New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-08-06
QUESTIONS OF THE DAY.
yp, ,c,oN AND MODERN PHILOSOPHY.

RELIGION AND MODERN PHILOSOPHY.
BALDWIN: being Dialogues on Views and Aspirations
By vrxSoN LIE. Crown svo. PIP. 375. Roberts
Brothers
MEMOIRS OF ARTHUR HAMILTON. B. A., ct Trinity
College Cambridge BY his Friend. ChRisTor .ae
CARE. Of the s'me College limo PIP ~ --''
THE GOSPEL AND PHILOSOPHY FIX Lecture lecture
pre- ,ched in Trinity ChaIel. Now YORK: b nDn m5
r. Yang Il Co.
Time was when men studied the highest
themes of religion and philosophy AT me , ,t,
OF reverend sages to-day We , m,tSm " vouny
1 L"1, oh m'vs Baldwin sH%ein. with the
assumption that eve have dislOdgcd Goa nom
the universe y; and throughout inc c,eHs ~,
which he has presented her thoughts una
farri%. rpcn some of the most serious pfobl M
of cur time run, the conplaccnt Assumption 'i"
tie cLnm Of Chi >taniy, nay, the Wy ,, y''' oI
in an Aim ghty, has ceased to be adnl','1' W
even considered, by any enlightened pg p,'
Religion of every kird has passed ont Oh 'ic
category of dcimtablc questions ana pc'n , n,,t
gated l,v unanimous consent to mat Oh W" n"I
grown decisions. The assurance VIII t W'''
The mrlen English school OF h'eia'n I'''' o,,'n
SIT forth This mon,trous estimate oi insiI " ,I
work and numbers makes IL VII, '' ,''ptnJ
world Of thinkers could stand up ana pe 'o',.',,t
We suspect that sccpiic> ana p ", ~, boom
both, be surprised TO find now n r1 t r,~r VIM
AT
ui,iN,,sc They would he romnd,I OF Vchc'T'
G~,st's story of the wolves on Texas p,al'W
which he supposed fcom their nol-e TO Dc Il irec
nack but they proved TO he only two now
,ntn each ohcl'> open threats. Venom zee :.
. ,m.a on "Thc Rc>pon~i Utilities of Unb le'
teaches that it is the duty OF the sccnuc 70
destroy The religious prcudccS ct ms we any
cLildrcn. "Thc Consultations of Bcllei dc'l'
with the old probl m OF the olgln n oi Gv,l, "lII
Evolution " sets mp the sense of homo "Ve'"l'1''
lv a Darwinian process as sub>utute for "ln-
fashion Il conscience, and makes y curious IAN
ta>ti,; attempt to apply ii to the que>'i,,h ~
viyi>ectjon 'Novels" and the =" deal are
principles of literary art are Discus, a.
with elaboration and sometimes WIN
ocutcncss. In the concluding essay, Oi Doup'>
and Pc>>imism. the author returns !" 'I'', p'.-
lo.cphv of life The chalacter>ti'~o OF hc' 'th'lN'
ical writing are intrepid assumption and ext III,
yirulrnce The~e are qualities winch we snl@h'
have expected for wllen a young woman 90
bcate the Almighty she Is probably qulle "n
1ivalled in the capacity for giving g'ai'h'"u>
offence 1t dos not seem to Ms that snr ii''
II, de. the smallest original contribution To NE
old controversies she is close echo oil 'l'
culrclt magazines. Nor arc her rem, rs w. ,' u
AT and literature particularly iOrclble. ne
dialogue method is apt to encourage an 'hulu-
cerct in subtle and lono-drawn discussion l"'
lie sake Of the intellectual exercise more IMAM
for any positive result and to this indulgence
Vernon Lee j. naturally prone. Hence Slr pc-
Comes too 0ften-tO borrow one OF h"r own me
plut ph,ascs-" the de>ul'orv philosopher ON
the loose and her I,gnal Ks impress us not @N
maturcd and w'll-le'soned opinions, pu' ~
views =" which are directed rather ny tcnl"l'-
ncnt and cjlclIm ~tanre than BY Serious lp"''>>
of the mind In calling her book " DIALOGUES
en- Views and Aspirations" she has accul!'cN
defined it, The paper ON Novels com. ,
tome sensible writing mingled with good H'ti
of paradox 1t often touches that duoo"> ~,
"a, f.,ct q 1In
hcsitatcs to 20 on under a lldy's guidance.
Under the form of m'snons OF hci'lol>
Arthur II milton " we have study OF the
uEelou, experiences of an amlabic ana ny"
minded man who clings to me hehci III "o,' "I''
in the historic truth of Christianity, wne ne
reject, all existing forms OF ellgioh l'''
minist who considers the lives of indivIdual'
thcir very deeds and words to bc al pau 81 :"
vast unalteiablr design yet VINO, i"lccllnS
f,ce-will AZ a dclusiOn. 80 acts a. II ne were
really muster of his actions. The book de'lNeN
cham from lis grace OF manner, IT, scich',H
OF tone. and it, success IN Il, hE@tuEg all "'
tlactlve though not st'Ong chllactc, pu' :
relic iotls and philosophical essay rs lesson ana
cvor lis purnose are not clea'. 10 most ol
lis il will seem that Arthur Hamilton HlHH''
through life without compass aiI 'nlt ">
epccnlations led to no conclusion. lhe au,Hol
i, conscious OF this effect. and ties, Wltl"u'
,ucco-s tn remove il by supplementary chap
Ter. The Truth is, we suspect, that ne i vague
hccolse he has not a finn grasp OF his own SUP
icct. IN making q weak and nn'a,l~iac''iy
book. however he has perhaps best illustrated
the school. not exactly of thought bnt Of >1Il-
mint. which his hero represents. The ArtHul
UamiltonS are not thinkers but only lcilcctVc
rc,.on7. and their meditation, are ldom rec
from the laIslyzing faint of intellectual lhdo-
itmce. ans,
i The sermons of DR.. Dix on The Gospel
and Philosophy are not controversial, "hi
relh hans they have no message for 'n'
pc~sors. They are addressed to those who be-
i,ye in the Church but who have been an"t
or less affected by the prevailing Iatl"lrlt u'
phi!oeophv and are too ready TO admit tila'
i'hristlaIlitv must he accommodated to the pre-
indices of modern society, pruned and reduced
until even advanced thinkers find it not worth
while to object to il. Against this iatolilHlml2
tendency. from which no denomination Is wholly
free, the rector of Trinity upholds the authority
cf a church which claims II divine mission Il
teach. and he does it with vigor and bolincs'
which must have n brs,cing elect upon the
nindS to which ne especially addresses himself
Outsiders of course, need q different cliss 81
arguments; but those who admit DR.. DiX'
premise, will bc delighted with his cleay, out
spoken and energetic lectures.