Morning journal and courier., 1885-05-14
CONGRESS OF CHURCHES.

The Closing Session Yesterday-Ad-
 dress By Rev. James Freeman
 Clarke-ssThe Historical Christ Con-
 stdered as the True Center of
 TheOIogy''-Address By President
 Porter of Yale.
 HARTFORD, May 13.-The American Con- gress of Churches resumed session at il m. to-day. Rev. Jas. Freeman Clarke (Unitarian) of Boston, opened the discussion of the ques- tion "The historical Christ considered as the true center of theology" His paper was upon this topic.
 ADDRESS OF THE REV. JAMES FREEMAN CLARKE.
 Jesus of Nazareth in his character of 'sThe Christ may be regarded either the historical preached the historical Christ The point on which their teaching turned was that Jesus is the true has actually appeared. not as outward conquer or, but one So full of grace and truth as to be strength to believe that this ncarnation of truth and love is the real King of the M9rd he G is born n preached at first was the historical Christ.
 But the APoste POS Paul while accepting I the historic Christ after the Spirit The details of the earthly
 life of his Master see seem to have had little interest
 the daily food of his so soul Th S a whom pidds he sat GodNthis ideal and spiritual Christ was the theme of Pauls teaching. And, in all ages, devout souls lived in such near communion with their risen mas ter as to give comparatively little thought to his human life and character The Son of God has eclipsed the Son of Man.
 After the third and fourth centuries the interest of the church was absorbed in the metaphysical Christine Christ of theology. The sharpened in teect of the Greek church was busy in settling with exact precision the ante-mundane relation or the Son to the Father. Were they of the same essence, or only of like essence9 Were the divine and hu- man natures joined by "enasis" or only by len oikess?'' Were there two natures in Christ or one nature? Were there two wills in Christ, or ones Around such questions of superhumane metaphy sics ragged the most bitter controversies And down to our own time, it has been considered to define views in regard to the infinite being on points which we are utterly unable to deter mine even in regard to the hnman soul. Four times year the Athanasian Creed. with It's subtle definitions of the divine nature, must be sald or sung in the established Church of, England And Western churches have been divided by the myste- rious question whether the spirit proceeds from the Father and Son or from the Father only: The real question seems to be, which is most something about him?' Metaphysical Christianity says syou must believe this formula about Christ you must accept this proposition to what he was and what he did" Historical Christianity says s'it is enough if you take Christ himself for your master and leader and seek learn what he taught his truth Sit at the feet of Jesus himself and hear his own words, not the words of others about him As long as we define beforehand for each other what we ought to believe about Christ there is lit l tie prospect of church union. But when we car trust each other to the Master himself and be vii ciated together as learners in his school, and tha will be a basis of real fellowship.
 But it may be said. How can this be bond O | unionf Do not men differ as te the inspiration