New-York tribune., 1896-11-29
"LIN REE'S" CREED.

II Is not likely that the sO-called life crrFd
which has been suggested by the Rev Dr. wat
son will commend itself 10 the rank ana HE "'
active church members They will object 10 H.
curollsly enough. because they agree win IL.
In other words. it is Of such n general character
that all protesting Christians. from Roman 'ath-
olics TO Iniiarians. could accept its statements
rs statements But when ii comes to putting
them together as a creed, the case Is diHereht.
The Christian consciousness cOnceves OF q cre''d
as n dogInatic symbol. And Ian Maclar'ns
creed is anything but that. 1t says:
I believe in the Fatherhood OF God. believe
i'm the words Of Jesus. | believe in the clean
heart | believe in the service or love DeheVe
in the unwordy life believe In me la, n.a,
tudes ! promise to trust God and follow Chrls'
10 forgive nv enemies and to seek after the
righteousness OF God.
Now, undoubtedly. hi, profession of faith VIII
approve itself TO the large number Of people
who. though calling themselves Christians.
nevertheless reject the dogmatic theology OF the
Christian Church. Doubtless they are an inilu-
entail element today. in numbers ana ln'eil'''.
Donbiless. also. their detection from the ranks
of the Church has. TO certain extent. weakened
the Church: but il Is TO be- noted that III" tie
nominations as such. are about as strenuous as
ever in upholiing the dogmatism OF their re-
speciivc crcrds There is not the reino'"st pos
sibili,y of any onr of them dropping lis creed
and taking up that of Ian Maclaren Possibly
the niiarians might do so. but The lntarlaiS
are not much given to crccdS anyhow ana. De
sides. their standing as Christians would be
called in question by many of Their Irinliarah
brethren What most church members want j.
a creed with III. back bone Of dogma in II. An'I
that too. IN spite Of the pre-cnday tenlenr"
away from dogma. That tendency. in fact. has
reused into greater activity the forces OF dog
matte Christianity. and 10 careful observer can
fail io see that during the next twenty i've years
a battle royal viii take place between the TWO
npunsing forces Indeed II is going on now
OF course neither side VIII gain a victory. or.
rather. each Will gain a victory and suffer a de-
feat as it has always happened In struggles be-
tween the old and 'hr in the Church.
In the mean while n multitude Of good Chris
ians will believe the special creed Of the de
nomination 10 which they belong. and without
knowing it. will practise the creed suggested
by Dr. Watson. But as the practice Of a life
creed *. after all lh. main thing, everybody
may well be satisfied. The brotherhood OF
Christian nifty has taken mp the creed Of the
Scottish writer A. the basis Of it> work for
Christian unity How far it will he effective
in this regard depends upon what i meant by
Christian unity II the consolidation Of AL the
Christian denominations into one body Is meant
neither this nor any other creed viii avail. for
two reasons: The denominations could not be
persuaded 10 come together. and II they could
Christians would split up on other questions in
less than II year The utility Of this creed Will
be in providing "A religious and moral basis Of
conduct for those Christians who read or think
themselves out Of dogmitir Christianity. They
do not wish 10 be- ranked as ntdrlS and. in
fact. are not. regards belief In an over
ruling Providence and the obligation Of the
moral law. This creed exactly expresses their
faith: and il will give them just that spiritual
inspiration without which no crred has any
ethical value