The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-11-28


academician, that this subtle poison is
distilled. One encounters it in much of
the literature of the day, both in Eng.
land and in America.
1t is the fashion of some writer's
who lead and of more who follow, to
inveigh against Puritanism as the be-
littling religious infirmity of the Eng
disappearing people. Puritanism has
in these times few defenders, and it is
entirely safe to decry it. The reader
who looks beneath the surface will find
too often, however, that the thing held
up to derision as Puritanism is, really,
conscientiousnees. All moral discrim-
nations and all the sensitiveness as to
moral effects are Jumped together under
an opprobrious label. The influence OF
the teaching, if not its intent, is to wear
away the fine edge of ethical descern-
ment and blunt the sense of truth and
purity. Fortunately, there is here as
in France a healthy reaction against
these professors of polite depravity.
They have violated the shrine and the
worshipers are rising up against them.
knowledge OF history serves two
opposite ends. = 1t is used as safeguard
against the repetition of former mistakes
and the recurrence Of ancient evils: it
saves from groundless alarms lest un-
usual occurrences foretoken final disas-
ter. The knowledge that the farmerssur
vived the "cold year" 1916, that famines
have never extended over large areas OF
the earth that there have been dark
days which were not followed by calam-
ity, that hard times is an old cry, that
all the good and great of former ages
were 1vilified by some Of their contem-
poraries, that the wise we're rare and
the fools plenty in the good old times,
preserves one from the apprehension
and depression naturally induced by
untoward. events and unpleasant ex.
periences. The world sways but it
never tips over.
The suggestion is made by DR.. Mac
alister, of Cambridge, England, that ex-
President White change the title of
his volume from "The Warfare of
Science and Theology" to "The Warfare
of Science with Dogma" The amend
ment should be adopted. The warfare
has been between the representatives
for the time being of science and relig-
i'm. not between the things themselves.
They never fight In like manner it
may be remarked that the obstruction
placed by medical men and chemists
in the way of the adoption of ether as
an anesthetic, would not be described
properly as 1.-The Warfare of Science
with Science" Dogmas are set up by
men in every department of knowledge;
dogmatists abound in all schools of
thought. Sometimes the dogmas are
also verities. sometimes they are not.
But men cling to them as firmly when
they are false as when they are true.
That makes the warfare"
The fiftieth anniversary of the set
tlement of DIR. Richard Salter Storrs as
pastor of the Church of the Pilgrime,
Brooklyn, is an event of much more than
UNCONVENTIONAL significance. DR.. Storrs
belongs to the whole American Church.
He is an American product. He has
been faithful minister of one church
and loyal and immensely useful mem
ber of the Congregational body; but his
talents, his culture, his large capacity
of public service. and his conspicuous
Christian manhood have won the admir-
alton of elect persons in every commun-
ion. He marked the semi centennial
by sermon which evinces all bis re-
markable powers in full and balanced
exercise 1t has the swing and rythm
of an oratorio. : The pride of the city in
the great preacher has been shown by
appropriate action. and it will be wise
use of the occasion for every minister in
every Protestant church to draw ad.
miring attention to one of the most
symmetrical characters and careers in
our religious history.
CANTON THEOLOGICAL SCHOOL.