The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1885-03-25
For the Central Presbyterian.
The American Institute of Chris
tian Philosophy.

The American Institute is now we'll
advanced upon the fourth year of it's his
tory. Success has crowned its efforts
and we rejoice at its widening influence
among the thinkers of our country. We
could desire that every thinker in the
South were a member and thus bi.month-
ly brought in contact with its able scien-
tific and philosophic literature. The
American Institute is doing for Ameri-
can thought what the Victoria Institute
has been accomplishing in the philosophic
circles of Great Britain during the last
thirteen years. These two philosophical
associations are constantly bringing out
papers and lectures exposing the fallacies
of anti Christian authors. The work is
noble one and merits all commentator
and assistance.
The American Institute is Theolog-
ico-philosophic Society. It's primary OBJ
ject is to defend the doctrines of the
Scriptures against all opposing intellec-
tual forces, whether appearing in the
form of scepticism, agnosticism, evolu-
tionism, or atheism. 1t aims to investi-
gate impartially the most important ques-
tions of philosophy, especially those bear
ing upon revelation, to associate men of
science and authors to give greater force
and influence to their efforts, and inter
est Christian thinkers in the production
and circulation of literature productive
of intellectual and religious culture.
These objects are being successfully at
tanned. Many doctrines supposed by
some to be subversive of Christianity are
proven to rest upon no rational basis
Nothing that has been demonstrated to
be real science has been found antagon-
istic to the doctrines taught in the Bible,
and this has been fully demonstrated in
many able papers. Thus Is being col
lected store of facts and arguments to
confirm our faith in the divine origin of
our religion, and that the only true phil
osophy is Christian philosophy.
The Institute holds its monthly meet
ings at No. 4, Winthrop Place, New
York. Besides these monthly meetings
a series of lectures is delivered at some
place selected for the purpose. This is
termed the summer school, and must be
an intellectual feast to those who attend
The first summer school was held July
18th, 1881 with only thirteen members,
and we may form just estimate of the
rapid advance of the Institute when we
learn that the last session in August,
1884, recorded four hundred and thirty
members. The lectures at these meet
ings are delivered by the best scholars Of
our country, aud afterwards published
in Christie Thought, the official organ
of the Inf ute. This magazine is con-
sequently one of the ablest, purest, and
most repr ssentstive periodicals Of Amer.
lea. It's pages are filled with analytic,
powerful, and brilliant articles upon
scientific and theologic. philosopbic topics.
The first article in the last number Jan
uary and February "a New Basis for
the Philosophy of Conviction" by DR..
Edward j. Hamilton, is alone worth the
years subscription. The character Of
The lectures delivered before the Insti-
tute is indicated by the themes treated
in Christian Thought. Take az samples,
Foundations OF Christian Belief" What
we Mean by Christian Philosophy, DE
sign in the Elementary Structure of the
Universe" "The Ego Of Consciousness, -