New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-02-12
POPULAR OBSERVATIONS.
4 LAYMAN,s VIEW OF THE CASE.
NOT CRITICISM OF CREEDs, But TEACHING FOR
I'LL. LII. III ,-r.rnrn IL TILE CHURCHES

TIE HEART NEEDED IN THE CHURCHhs
To the Eaitor Of The Tribune
sir. In vonr comments on Professor BIlggs In Inc
Trbuue o. February you seem to regard MS ap-
pontment to the chair OF Biblical tlcolosS III INC
Union Theological seminary, as an lhd'ation VI IT,
urlous growth and you refer to the absence oi pro
CO... &C a further indication OF the general acceptance
Of the socallcd higher" criticism oil when professor
prlrrs Is a distinguished representative bishop
d o-oe other clergy have ndorsed the appointment,
Lut believe that the condition OF the larger part
- the congregations committed 70 their charge Is
that OF ndinercntlsm. 1t seems to me that III CIV
ing 50 much time to the discussion Of the higher,
and OF the lower or older criticism
As II religion intended
For nothing else but to be mended,
we are in danger Of losing the inward essence Of
,lc most imnortant OF all subjects. The constant
attacks upon veneracd systems Of Christian theology
many Of which are historically interesting, do moth
ng toward teaching men Their duty ana lhculcauhS
plety Professors in scmnHries are expected 10 dis
css scientific religion and philosophy but most people
who 20 10 church find the constant talk about lIeO
logical ouiddtes "fatiguing in the extreme lie
who should find out one rule for improving the temper
and making the heart better would deserve an in
dnitely greater reward Us Bishop Butler said, than
All the improvers Of other knowledge. True religion
* a discipline, a yoke, and Christians hnd th,ir
highest good in accepting and following the pfecePts
of Him who said, MY yoke is easy AID my burden
Light | attended last year the meetings Of tho
Ncw.York Presbytery for creed revision, and was
troubcd by the sharp and unklnd tone OF the dis
cn,,ions the outcome Of all which was pitiul. No
man who attended those meetings had his temper
iuproyed or hi, heart made better also attended,
YEAR ago meeting Of Congregationallsts.
where | heard polemical and argumentavo
PRAYERS osenslbly addressed to God, but obviously
intended TO acerate the feelings OF some people III the
house The valuable outcome oil the deliberations at
the latter convention rcairmaton OF the position
Which had been taken and insisted upon by the Mis-
souary Board "that the heather WHO never hear Of
Christ will be ctcrnaly damned for not accepting hi
This seems to me to belong to the secret things that
belong 10 the LOrd,o which not competent 10
affirm or deny but certainly its consideration i not
calculated to improve the temper or make The hcar
better. Neither the higher nor the older criticism
can boast It's liberality as displayed AT these Two
conventions The spirit OF the Master was not dom-
uant at either look forward with apprehension TO
the advent Of fresh supply Of creed revsefs Of The
Brirg, type, or Of any type with eccentric variations
each variety curling Tie lip OF scOrl-and alas with
many worIs-at all the others. Lei every man enjoy
n, own creed If he take any comfort IN H. womb
.ov Of the various crecds what the old Mahometan
said t. LayaId Of his books:
..Ol truth they contain many words ana there
no harm DONE for the speaker is one and the hclrer
tmuk they interesting. They were ioFmu
lated nm times OF unqucation.nS fhlh, 10y men " hp
i.,,-.l God mon. than they loved HIM. INcN
49,. ,..a,i,u- A. records Of aU-icrc times. when
Tho to.ur was les studied than The GA ,7iaH'At'
,r-iiaiv to IL il the uuNcLug ol the II-ho "i 'I-
N,rd the example OF the one Perfect Lie ID human
history. .....i.,. g., ,t,, ,,.,,.
dctIoy,li,,. Practically In religious mu.t'.-, no"
menu Giving away what dos not belong - You.
simply having Hbc.al ucnaiion~ j, not hciuS H'rIu'
II the higher criticism can d!-pcHo' win ~ H. I' Us
cN pnuudc!~ at least, tt.t WIih courtesy mos VIM
owe that God ds -lonru tu AID Who nave l"dAu
ttIt II f. 49,. hard to EuoW God If "" do not attempt
I'm dciinc Him 1t ha, been traly said that the COM
ruaud-Tcnr cod and obey lIIm-ha, made many mon
ulou-: while Tie proofs OF The existence 0i "Vd nave
made many men atheists =. .
Pr4t~~i.ut.,in at the present time protests more
cncrceticalN against doctrines held hy denominations
that sprang from the Reformation than against
C~tLolr.m: and It's drift j., AID NOR, pt.ilcu-
l,,lv with men. in the direction OF 40 religion. icy
H. STOP il can these attacks on systems, a-oCh
in rycrcn minds with the eternal truths oil thr bi. j..
when thoughtful and dcvoutly Inclined people 20 70
church nowadays. they want - hear preachers Who
have faith and pious fcrVOr. like Phillips Gruok>,
Or John Hail, OF this city Or. Bancroft ana Dr.
Meredith. OF HrOOdyn. Preachers Who want II cc.
liver parallels between the religion Of Christ ana
Iuddhf-in. desire to scurIfy Other Icop!es
crecd-. should hold special weekday meeting, for those
who want to listen to- them ON these subjects
II the students IN IN" Union Theological ~ seminary
could he instructed By The men above mentioned ana
"A few Others might be named, AT stated times, dhd
learn from them. by example. how % preach, tho
would be- iccr fitted for elective service lu tie pulpit
than by extended study of the " higher criticism
NcW-Norll, Feb. >, ISL. t. IL.