The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-05-23

Professor Joseph LIE Conte, writing in
the MonGSt on 1.-THE Factors of Evolu-
tion," says: 1.-THE way of revolution toward
the highest, 4. e., from Protozoa to man
and from lowest man to the ideal man, is
very narrow way, and few there be that
find it. In the case CT organic evolution,
it is so narrow that one gets off the track
and it is impossible to get on again. No
living form of animal is now on the way
to form man or can by any possibility de-
of the way. They are all off the
trunk line. The golden opportunity is
past. The tree of evolution is an
eXcurrent stem continuous to the
terminal shoot-man. Once leave the
main stem as branch, it is easy to con-
tinue growing in the direction chosen,
but impossible to get back again on the
straight upward way to the highest in
human evolution, whether individual or
racial; the same law holds, but with
difference. If an individual or race gets
off from the straight and narrow way to-
wards the highest, the divine ideal, it is
hard to get back on the track; hard but
not impossible. Mans own effort is the
chief factor in his own evolution. By
virtue of his self-activity, and through
the use of reason, man alone is able to
rectify an error of direction and return
again to the deserted way.
1--WE have said that the new factor in
troduced with man is a voluntary CO.
operation in the process Of evolution, a
conscious upward striving towards a
higher condition, a pressing forward to-
ward an ideal. Man, contrary to all else
in nature, is transformed, not in shape by
external environment, but in character
by his own ideals. Now this capacity of
forming ideals, and the voluntary pursuit
of Suchid6alS, whence comes it? When
analysed and reduced to its simplest
terms, it is naught else than the consci-
BUSINESS III man of his relations to the in
finite, and the attempt to realize the di
vine ideal in human character"
The Christian inquirer (Bapt.), writing
on the retirement OF DIR. Bridgman from
the Madison-avenue Church, quotes DIR.
Macarthur as saying: IT have never
heard hint as to any desire on the part
of other Baptist ministers to subject him
to severe criticism on any Of his views.
There is room in the Baptist denomina-
ton for men who differ on non-essentials,
SO long as they are loyal to the funda-
hmental principles Of the Gospel"
The Inquirer adds: This view, we
know, is entertained by other eminent
ministers whose orthodoxy has never
been questioned. DR.. Bridgman himself
says: i believe in future punishment
Just as firmly as any man. 1t is only q
sguestion Of duration and of the end of
=the punishment, and / am not here to
spreach punishment. ] am to preach sal
svation from sin through Jesus Christ
I'm several respects DR.. Bridgman's
theology has beencruelly misrepresented.
5He has been charged with Unitarianism
n but there is not a minister in the land
who is further from being q Unitarian.
Whatever his future course may be, we
are sure that all who have known him in
this city and throughout his ministry of
more than thirty years, will gladly bear
Testimony that more conscientious
chivalrous, ands large-hearted man can
not be found in any denomination than
Charles Dewitt Bridgnan."
The Rev. Prof. w. G. 7. Shedd reviews
at length in the Observer DR.. Briggs in
augural address. At the outset he says
1.-The author is undoubtedly sincere in
his belief that the system which he has
set forth is in harmony with the Re-
formed or Calvinistic theology. We be-
lieve that he is sincerely in error; that
this system of biblical theology is utterly
antagonistic to the Westminster con-
fession; and that, if adopted and Endorsed
by the Presbyterian Church, the system
atic theology which has hitherto been
taught in all its theological seminaries
must be renounced. Two such contra
dictory systems cannot be taught in one
and the same church."
DR.. Shedd concludes as follows: at
has been a painful duty to examine this
system of theology. With its author we
have been associated for more than a de-
cade of years in conducting theological
instruction. For his intellectual and
moral traits we have nothing but respect;
for his versatility and energy nothing
but admiration. But the judgment to
which we have come is wholly dispas-
sionate. 1t has nothing personal in it. It
is a purely intellectual Judgment: as
much so as any mathematical Judgment
We are as certain that the author of this
Biblical theology is in error, and is
teaching error, as we are of anything.
This theology and that Of the Standards
are as contradictory as the Ptolemaic and
Copernican ASTRONOMERS. There is no
middle position possible respecting such
views. They must either be approved
and adopted by the Presbyterian Church,
or they must be condemned and re-
jected."
The Standard baptist, Chicago,) says
Back of what concerns DIR. Briggs per-
sonally, there is point of inquiry which
others besides Presbyterians must meet
sooner or later-this. namely, what atti-
tude TO assume towards those candid and
earnest men, among scholars and teach
ers, who, without accepting the extreme
become so far influenced in their convic-
tons as to feel that notifications must
be allowed in the doctrine of plenary
inspiration as so long held. They believe
in the inspiration OF the Bible; what they
ask is, whether the customary form of
that doctrine can still be maintained after
all that has been developed in recent re-
search as TO the literary form of the Bible
itself. Assuming that it may be an open
question how far the results OF criticism
dealing with Scripture simply as litera-
ture, are to be trusted, to what extent
may it be treated as an open question?
Doubtless this matter is a serious one.
Critical inquiries affecting even the liter
ature of the Bible must not be handled as
If the Bible were literature only. At
the same time, pending issues of this ma
ture cannot be Ignored. 1t might be help
full in an important way, if the Presby-
terrain General Assembly, justly regarded
as one of the most influential religious
bodies in this or any other country, would
fairly consider and decide whether there
may not be, in the present stage of the
matter, at least some more excellent way
than wholesale condemnation in regard to
issues whose real import may even yet
be more or less in doubt"
Concerning DR.. Briggs and similar
cases, the ChT.istian Union SAYS: ut is
safe TO say that in all these discussions
not one-half the people who are writing
or talking about them have any clear
knowledge of the subject matter. In the
Andover debate it has been humiliating
to notice the Ignorance of many men who
have spoken on the subject. They have
never taken the trouble to inform them
selves precisely as to what the Andover
professors have believed with regard to
the question of probation. Professor
Briggs has already been widely misrep-
resented. For his sake, and for the sake
of all those who are TO take part in this
discussion, we warn our readers in no
case TO make up their opinion until they
know that they fully understand the