The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-25
USE REASON WITH RELIGION.
THE NEW THEOLOGY INCULCATEs
BROADER VIEWS.

Rev. Charles II. strong Objects 10 the
Term and says IL would BETTER BE
called the Renaissance of Reli-
gfon. rs Its Teachings Are a old
a. the ApostIeS-He COmmends a
Use of All the Reasoning Faculties
in Connection With Objects of Re-
Iirfon and Faith-St. Johns Good
Music Attracting Much Attention.
sunday was a day of more than usual
interest at St. Johns church yesterday
The morning service was The pre-advent
service, and in the evening Rev c. II.
Strong. preached on the subject, The New
Theology
The morning service was preparatory,
next SUNDAY being Advent. The text was
from Matthew XIV. Z: Behold the
bridegroom cometh; go ye out 10 meet
him" Rev. Mr.. Strong entered upon
discussion of the spirit in which people
are preparing themselves for the dispen-
sations of God, or rather, asked the ques-
ton as to how it was being done, and
whether with the proper faith and the
proper belief.
The text Of the evening sermon was
from III Corinthians, ~, 2. but ~ man
ffestatious of the truth commencing our
selves TO every mans conscience III the
sight of God"
Rev. Mr.. Strong said he had expected
in his series Of sermons to consider the
new theology. Eie had received several
letters. he stated, asking nun 10 denne
more clearly several expressions on me
subject on which be preached a week
Zone naturally objects to the term new
theology he said. but ] use 1t Tor con-
Venieuce and not with any sense of OPP
probriousness toward that 10 which II re-
lates. In fact, IL might be better referred
- rfa.saa raa of rHa
thoughts of men on this line. far from
being new, are very old. They were in
eN stence at the time of our Lord and
Rev. Mr.. Strong explained that the new
theology was not a term designed to sepa-
rate one class Of men from another lie
the old simply because it was
Old, or with the new sim
ply because it was new. With broader in
tellectual manners and customs ana
more sympathy between men, they have
dropped the Interpretation of the middle
ages and gone back 10 that OF 81 Paul as
given in the text.
lie said he had no use for the man Of
negatiOn There is no reason nor argu-
ment in the declaration that it is not 50.
There is no positive proof in the denial OF
anything proof comes from those who
believe had rather believe that the word
was created in six days mat the sun stood
stil for Joshua, that Jonah remained FOR
three days in the whale, while know they
are poetiCal interpretations of facts, than
60 through life believing nothing. What
We cau the new theology finds the reason
for its existence in the religious thought
OF to-day. II justifes itself by the fact that
a. cOmmends itself TO multitude OF men
driven away from churches by unaccepta-
bic doctrines"
It's characteristic. he said. was that il
made "A broader use of human reason. This
did not mean simple formal logic, he
said, but by reason was implied the entire
nature God has given man. BY this he
meant the judgment the reasoning facul-
". the emotional faculties. and best of
all the intuitions given TO man. ] like the
nature" he said, that rises up and says
OF something, That thing IS 50 and know
it,
He spoke of the fact that in this scien-
tifc age the old theology presents doc
trines to the minds of men in a way TO
antagonize them: He said a mans ac-
ceptance of a religious belief should not
exclude the use of his reason on the dog
mas and doctrines of that belief
"A man must use his reason, he said,
land must accept things he DON IKE
sometimes, but he will never accept any
thing that his reason rejects"
The new theology he said, presents
the more natural and reasonable way Of
dealing with the word of God. 1t encOur-
ages the belief that it is an inspired book,
but says human elements have made
their way into the records. 1t encourages
the study of the word of God through the
original language in which it was writ
ten, and through the restoration of the old
records, with a regard always for the hui
man elemants that have appeared. The
history Is to be treated as history, the ale
CORY as allegory, the parable as parable
and the unfolding of Gods truth is to be
read as the revelation of God"
The new theology encourages a broader
sympathy with humanity. A few years
ago man was regarded as an object of
divine government II was that theology.
he said that drove Hume and many 9TH
ers to infdelity. He spoke of how the
Scottish race set their minds to change
il, and now there is not one truth in the
creed that does not yield TO mans inner
most life He spoke of the great ecOnom-
&c question involving capital and labor.
uo1r
not be found anywhere else but in the
sayings Of Christ. The new theology, he
said, was not here TO disturb the peace.
but to bring truth TO the mind of man
through reason, and no one should hest
tate to use his reason in connection with
objects Of religion and faith.
The music at St. Johns is attracting
much attention The work of the choir
boys and choristers seems to improve
with each service. and many people are
drawn 70 the church to hear them. The
new sedilia or seats used by the choir
boys were put in the church the latter
part Of the week and We're used yester-
day for the first time. They We're made
by Messrs. A. s. Bacon & Sons of this
city. They are of old oak and stained so
TO be almost identical in color with The
oak of the new organ. There are four OF
these seats, two on each side of the chan
Gel, each with a capacity of eight or ten,
and each has desk before it for the use
of the occupants. They form a most at
tractive addition TO the church.
Another recent feature is the placing
of two candelabra near the altar one on
each side as a memorial to Rev Samuel
Benedict ID. d. This memorial was made
by the ladies of the rectory society. The
inscription upon each of them is as Col
lows:
To the Glory of God
and
In Loving Memory of
The Rev Samuel Benedict D. d.
Rector of St. Johns Church.
1861 Savannah, Ca 1877.
The candelabra form handsome addf
ton to the decorations of the interior o.
the church.