New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-04-22
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL.
DIR. ABBOTTS SERMONS ON "EVOLUTION."
RARE SERVICE TO MODERN CIVILIZATION REM
ny PASTOR.

RARE SERVICE TO MODERN CIVILIZATION REM
DERED by THE PLYMOUTH PASTOR
| To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: During the last two months DR.. Lyman Abb
bolt has been preaching a series OF evening sermons
| In Plymouth Church, Brooklyn, which deserve much
wider attention than they have thus far received
| For twenty thirty years now the revelations OF
science and OF biblical criticism have been making
steady inroads into popular faith In the teachings Of
| the Church. To be sure. the scientists and the
| critics have been roundy abused from the pulpit
that their writings have been let severely alone by
n large proportion Of the laty Nevertheless thou
sands of intelligent persons many OF whom had a
good Christian training in their childhood have read
Darwin, Tyndall. Huxley Strauss and Renan with
cut discovering anything very perncious or ncred-
ble Or. perhaps. a smattering OF knowledge was
obtained second hand. from magazine and news
paper articles and conversation with persons who
had gone to the original sources. In consequence
there has been steady growth of belief in the
notion that the solid earth. know II. was
evolved from nebuious matter; that the highest
forms of terrestrial life were developed from the
lowest and that the same great process OF gradual
unfolding has operated In literature. ethics and all
other human arts and conceptions. Faith I'm evou-
ton has spread in the face Of all antagonsm. and
while Ii is yet very far from being universal, It's
further advance is as Irresistible as the coming OF
summer or the sweep OF the stars through space.
Acceptance OF this doctrine. however. required. or
seemed 10 require. a considerable readjustment Of
ones theological notions This has proven hard
task for many evoluuonsts especially II they con-
founded theology with religion. Those whom
they first turned for aid the clergy. generally
proved unable to help them. Individual tempera-
ment and personal experience. well external
circumstances. operated TO produce different results
In different cases. But there at least general
tendency perceive less distinctly than before the
existence OF a personal Deity In the universe. TO
cherish less respect for the Scriptures to expect
continuation Of life beyond the jess confidently
10 feel less of moral responsibility and to entertain
lower estimate OF the character OF Jesus Christ II
not TO become altogether blind TO the utility OF the
Nazarene teacher IN the economy Of Nature The
happiest hopes and noblcst aims TO extent
undermined. The most sacred part Of life was
threatened. II not destroyed Even where there
were no moral lapses much OF the sweetness and
Inspiration OF existence was gone. In some cases.
the ministers Of the Gospel were berated FOR their
ignorance or supposed hypocrisy the whole profess
sion being denounced for the real or Imaginary
shortcomings OF a Few. How much justice there
was In these mpuiaiions do not undertake to say.
There l. another side the story Much can be said
In excuse OF clerical conservatism. Nevertheless.
there has been for a quarter ~ century. and Is
to-day. crying need OF teachets who could recon-
Gle the apparently conflicting Interests, and give
evoluiionsis new hope and moral purpose That
ana magnificent service.
Let us see what he has attempted TO do in the
aimed 10 show that one may hold that the universe
has come 10 Its present condition by processes OF
growth ana that these processes san going on,
ana yet believe In "A personal God. Then. he has
chdedvor"d u show that one may regard the Bible
as an Imperfect and progressive production and
recognize that It's writer's inspired and that IL
reveals the Divine. that while the error OF fetch
Ism II TO be avoided on the hand. the other
the book contains matter OF supreme Importance TO
mankind. Thirdly. he points out that even though
We reject the notion that sin came into the word
through the misconduct OF two people 5000 years
ago. sin Is sim fact. appalling reality result
ing from the letters placed by animal upon
spiritual nature. Hence. We may discard the doc
trine that price paid by the death upon tho
cross and realize both the necessity FOR emancl-
patton and the possibility OF enecting II by forces
resident In man. Immortality treated in this
course OF lectures as logical consequence OF j.
luton. Those miracles which really performed
at all land were not poetic fancies) while not in
fractions OF the laws Of nature might vet be con-
an exceptional way TO the Importance OF "A message
about TO De delivered TO man. Finally, that Infinite
and eternal energy which had been manifested In
all the other created things found It's supreme ex-
preston. lts most perfect revelation. in Christ
Now. what mastery tactics are here dis
played, Contrast them for moment with Bob
Ingcrsolls The guns Of science with which others
have tried batter down the Church and ali il
stands for turned against lnfdcity and despair
Science ~ mad" an ally. not an enemy of Christian
ity. DR.. AbDctts work Is not destructive, but
s,ructive. The whole aim and general effect OF such
teaching Is TO bulld new foundations where old
have given way. Ills splendid familiarity with the
his logic. and makes his statement OF the theology
OF an evoutonist" more Intelligent and acceptable
than would otherwise he possible A PILGRIM
Brooklyn. April q. 1896.