New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-29
SIDE LIGHTS on CHRISTIANITY.

SIDE LIGHTS on CHRISII1NIIf
Under the title us Christianity Losing
Gr0und?" Professors Briggs. Felix Adler ana
DR.. Paul Car,Is contribute three articles to the
November Forum" which are Interesting ana
suggestive. The general conclusion or these
writers is that Christianity, so far rs II Is
identified with the dogmatic systems OF the
denominations is rapidly losing ground But
on the other hand. they unite in declaring mat
the fundamental principles of Christianity are
all the time finding Il larger ana truer express
sion in the world Of thought ana ACTON.
Professor Briggs addresses himself 10 the 'ask
| Of showing that the people are becoming AMEN
atcd from the Church. They no longer Deiie'e
In its ability to teach them the tru'n because
II has declared that the maintenance OF trau'
ton, and not the pursuit OF truth' II It's oii'
concern. They have lost confidence III IL iS III
vine institution. because ii is broken up INTO IL
multitude Of sccts. each one or winch cliiihS IA
elusive divine authority And as these cia'ihS
are mutually destructive of each Quiet Tie
pcoplc have concluded that all the denOllliha-
1ional machines are merely human makeshifts
that do not truly or perfectly express the nina
of Christ Lastly. the people no longer believe
not show the fruits of sanctiy. Where, asks
DR.. Briggs. do we find the great preachers
the great church buildings the great eXpchui-
turc Of Christian men and moncy-amohS TIE
toiling masses of the people or among the coih-
Portable and wcll-to-do? Such questions us
these honestly answered. determine how 1ar
the Church of our day is Christlik". ana 10 WIFI
extent she follows the Christ in selfdcnial and
self sacrit;cc" For these and other reasons
DR.. Briggs argues that the alienation from 'he
Church is already very great. and VIII continue
until the Church discards ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
and returns to the first principles of the LOS
pei of Christ
Professor Adler discusses the work OF ethical
societies in reaching those who. as DR.. Briggs
shows. refuse to accept UNCONVENTIONAL Chris
tianlty and yet desire to cultivate the ethical
impulse The gospel the societies preach Is cs
srntially this: That the good life Is possible
10 ALL without previous acceptance of any
creed Irrespective Of religious opinion or phiio
sophie theory; that the way of righteousness Is
opcn and can be entered directly. without
previous dctour through the land OF ialth or
philosophv" Instead Of religion being the
main proposition and morality the corollary the
ethical societies teach the exact contrary; ana
the phrase mere morality" used by so many
Christians. is to them blasphcmous. The ethical
societies cover the ground which the churches
cannot cover. They are missionary societies 81
the moral life.
DR. Paul CarllS who has gained recognl-
ton rs Il philosophical thinker of ability, dis
cllsscS the effect upon religion of the Para-
81 D.ii
In his opinion the Parliament sounded the
dcathkncll II traditonalism In Christianity
From its date" ne SAYS we shall have 10
BEGIN Il new era in the evolution OF man = re-
Iicious life The religion of the future
will be that rcli gion which can rid itself
Of AL narrowncss. ana OF the fhar1see-
ism which takes IL for granted that its own
dcyotccs alone are good and holy. while the
virtues of others are but polished vices. There
is but ono religion. the religion of truth. There
is but one picty il is the love OF truth Therc
is but one morality. it is the earnest desire of
lending "A life Of truth. And The religion of the
future can he only the Religion of Truth.
Approaching the question rs they do. from
such different points Of view. the testimony of
those representative men il valuable That IN
Increasing numb.r Of intelligent people. rs well
rs those not So intelligent. are falling away
from the Churches H. admitted by the Churches
themselves Is this alienation due to defects
I'm the Churches. as Professor Briggs main
I.tains? or is II merely a temporary swirl III
the tide. soon 10 lose itself in the great for
ward movement Of Christianity. as many Chris
tians assert? Those are the questions which
the Churches confront to- day. and which can
NOT be- brushed aside by general dcnuncation
Of nhdclity