New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-06-02
MODERN CHRISTIAN DOGMA7JSM

7, Is not likely that Professor Drummond Is
Worrying much over the rumor that suhury
Presbyterians In Scotland want to have MIN
tried for hcrcsy While he is 10y DO means pro-
found or original thinker. his writings have done
much 10 arrest the tendency on the part OF THINK
Ing men 10 break with dogmatic Christianity.
And for dogmatic Christianity 10 repudiate him
NOW on the ground that he believes in evolution
and embassies tho love Of God. would strike
most people as being neither wise nor just. In
fact il would be proceeding so foolish that II
Is hard to believe that any branch of the Pres
bvtoran Church. especially in Scotland. al pres
ont the home of liberal PrcsbyterianiSm would
countenancc H.
Nevertheless. there may be found in all the
Churches to-day the same spirit that finds ex-
nrcssion I'm the case OF Professor Drummond.
II tends to an excessive dogmatism. which, rs
the late Dean Church said. defeats It's own OBJ
iect by producing a reaction in the other direc-
ton. In the Middle Ages 1t was perhaps feasible
for the Church to multiply dogmas. although the
Reformation is proof that even then 1t could not
be done with IMMUNITY. For the Reformation
was the child of the ages Of faith 1t never
would lave occurred il the Church had not been
so rio,ously prodigal In forging dogmas How
II
who are what they are because of that revolt
against too much dogma. are so often anxious TO
20 into the business of forging dogmas them
selves
An essay. entitled THE Story Of the Tnnumer-
able Company" by President David Starr Jor-
dan. of the Stanford University emphasizes in
striking way the harm to Christianity that re-
suits from minute and excessive dogmatsm.
| Briefly. tho story Is about great multitude of
| pcoplc travelling through forests. over noun
tains and across deserts until they finally reach
river which all must pass over, but from whose
further shore. hidden in the shadows. none have
ever come back Numerous travellers had erect
ed guideposts along the devious way But still
| there was no clear certainty about the journey
until at last One made 1t himself and left Chart
that would point out the way To others This
| way was not the shortest way, nor was II the
| easiest The ways that are short and easy lead
| mot over the mountain. But His was the most
"rcpaying way. 1t led by the noblest trees, the
"fairest outooks. the sweetest springs, the green
| "est pastures and the shadow OF great rocks in
| "thc desert. And the Chart OF His way which lie
| left was very simple and plain-casy to under
stand Even a child might use it, And, indeed.
there were many children who did So
| But I'm course Of time different interpreters OF
| the Chart arose. who overlad 1t with number
Of directions and explanations which were so
| confusing and misleading and contradictory that
| the travellers knew not what to do. Instead OF
| there being path, OF which 1t might be said,
"The wayfaring men. though fools, shall not err
| therein" each Interpreter had Il different path.
and each claimed that his path alone led to the
river At last. therefore. multiudes declared
that the Chart was meaningless. and proceeded
to make the journey entirely without Its assist
ance.
The lesson OF the parable story Is obvious, and
| Is enforcing itself In every Church to-day. SO
many modern Christians seem to think that they
can overcome the Anti Christian drift of the day
by making Christianity as unpalatable as possible
to those who have not yet accepted It. Dean
Church. to whom we have already referred. was
| certainly rigid enough Churchman But he
condemned In unstlnted terms the tendency In