Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1890-04-19
PHELPS ON CHRISTIANITY.

His Lecture In marquana Chapel Yes.
terday Afternoon Listened TO By a
Largo Gasherlng-The Fundamental
Facts OF Christianity.
The fundamental facts of Christianity were
forcibly presented by Professor Phelps in his
third lecture at Marquand chapel yesterday
afternoon. There was . large gathering in
attendance.
have shown that 1t is too late by hum
drsds of years to be noble upon original evil
denoe, said he. To-day we consider the
intrinsic character of the system. There Isl
no amount of human testimony that will be
received In advance. in proof of q fact till
you know what that fact is. It is easy to
state facts of what We know to be true that
they are accepted with hardly murmur.
These facts which. lie at the founda-
ton of the Christian belief prove
1t of divine authority. We must find sys'
tenn which at least IL not inconsistent with
the proposition that 1t is of divine origin.
In the frst place, looking at Christianity
in its great and substantial features, what
result do you havei Have you ever heard Of
this world. that 1t 10 the worse for person
to be really q Christian believera have
never heard this thing. have never heard
1t attacked 40 delusion. There may be,
and there is, hypocrisy among Christian
people, but you do not judge anything by
its show. Suppose you were to call con-
vention together for improving OF re.
vising Christianity. Do you think
you could propose any Improvement And
do you think there is any system in the world
that could stand this testa Is there anything
else 30 near to perfsctiona Compare 1t with
other religions. And then bring it to an-
other test. How do you think the world
could get along without It'll Suppose Icould
send you away Goddess, faithless, hopeless:
Have not deprived you of the best rule OF
conduct you ever knewi Have not deprived
you of the only consolation that makes the
| sorrows of this life supportablei What have
| I given youi If I would draw. pio"
ture of hell more graphic than pen
or pencil could produce, I would
try to describe a world With NO
| religion. It is system you cannot mend
and that you cannot do without. Now We
begin to see why this system has obtained
this universally of belief. You see you
cannot account for its perfection In any 9TH
or way than by divine authority. The prop
osition is that the almighty has taken this
way to introduce into the world the fabric of
religion and rule of conduct of mankind. The
facts show this. You are to consider the
source, the object the purpose. Another
ity is original to this order. In It's princi-
pies it had to encounter the
whole governmental, religious, legal
force Of Its time. The principles
of civil, religious, personal liberty that you
derive from the gospel, Joined against the
church then, which was the great source then
of arbitrary power. In England the princt-
pie SGT forth in Magma Charta prevailed after
many battles and bloodshed. Yet these
principles came upon the earth originally
with the gospel and brought about finally
the reformation. The right of conscience
and of individual liberty met at this point
1t was union OF the streams of Christianity
and common law. Was there ever such 8
confuxi Is II not q great confederation Of
Christianity that it's greatest principles
should there harmonic so naturally in tbs
course of events with the laws of the people,!
i Gould you ever frame system equal to it
Whatever 1t IL 1t must harmonize with the
fundamental rights of the people. How
could another system be so perfectly formed
Some time ago read an admirably writer
book by an Epglishman. Its object was to
disprovs Christianity. 1t dealt with funda
mental facts. It went to the bottom o.
things. Its author was q man of strong
mind. But when finished found 1t tht
strongest argument in favor of Christianity
minds. A weak mind will sputter abou
and If It don't help it's course i
mind, capable of e. graphing with truth, can
not but reflect the truth of everything.
You find that the true story stands or
these three pillars, all of them strong ones
tho belief it has attained, the extent tt
which It has been accepted, and the intrinsit
character and coincidence of the system with
the great principles of right and wrong ii
the world. These are the fundamental fac
tors of the system. This is the real grounc
upon which 1t stands. know with wha
distractions theology has encountered
Christianity. have heard everlasting quar-
rels and arguments which can never be set
tied In this world. Perhaps 1t viii
sometime enter into the minds of men tina
If Christianity is Of value as 1t enters intt
human conduct and not human conscience
We can never agree on some things. VIVA
shall We do, theni Let's fight as long as VI
live. And let us fight In the name o.
Christianity. More men are driven away by
dogmatic attachments that schools and mer
and organizations have hung on to this cleal
system of religion than by anything else
If were to offer you any advice at all,
would advise to beware Of this thing and Il
bring men together for better Christianity