The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-10-24
THE CONE RECEPTION.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE.

HE CONE KECEPllON.
CONTINUED FROM FIRST PAGE)
people, they have objections to the work
of criticism which we ought bear in
mind. One is to the fact of using criti
cism on the Scriptures at all. They
think it means to criticise negatively the
Christian doctrines, and Christian life
and experience. Their impression is,
that the matter of religion is too enor-
nous to admit of criticism. Faithful,
earnest. honest. devout study of the
Scrptures,-this is what true criticism
is. Christ is far greater in his personal
it, than the popular mind has supposed
him to be. Careful scrutiny of the his
toric records has brought into promi
nence his genuine character. 1t has dis.
placed the qualities attributed to him by
mistaken theologians and made clear
and distinct the traits really belonging
to the Son of God. In other words,
Biblical criticism has given Christ to the
world as personality that compels its
confidence and love. Pains taking
scholars have developed the facts of
Christian history. and thus brought out
the real essence of Christ's religion.
Address-Dr. Emerson.
A friendly summons from the Presi-
dent brought forward as the next speak
or Rev. DIR. Emerson who said: Twenty
five years ago, l was the herstic of the
denomination. | struck out an idea
which fell on the popular mind like
glistening scintillation.-the idea that
Christ is the perfected type of manhood,
the ideal of humanity. When human
qualities are developed in their highest
form, divinity is impaired to them. Thus
there is divinity in Christ. and it can be
developed in every human being. DIR.
Cone once wrote an article in the Quar-
terly defining the Messiah as Israel in
| captivity penned some comments on
his thoughts. and received pleasant
letter from him, saying, "You have got
the idea" This comment on my article
showed that he was man of intelligence.
| Naughter.) In the Leader, have Civ
en- liberal space to a consideration of his
scholarly books,-have welcomed all
helpful contributions to the work of
Scripture criticism.
read carefully Niebuhr's History of
Rome, and Grote's History of Greece.
Both writer's analysed the materials from
which historical narratives are drawn.
Here was the first conception had of
the critical process to be used in finding
the facts of sacred history. Biblical
criticism is merely this,--applying the
same principles to the discovery of
Scriptural truths as in finding out the
events of secular history. After the
critics have dissected ancient manu-
scripts. detaching a phrase here, and a
| sentence there. the Bible has just as
much life in it as ever. Its heart beats
with the ld-time vigor. Its limbs move
as freely and energetically as at any
time in all its history. 1 sometimes wish
that the scholars would be little more
gentle with the people.-tha instead of
plunging the butt-end of their critical
wedge into the sacred records, they
would pursue the work more gradually.
l wish they would make siege approach.
es to critical results. Then the people
would accept those results unmurmur-
ingly.
| Address-Dr. Cone.
Let US now listen to the words Of him
ing, for DR.. Pullman has just introduced
him.
| thank you most heartily, said DR..
Cone for this kind welcome. am glad
to have place in your confidence and
regard. This meeting shows a desire to
express your appreciation OF reverent
study of the Bible, and free utterance
of the things learned by such study.
without fear or favor. 1t is not necessary
to adjust criticism to the religious opin-
ions of the people. The people will vol
unfairly adjust their opinions to the
truth itself. A church cannot hope TO
succeed il its members are at war among
themselves. The successful church will
write its unities large, and its differences
small. The work which the critical
student does cannot be over-estimated.
1t is not destructive. but constructive.
If the church POUNDS its religion on the
Bible. it ought to endorse a reverent, pro-
found study of the Book on which it is
based. The principle of criticism once
being admitted. results of the most di-
verse character ought to be accepted.