New-York tribune., 1895-10-28
THE RELIGION OF CHRIST TO-DAY.
THE REV. DIR. II. A. sTIMsON ARGUES THAT
SCIENTIFIC CONTROVERSY HAS ONLY o9
STRENGTHENED ITS POSITION

THE REV. DIR. H. A. sTTMsoN ARGUES THAT
SCIENTIFIC CONTROVERSY HAS ONLY o2
STRENGTHENED ITS POSITION.
Tho Rev. Dr. Henry A. stimson, pastor OF the
Broadway Tabernacle, spoke yesterday morning on
THE Religion Of Christ After Twenty-Five Years OF
Scientific Controversy" His text was: BE not
carried away by divers and strange teachings. for
1t is good to have heart established by grace
Hebrews xiii, 9.
He began by referring to the recent death OF
Professors Huxley and Tyndall in England, Helm
holtz in Germany Pasteur in France and Dana in
America marking the close OF period Of scien-
tifc progress and controversy the Importance OF
which 1t would be difficult TO overestimate, and
asked. What has been gained in the way Of a new
foundation for theology and so for the Christian
faithT
First OF all. he said the past quarter century
shows that Christianity has gained a frmer his
tor:cal basis From the beginning 1t has rested
upon the testimony Of men as to what they knew.
but that testimony was limited 10 Few simple
facts. The rest or their knowledge was what they
had gathered from traditions ana wnat had been
passed on to them with the sum OF the ignorance
OF the world in which they lived. These testimonies
Mere ntbgs guG bsys anu
every statement OF fact and the re-examination Of
higher criticisms OF the explorations which have
been recently completed In Egypt and Assyra. and
Minor. quoting significant statement from the
late Professor Romanes in which he confessed that
dered obsolete and forever impossible
In the second place. he said Christianity has
gained a reafirmaton Of the supernatural. Twen-
ty-fve years ago the materlasts claimed the
whole field. and were apparently fast advancing 10
the possession OF IT, To-day the advanced
writers are starting with the assumption OF the
supernatural not to be questioned and lying at
the basis of mans more serious thinking and ef-
supernatural character. the Holy Spirit q
personal presence OF the indweng God Is
strongly held by the Church. and the Bible is more
clearly book supernatural In its origin. SUPER
natural in its final purpose and supernatural in its
power TO create divine life
In the third place. he said. Christianity has made
great gain In that II has come 10 Its theology
by the Individual experience. While theological
systems to-day are rarely met. theology enters into
all literature, novels well all histories The
very titles OF the books OF to-day suggestive.
Witness Professor Stearnss Evidences OF Christian
Experiences" President Hydes Outlines OF Social
Theology and Principal Farbairns Christ in
Modern Life" while scientific men like Drummond
and statesmen like Balfour turn aside TO writs
Natural Law IN the Spiritual World and the
Foundations Of Belief"
In tho fourth place, the Christian Church has
come to position where 1t requires that It's the
ology supply new impulses OF social life Theories
OF social economics are tested by the teachings Of
Jesus Christ Labor unions and schools OF ph.los-
ophy alike discussing the relations OF Chris
t.anity to their own practical need.
Christianity occupies freer and broader field
than ever. Christ was never dominant In the
world to-day. and never so firm founda-
ton for our individual faith I'm Him.