The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-13
ROBERT ELsMERE.
A Criticism Confirmatory OF That OF ~.
u. X" In the Appeal

10 much OF commentator rs "Robert Els
mere" The critics Of Great britain as well
rs America, who are not wrought upon by
bias aud prejudice, are Of one mind as TO It's
high literary merit, aud It's greater merit rs
an epoch-markinr book. one Of the first Of
the century. BY all Of those -. v. ks
views arr fully sustained, but by none more
thoroughly than In the following editorial
review from last Sundays New York
Tribune
THREE GREAT RELIGIOUS NOVELS.
Those THREE widely rad aud much discussed
novels. "i,obcrt Elsmcrc." John wari Preacher"
and "rhe story OF an African Farm owe their
vogue not 10 much 10 their acknowledged literary
aud artistic merits ~ 10 the fact that they Throw
into concrete form thrcc distinct attitudes Of cur.
rent thought toward Traditional Christianity.
They might iniccd, almost he called the gospel oi
the m0icrn doubicr iur they reflect IN the most
licitc color, the salcut features Of that profound
religious unr-t which /. - Characteristic OF our
times. In Robert Elsncrc" an honest attempt i
made to myc something. however small. out
Of the wreck OF religious opinion. aud 10
satisfy the doubicr with a beautiful ideal
II altrulsn. Tho bonyuaut figure Of the
son Of God II deity painted our by master
hand. and IN ~ stead there appears the palli and
shndowy outline of jesus the Man II i the art.
i.ilr incarnation OF The modern destructive German
criticism. which would alike expungc from Ch,is.
ianity both mincle AMI revelation
IN John Ward. Pre- ichrr" picture Of the old
Ciiylnistlr theology T. drawn. - mon-trous aud
i1rblddlng A. 10 chm thu hciri of the reader The
whole book Il protest against crclcsiasilclsm a.
cmlodicd In dogma api plea for the les AT ca.
lated religion nov trying 10 nnd an uiicfanoe IN
tho ~ called "ncw theology" And lastly, In The
STORY Of IN African Farm thu semi.toncs oi qucs.
unning doubt. which exists even In the Churrh
Gradually bcuumo shade Into the black darkncsi 81
despair out 1T which n human soul l. heard 90
ctr.c the day on which Il W., born.
Ilcrrilcal these books may De-. aud doubtless are
from the strictly orthodox point of yicw. aud the
philosophy Of life which lhey teach l. In some ~.
spcct, both hopeless anil pculcious Hut Tor that
mason only they cannot hc ruled ont Of court Pos
IN the iirt place they infect Ia measure the vague
thoughts and aspiration Il a multitude u chris.
tians who have not hrolrn with traditional Chris.
uanity. and who are nov engaged IN tho task Of
bringing orthodox belief inio harmony with tic
thought of the age 10 this extent. Therefore. tho
sportiatlnns oi these books aic the direct result Of
the seolhlnH nux Of rJiI1I1ul opinion which 1,
surh q marked characteristic Of mo1on Christian
thinking.
"Iptcft Elsmore" 4 az especially noteworthy
= pok 90 thlttc1pcrt itisn brilliant transcript II
the intellectual and RELIGIOUS agitation that h 10.
day going ou among thc Hrrsy IT all the churches
with fclrtcuco % the cfvlibllty oi revelation II
/ o. nn crooh mafslngn s we'll ns an epoch mhkiug
/ hnnk bcciusr u az uucr nrycals the rrllrious
doubt and unrst " tho age aud brng. Into we'll.
d.nuci iicus the vague regulations 10 which that
| doubt and unnst ldvo f.r. II attempts to answer
/ the question. "whithrf shall all these thlnr,
| tend" by showing That iho essential resduum ol
| Christian truth. sisHn ut experimentation may
/ hscumc Vital ethical iuf,c In the mollins II In
| man character 10 ihr Robert Elsmcrcs who art
| now covering In doubt aui tear IN 20 many rcc
| tories end pauouAUv t AyE Pear not. The
| hirhct criticism viii doubles, destroy much that
/ you have learned to love. Tho historical and
sccnndc method. -llen applied 10 CHRISTIANITY, may
! prove mush that you hoIldnf To he no mon than
| % bciuuiul myth lhi n Gui Il wisdom and rooi.
uo,s yot rcmainA lop u San believe In Power
| not ourselves which mako, 'of righioousne.s. aud
AMI Ia rcligion Whnse uorncf stone l. the Divine
Brotherhood Ut main"
AMI tho mcs agc Of ihe book. hopeless though II
may srcm 10 the orihoi,x believer. T. without
doubt sending ~ sppgll home 10 the hearts III
| many Uhh.tlans. blth among the cicrgy AMI thr
lalty II may result IN Drgiing new religion,
fonc IN the world outlln Tao llncs " otrtnlfrd
chris ianliy, ~ u may ial even In giylug nuy
fnfm aud tendency 10 ,hg Traditional bcllci. II IN,
church Hut in any COO 4 uu Interesting sigu
1T tho timcs, which nu thou. htiui man can anonl
o. overlook