The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1888-02-23
A LETTER FROM YALE.
DOCTRINES AND DOGMAS DIS
CUSSED BY A NORTH


CUSSED BY A NORTH
Carolinian. Views and Comparisons
OF the German Theology with the
American. A Hint to t1e Young
Ministers of North Carolina.
Special Correspondence to The Sentinel
Whatever may be our opinion as to
the soundness of the Theology set
forth by German theologians, there is
no denying the fact that they keep the
theological world in ferment. The
fight that has centered about and over
for the past two years can be traced
Immediately to the influence of two
German theologians. But just at pres
ent we are having change. This
time it is an Englishman Tay-
lor. He submitted a paper on Isla-
mism to the last Church Congress in
England. He had tabulated vast
array of figures showing the growth of
Islamism in India and Africa and
from these figures he claimed that Is
lamIsm was spreading more rapidly in
these counties than Christianity. He
then took into consideration the moral
ideal of christianity in relation to the
condition of these people and conclud-
ed that they are not ready for the
Christian life Like the Jews, they
need preparation. He then consid-
cred Islamism in relation to these
peoples and concluded that it is not
only fitted to do this preparatory work
but is actually doing it. 1t is outrun-
ming Christianity as a missionary reli
gion for those peoples,
The paper has called out storm of
criticism. The figures are denied, the
conclusions are denied, the necessity
for preparatory work" is denied.
Thus far it seems that Cannon Taylor
was careless in his figures and rash in
his conclusions. The ground is evil
IDENTIFY slipping from under him. OF
course such discussion, although hot
and sharp, must be short lived. 1t is
chiefly of interest as showing the ac-
tivity in theological circles. Life
among theologials just now is very
intense. Let me give one or two of
the questions most prominent to-day.
The authorship and date of the Penta-
teuch? One of the very foremost pro-
fessors of Hebrew in America is teach
ing that Moses did not write this book
and that it was not written in the
Mosaic age. | believe this position is
sustained almost unanimously by Ger
man theologians. AT present there
are very few authorities in this coun.
IL IL /, AZ -
professor. OF course it goes without
saying that the answer we give to thi:
question is far-reaching in its conse
quences. 1t is big question and can
be settled in day. Almost counties.
minor questions are involved. The
battle must be long and severe. Bu
it is upon us. "The war has actually
begun" :"
The second question is conf
ned to Germany. That is, so far a
/ know, no American has as yet takeI
! it up publicly. But it is a more sig
nifcant question than the former anc
is being hotly contested in Germany
Just now. The question is to accoun
for the rise of the first church dogmas
In the second, third and fourth centu
ries theological controversy WAS al
most business. The common people
would stop their work to discuss The
"Trinity,' the Nation of Sin" anc
like questions. At length the grea
Councils were called and the question
settled by dogmas. What was th
cause of this theological fight? With
in the last six months two larg'
books have been published in Germa
ny to answer this question. The.
both differ from each other and from
two other great works that preceded
them. The gist of the question i
whether Greek philosophy did not en-
ter the church and unite with the Cos
pei in forming these dogmas. Sucl
are two of the questions that men ar
forcing upon the church. Are ou
preachers, especially the young ones
preparing themselves to give a calm
convincing, Christian answer 0
will you be content to have other pee
| pie not specially interested answer 10
you?
Perhaps, Mr.. Editor, ought t
apologize for such letter ? / have
double excuse: Winston being a
educational center, THE SENTINEL
readers will be interested in all mat
ters of education and | wanted t
speak word to young preachers
North Carolina and those studying
be preachers. III. Fl. w.
Neao Haven, Conn, FEB. Is.