The record-union., 1894-06-16

and freedom of preaching IN
Presbyterian pulpits, but of freedom Oh
debate in the constitutional JudlcatorIes
of that church. DIR. Smiths case differs
radically from DIR. Briggs case in two
respects-First, in that ne is not accused
of holding that the reason ana tn9
church are sources OF authority as Wen
as the Bible; and. secondly. IN tnae ne Is
not accused because of any teaching ON
cially and in his ministry, but onlY OF oe-
lending, before the courts OF the chuTcI;
teaching the soundness or which was sun
under debate in the courts OF the churcn.
1t should be added that there is no sug-
gestion that his spirit has been proVoca-
tive or polemical, or other than kind'
courteous and Christian throughout.
This is the gravamen OF our condemna-
ton of the PRESBYTERIAN General Assem-
bly,. 1t not only practically endeavors
to decide what is truth by a majority
vote in q mass meeting, but 1t prohiolts
and Furnishes free debate exercised ia
the previous deliberative process. 1nls
is wholly un-American, for America de-
cides action by majorities when co-opera-
ton is necessary, but leaves opinion
wholly free. This is wholly un-Protest-
ant, for Protestanism teaches that every
man has a right 10 read and study tne
Bible for himself, and TO teach conclu-
sions respecting it without let or hind
rance from ecclesiastical courts, ancient
or modern"
mo person not member of the church,
or avowedly believer IN the dlVlne
origin of Christianity, should occupy
Professors chair in any college or uni
Nv hriGf
munion," remarks the Christian AdUo-
cate Meth of New York, "unless 1t be
in certain technical schools, and not then
if the Professor be what, for the want OF
better phrase, We Will call a adogmatlc
agnostic. 1t is contrary TO the fact that
all men of very high scientific emlnence
are ayowed agnoStIcs. mat tnose Oh
whom nothing is known as to their re-
ligious sentiments are not agnostlcs, no
one can prove. That some are not only
avowed agnostics, but positive opponents
of Christianity, the public is we'll aware.
But every year the number OF Sclentlnc
men who have the ability to distinguish
the spheres of science and religion IN
creases. A distinction should be made
between a man having sufhcient OF the
scientific spirit and mental furnishing to
expound and illustrate his speciality lar
beyond the requirements of university
course, and one who has attained emf
nence as an original discOverer. The num-
Der of the latter is small, while fof those
who confirm the discoveries OF this
smaller number, and point the way to the
enlargement of the domain OF science, so
that the student, according to his genius,
will be prepared Tor seIt-deVeIopment,
the number is large. A preposterous
spectacle it is indeed when denomina-
tion establishes a college or university TO
promote Christian education and nils Its
chairs with Professors who by their prl-
vate conversations, classroom lmpllca-
tions, and intellectual bent and spirit as
well as their known connection, are con-
tinually counteracting the Christian IN
huence of the institution"
"The mind must seek and claim its
liberty, in religion as elsewhere" says
the Christian RegjSter (Unit) OF Boston;
"for there comes time when the spirit
ual life is in danger Of perishlng without
it. One finds the name OF Christ In the
church 10 be synonymous with great
and holy sentiment, which is almost al
ways strong enough TO be power for
good. and is sometimes an overmaster-
ing force to save from sin and I'LL dark
life with beauty and peace. We cannot
find that the common mind has any very
clear idas connected with this sentiment.
! Theology still eXpounds its theories 1t IS
true, bat, if the Christian life were left
to feed on them alone, it could thrive no
better than lichens upon rock"
'There is this in the growth of agnos-
! ticism.u says the New York Freeman S
| Journal Or, ca, ''besides the pretense of
a good portion of it's discIples-that 1t is a
reaction from the apparent inconsistency
of a Protestant Christianity whose devo-
/ tees have a thousand and odd different
notions of God and of what is required of
men to do to be saved. 1t is wiping out
/ the sects, not as to number, for it is the
mission and logic of Professionalism to in
crease in differen tiation till every man is
a creed unto himself, but as to faith in
them. 1t is their lament that the sons no
longer go in the way of their fathers. By
and by but two great folds will include the
majority of mankind. The thinkers, who
firmly hold that an Interchangeable God of
reason, who has provided for the wants
/ of His creatures III everything else, has
not failed to reveal Himself, and pro-
yided a repository of His truths and Just
! ice on earth, will naturally rally around
! Christs Vicar, while those proud to the
/ perversiOn' of their mentalitles, with those
| too Indifferent or too callous to think at
all, will find themselves together In the
camp of negation and hopelessness. The
| time may not be so far of. There are
| those who think we are now entering
within its limits, and the signs portend-
/ ing its approach are the tendency towards
agnosticism on the one hand and an In
! clination towards the Bark of Peter Oh
the other by those of our separated breth-
rem with whom the tradition and grace oi
q Catholic past are Yeritable but unrec-
ognized heritage"