The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-03-09
PRoF. RICE AT UNITED Oh URcH.

Christianity or Observation-Disclosures of
Primitive Faith-The Causes--Evidence
of Christian DUTY.
Professor William North Rice of Wes-
leyan spoke at United church last even
ing under the auspices of the Mems
Sunday Evening club on 1.-THE Alterna-
tive-Christianity or Agnosticism."
Professor Rice said, among other
things, that as human knowledge adj
vanced the primitive faith in immortal
ity decayed. We now believe, however,
that there were essential truths in the
primitive ideas of religion and these
visions of primeval faith were restored
not by the advance of science, not by
the observation of physical phenomena,
for the teachings of science are anbig-
uous. The more we study nature the
more we discover the adaptation of
parts to each other, but nothing to re-
store primeval faith, though by this
study the advance of our knowledge
tends to increase our admiration of the
design and to cause a greater rever-
ence for the designer, if we admit that
there is one; the more we are convinc-
ed that the power which rules all things
| in nature works from within and not
from without.
Equally ambiguous is the teaching of
science In regard to Immortality. Is 1t,
then, sounder philosophy or deeper
insight into the common phenomena OF
experience which has restored this
faith? Modern times have developed
| a profound philosophy and it well may
maze Of mystery deeper than did Aris-
totle or Plato, but this advance has not
restored these truths. The name of
Christian" bond of brotherhood, has
given the light in which these IDEAS Of
primeval faith come back, by which we
reach the mount of vision from which
we behold the glories of the Savior, the
glory and the paradox of human his
tory. We believe now in the immor
tality of the soul, not because we con-
ceive of the immateriality of the soul,
but because a messenger has come to
us, bearing credentials which we have
carefully examined and found bonafide,
and has put the great truth before us.
The church is false in one part of its
duty, if the thought of the world IS
not led by the thought of the church.
The world is to be led to faith in i'm
mortality not by the study of philoso
ply, not by the teachings from the pull
pit and the press Of the historical facts
of the resurrection of Jesus. The church
Of course must tell to every generation
the story of Christian evidences, but the
chief work of the church is not to ex
pound evidences, but to make the evil
dences of Christian duty. There is in
the gospel of Jesus Christ for you a
moral inspiration which creates a new
life which the world cannot take away
from you The strongest evidence of
each Individual soul is what is wrought
out in its own experience. So may a
working church, with the life of Chris
tian endeavor leavening all society with
the influence of good, work out an evil
dence of Christian duty. Let us
strengthen and inspire our faith by the
words of the Master, eye that believeth
in Me, the works that do, that shall We
do also, and greater works because I
go to my Father The historical evil
dence of Christianity goes down with
you. The world beholds the daily mir
acle of souls dead in sin rising by the
power of His resurrection into the light
of truth. The multitudes glorify God,
who has given such power unto men.