New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-18
CHrRCUES AND CHRISTIANITY.
A CORRESPONDENT WHO CONSIDERS THESE NO.
--... -. g. l.-..-.-r-..u-r III Y -rrnuc

A CORRESPONDENT WHO CONSIDERS THESE NOT
EXACTLY CONVERTIBLE TERMS.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune
Sir: Your editorial " Professor Briggs and Ortho-
doxy is so suggestive Of the rushing pace OF the
Church into the regions Of thought that one feels
Obliged to stop and ask "Whiherl" Your statements
as to the spread Of the new ideas contain moro than
. large percentage Of truth
While this "frightcns many and leads them TO be
eve that Christianity IS in danger" there are Others
who regard those entitled to speak for the churches
as not entitled to speak for Christianity; and tho
Church of to-day as very different Institution from
that established by Christ. Now practically speaking,
what good has come to the Church from its extensive
adoption of the new methods and conclusions! In
the last twenty years" the Increasing lament has
been want of life and growth While making large
additions to their stock of ideas, the great Prot
esant bodies have made but few 10 their membership.
in fact scarcely holding their own and, moreover, If
pruned of denqucnts the corrected rolls would show
a falling Off All this, too, in the face OF a rapidly
increasing surrounding population 30 much Tor inc
effect Of these novelties upon tho life and growth OF
the Church But how is il with the world at large :
The assertion passes without challenge that is better
than ever before in its history and constantly i'm
proving; and that TO the Church belongs the Hons
share of the credit Willing to accord 10 the Church
all of the credit for the present moral condition OF
the world, let inquire what that condition Is:
From 1910 1850 there in the United states one
criminal 10 each 3,4i2 inhabitants; the next decade
one in 1.G47; the next, one In 1920 the next one
In -37: and the last estimated one In between 900
and 600. II will not do 10 attribute TINS backward
movement foreign immigration for the same
tendency exists In Darkest r. gland.
A generation two ago it was difficult to tnd, In
penal institutions, a convict who in early youth was
a regular attendant upon SUNDAY school now 1t Is
lust the reverse. What them Has the Go>pel lost lis
power! The new Gospel never had any, but the Ola,
like its Divine Author, is the Yesterday ana to-
day and II found the world wrong sldc up,
and speedily turned il upside down."
Dispense, I'm preaching t. the lost. with the now
Gcrided statements concerning human quit, future
NUM- shmeut, the necessity of repentance ard recon
rIiation TO an offended God. and there Will be no
hitting up But, If to day would, like Paul, shun
not 10 declare, in love, the whole counsel OF God,
Pauls success would be theirs. Tho New Testament.
taken IT, plain still furnishes motives that can
and win again move the world. ltut
samson sOrn, bOnnd, deprived OF his eyes ana making
sport for his enemies Is the fitting type OF The form 81
Christianity being evolved from the theological
Summaries Placing their hands against The supports
of the Church which shelters them, these destructive
critics will ere long make Of il total wreck. involving
themselves and their work in the catastrophe.
Christianity and the Eibc will remain 10 Illustrate the
doctrine OF the survival Of the fittc~t.
WILLIAM Il. PHILLIPS.
Baltimore, Feb. 0, 1901.