The Hawaiian gazette., 1891-11-17
The Friend and It's Heretics.

DIR. Martineau an Eminent Christian
Divine?" This article challenges the
statement of DR.. Briggs in his inau-
gural address, that " the average
opinion of the Christian world would
not assign Spurgeon higher place in
the Kingdom of God than Martineau
or Newman as displeasing to Pres
byterians; and after brief concession
TO the personal character of these two
men, and a sweeping classification of
them both as deplorable errorists, in
Opposite directions, the writer adds,
Ito US evangelical believers, how
ever, it goes very much against the
grain to be told to count such errorists
as the equals in religious merit and
excellence to such mighty converter
= of men to Christ as Mr.. Spurgeon."
The conclusion is finally reached that
Dr. Martineau is not entitled to the
name of Christian at all, except in a
broad sense as having inherited from
Christianity his theistic and ethical
opinions. After all this, the writer
naturally feels called upon to defend
himself from the charge of bigotry.
The contention whether Sturgeon
is better than Martineau and New
man, or either of them, is one which
am not interested in entering into, as
il is a matter of no Importance what
ever, and, moreover, is a question
which could never be decided even If
O definite settlement of 1t became
matter of UNCONVENTIONAL necessity;
while 1t may be confidently asserted
that it would be regarded by the gen.
tiemen in question with cOntemptu-
Gus indifference. Probably Briggs
made the statement above quoted
merely to show the happy progress OF
Christian sentiment, and the equally
happy crumbling of the erewhile
odfum theologicum. / desire, now
ever, to deprecate in very positive
words the exhibition of the spirit
which is shown in this contention as
set forth in the Friend. 1t is perhaps
a reasonable concession to make to
the writer, that from his boastful
standpoint as Presbyterian or an
"evanglical believer" it is logical
necessity for him to be confident that
Sturgeon is better than Newman or
Martineau, and that the latter is not
a Christian; then so much the worse
from his standpoint. Did the thought
ever occur to him that possibly one OF
these two men is the true oelleVer,
and that he himself is the terrorist"
Or may his mind be incapable OF en-
tertaining such a proposition, reason
able as it is? Both to DIR. Hammond
and the Bishop of Olba, the writer OF
the article in question, is, In different
directions, probably fatal errorlst;
and yet they have a perfect, right 10
their opinions. So we find that IN
weighing men spiritually by their in
tellectual conclusions, we never can
get anywhere, and never will.
/ am confident that if this writer,
who feels so badly that possibly " the
average opinion of the Christian
world would not assign Sturgeon a
higher place in the kingdom of God
than Martineau or Newman" would
get onto higher ground and look at
things from somewhat the same
standpoint that Christ held when he
rebuked the dispute of the disciples as
20 who was the greatest, he would
begin to doubt whether his contention
is worthy the serious consideration OF
a Christian man, or is of any possible
consequence whatever.
AS regards the charge that DIR. Mar
tineau is not entitled to be called
Christian, / concede that the writer
has a right to his opinion on this sub
iect. but as it is based purely on the
ground of intellectual differences be-
tween the doctor and his own school,
/ think that it may be briefly an
sWered.
The statement of the article in
question, that Martineau denies the
truth of the Gospel narratives" must,
/ think, create false impression; for
though he may not accept the verbal
accuracy of the Gospels, his own
writings show a substantial reliance
upon them. OF course, if failure to
believe the trinitarian creed deprlves
one of the right to becalled Christian,
then DIR. Martineau is about where
the communication of the Friend
places him; but if loyalty to Christ as
the Great Head of the Church, the
infallible revealer of the Father, and
the Divine Guide to the spiritual life
entities one to be called Christian,
then he may be accorded the title IN
all its fulness, for such is his attitude
as his life and writings abundantly
show.
The following quotations are few
of many of the same nature in when
his books abound:
"Our Messiah, having the highest
sanctity, was enabled to speak with
the highest and most authoritative
knowledge, and was inspired to be
our infallible guide, not perhaps
in trivial questions of literary
Interpretation, or scientific Iact,
or historical expectation, but IN
all the deep and solemn rela-
tions on which our sanctltlcatlon
and immortal blessedness depend.
And both to his person and to his
teachings do the miracles of his life,
the tragedy of his crucifXion and the
glory of his resurrection, articulately
call the attention of all ages, as with
the voice of God. In every way we
discern in Christ the transcendant
revelation of the Most High" Give
Points of Christian Faith).
"Widely as their speculations may
diyerge. the great concern OF all is
with God the Infinite Father; with
Christ. the commissioned prophet,
the merciful redeemer, the inspired
teacher. the perfect model, the
heavenly guide.n peace in Dlvl-
sion). Ga
hath presented to US simply IN ms