New-York tribune., 1891-02-15
THE FOLLY or RELIGIOUS CONTROVEE

Many religious leaders who use the phrase
"stream of tendency with such JUNCTION prac-
ticalIv attach little importance to it. What
is meant by the phrase. of course, Is, that the
movement OF the age is to-day changing the
condition and destiny Of Che human race ire
spective of the individual efforts OF individual
men. Our conceptions of life, here and here
after. our ways of thinking, our attitude TO-
ward the problems that confront MS, our re-
lgiorS. social and intellectual beliefs, are all
profoundly colored and modified by this mighty
and resistess stream of tendency thai is bear
ing us onward, we hope, but at any rate away
from our old ideals, and even our old selves.
And while this stream OF tendency manlfeStS
itself perhaps more strongly in the sphere OF
religion than in any other department. OF
human life both conservatives and radicals
act As though there were no such thing. 1t
is true there are many general references to it,
but the old theological warfare goes on just the
same The champions of orthodoxy and OF the
new thought issue their woldy challenges to
each other, and proceed to don their rusty
armor as though they actually believed that the
issue of the conflict depended on them alone
They remind one of the Middle Age toulna-
mcnts. in which the fate of two nations was
made TO turn on the result Of duel between
two individual knights.
But the squaLbles OF the theOlogianS no long
er decide anything. People are weary of their
hair. splitting distinctions. The world to-day
is no longer ruled by the thinking of few
self-constitutcd leaders either ia secular or Ie-
Iigious mltters MyriadS of plain and un-
known men and women are doing their own
thinking on all the great questions Of human
life and destiny. and the result of il all is that
silent and irresistible movement vibrant with
restless thought and aspiration. by means Of
which the whole character of the world is being
changed. and in presence of which the iangling
voices OF religious diSputantS sound like penny
whistles
Now. in view of all this, why would it not be
wise thing for the religious controycr>ialiSts
to 90 into some other business? The defend
erS of the faith and the men who attack it can
reallv do nothing to affect the result. They
arn merely chips floating on the great stream
of tendency They may occasionally come into
collision. or for time may circle around IN
some eddy. but ultimately the great stream
will carry them to lis destination in spite Of
all they may say or do.
And If. H. Christians are taught, an all-WlSe
and good God is ruling the dc>tincS Of the
world. i> il not the duty Of Christians to be-
lieyc that this movement of human life is
really . progress 10 something better? If God
is guiding the stream oi tendency, surely ii i'll
become, blind and crling creatures Of day to
fear or dread the outcome. In the long run
truth can never Jcri>h. and goodness will take
| c,re of itself Thi, is m age of doubt unrest
and eager aspiration if not inspiration. Old
things are passing away, and all things are
becoming new But with all the changes Of
scene, one dominant Characteristic Of man re-
mains the same Under all conditions and all
circumstances he desires. Llindly it may be. hu'
at any rate eagerly and intensely. to press for
ward to some good be- knows not Of. Ii Is a
divine instinct implanted within him. and un-
/ les, God has mockcd and deceived His creatures
! il j. both safe and wise 10 trust il.