New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-06
TRUTHS WORTH TREASURING
DIR. JAMES STALKER BRINGS A MESSAGE
FROM THE OLD WORLD.
THE SCOTTISH CLERGYMAN TELLS WHAT is BE-
ING DONE ABROAD AND INCIDENTALLY
REFERS TO LINES OF THOUGHT IN
THE CHURCH AT HOME.

| Tho Rev DIR. James Stalker OF Glasgow who mas
inst arrived in this country came here to denver inc
LYMAN Beecher lectures before the Yale Students anu
has promised TO lecture also in Methodist coeSe 10
fore his return. The Presbyterian Union last honoa'
evening gave DR.. Stalker reception, and ne III urn
gave It's members interesting review Of the renso.
thought abroad especially in England and scotiand'
| and as no was educated in Germany. his remarks on
the criticism Of the Scripture by its friends were espe
| ciay noteworthy When Professor Vincent was Gale"
from the Church OF the Covenant TO the prOieSsofsnP
| In the Union Seminary which he now hooS' Dr'
Stalker invited TO succeed him. but he couia no1 eo
his way clear to do then. since his arrival l@S'
week his name has been mentioned in connection witi
another vacant pulpit IN this coutry.
Dr. Stalker was born at Grief, Pertlshre, SCOTLAND
on February 81 1s45, and was graduated az boIlosh
| University and New College. He was for many years
minister of ST. Brycedales Free Church. kirkcaoy' ana
is now one OF the leading clergymen OF GLASGOW hl'
Life of Jesus and his Life Of ST. Paul are widely
| known on two continents. In speaking before the
| Presbyterian Union DR. stalker said tlat TIC was
pretty strong Presbyterian, aud at the ran iresOy
terrain Council In Belfast few years ago ne had
learned 10 appreciate the canbre Of the ministers ana
elders of the Presbyterian Church in America Taxing
up the religious life Of the British Isles, he said that
tho phenomenon which had recently most arrested az
tentiOn the publication of General Booths BOOK
| " In Darkest England one Of the results Of the
widespread publicity given TO the Salvation Army, ne
| thinks, Will De the TtCOBHHl9u Ot Ol4o o."
one OF the permanent institutions OF the country al
most one might say, a new branch Of the Christian
Church, Another will be the recognition OF the fsct
| that the power Of lntemperanre must be broken
! NEW MESSAGE, BUT NO NEW GOSPEL.
Passing 10 the criticisms against the plan proposed
for reaching the submerged TENTH" Dr. Stalker said
The bitterest opponent General Booths scheme has
been Professor Huxley furfously against
| it in the newspapers and published mis- letters as
pamphlet. l should say that Professor Huxeys opposl
ton has distinctly helped General Booth, people appar
entity concluding that they were safe In blessing nytnng
which he But the attitude OF the public toward
Professor Huxley is the significant sign OF the
| times 1t has regarded this outbreak with KIND OF
amused pity like that with which Bunyan treats dsh1
Pope cursing impotent the pilgrims whom he was
no longer The truth is that Professor Huxley
and his Ike formidable twenty years ago.
have lost hold opinion scepticsm has greatly
died down there is singular readiness to listen
to the message Christianity when it is put in the right
way
The causes Of Discrimination Of the pubic mind
from sceptcism and inclination Christianity 1t might
be difficult trace Partly should attribute 1t 70 a
ground.swe Of social enthusiasm, which Is rising and
is Christianity In both Edinburgh and Glasgow
there recently arisen what are called university
settlement Students, lease house in the lowest
there together for the purpose OF
lifting neghbors by their presence and Efforts There
are similar in the East End OF London manned
from oxford Cambridge; and even the boys Of Eton
School support mission Of their among the poor Of
| Plymouth
| Another cause which to me to be working in
many minds is the growing study OF the history OF
gions. In spite OF some effects which might be DAN
eerous TO Christianity, this knowledge producing the
conviction religion is the greatest fact OF human
ufe and religion which can satisfy mans re-
gous yearnings is the most precious possession Oh
| humanity.
Il l. the preaching which approaches the mind along
such lines which is telling at present. have no doubt
that going back to the old country now aIef "a
absence OF twenty years, would perceive considerable
change in the message delivered from the pupts IL Is
less technical and dogmat and speaks more In the Ian
guage Of common life 1t Is more human ascending rom
the needs OF up the OF God rather tnsn DC
scendng from the sovereignty OF God down DO the saliva
ton Of man 1t seeks find out in human nature the
points Of contact the divine message 1t Is less uan
it was before a Gospel TO die by, and more than IL was
before Gospel by. Salvation Is not SO much an
assurance against future calamity but 1t ds that winch
makes man complete and makes life large, ABUNDANT
and worth living. Christ men, not Tor tner own
slkes but make them His feow-werkers IN resen-
Grating The world The danger Of unsaved men is not
distant contingency it is them now for what can DC
more awful than TO miss the task OF met
These may sound like points OF what is known among
you as the New Theology. am happy 70 say tha' TINS
is term which, Scotland at least, we hear very hte
Of and the because those who are preaching the
newer views with the happest effect do not put them IN
opposition TO the older views. IL seems % me, Mr.
Chairman that turn these views into New Theology
II by this 1t is meant " contradict the od y 10 MAKE
know tho meaning of any Gospel which would imply
that the Reformers the Purans and the leaders OF the
Evangelical Revival did not know and preach the Gospa
Of the grace Of God .,
Yet there is message. No generation adequately
sets forth the truth Of Cod which is always far greater
than our thoughts and nothing is more wonderful hah
the way in which the providence Of God brngs new SIDES
of the truth into prominence and gives dineEht PORTIONS
of Scripture their opportunity. We were In DANGER OF
dwelling not too much exclusively on the New
Testament and attention is turned to the ga we
were dwelling exclusively the Epistes Of 81, raul
and now the Gospels coming the 'front.' The Chuh
OF God is o nomadlc tribe encamped at the ioo1 Oh
great mountain the pasture al place Is nooed
bare 1t moves round spot which is fresh ana "hen
this In is exhausted it moves on to thiru pace
and fourth and NTH the generation may not see
the same aspect Of the mountain the DID, yet IL IS al
ways the same mountain and the wells Of salvation spring
from the eternal rock.
HIGHER CRITICISM AND ITS PER1LS.
No Of what going the other side would
be approximately leke which did not reier 70 ue
subject Of criticism. The leading German ueoiogcai
periodical recently reflected the paucy OF works on
history issuing from the British press. Ana there
conspicuous lack also of pure theological speculation
the current Of scholarship flows deep ana strong a'
present in the direction Of criticism Inc uue seems
10 have when our churches must lace the TASK
with which the churches OF the Continent nave oeeh
occupied for nearly century, Of thoroughly rehNeSugaVs
age and authorship the books Of Scripture anu re-
tracing the OF Scripture history There can De no
that the traditional and popular views oil tneSe SUD-
jects are very much in need Of revision.
once reard Principal Rainy tell an Interesting unug
in this connection When the New Testament chair IN
the New College was vacant thirty years ago. fihci
a came 20 him and pressed him to stanu TOT
It, He said. You know how these questions aoou' tie
books of the Bible have been occupying attention on the
Continent; sooner or later we shall have to dea Win
them too. and l wish you TO devote your lie 10 mem
and to tell us how far modify the opinions we
have been accustomed hold This has always seemed
to me case OF wonderful foresight characteristic Of
that great and have often wondered whether We
should not have been gamers Dr. Rainy, even az The
sacrifice OF the ecclesiastical work he has done for u.s.
had devoted the strongest and wlsest mind we have In
Scotland at present this great problem
Our last General Assembly virtually conceded that
Of |