says that the choice is
" between personality and something
higher. The workings of this power
are by Mr.. Spencer closely associated
with human life. THE power manifest
ed throughout the universe distinguished
as material, is the same power which in
ourselves wells up under the form of
consciousness. 81 Our consciousness of
the absolute is not negative but positive,
and is the one indestructible element of
consciousness" Our lives, alike ply
steal and mental, in common with ali the
activities, organic and inorganic, amid
which we live, are but the workings Of
this Power" This, again, is perhaps not