The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-11-20
IMPORTANT SUBJECTS
Concluded from second page.)

1t may be an innovation, but it has the
authorization of Christ.
Should we not be better OFF In giving
up the letter OF the creed? We differ
about this. Creed is manual of educa-
ton. charter of right"
The speaker here paid a glowing trib-
ute to the Christian character of Rob-
ert r.. Lee. Virginia" he said. gave
noble soldier and Christian in Washing
ton, and followed closely with Lee" He
was interrupted by great applause.
In closing he said: 1.-The flag is rufiled
by the passing breeze, waving 1t in beau
tiful folds. but not marring it's shape
or loneliness. So with the creed. Chang
ing opinions ripple 1t, but do n. OF change
Its permanence."
EVOLUTION ENDORSED.
The next speaker was Rev. Prof VIM.
p. Du Bose, D. D.. of the University of
the South. Sewanee, who said:
our representations of things d-
Vine are more symbolic than represent
tative. Our discomfort with them is not
that they are not truthful, but that
they fail to express all of the truth.
What God is he is, Notwithstanding
our idea of him. Our faith is matter
of fact. not speculation.
THE claim of Christianity Is live it
and YOU will know it,
Progress is always a relative term
and its meaning in any particular age
is to be found only in the drift of opin-
ion in that age. That drift in our age
is toward naturalism as opposed TO
Experimentation.
THE question with us is how to har-
monize the facts on both sides of this
controversy. What have we to con-
serve?
What we have to deal with now is
rapid drift toward naturalism.
The word creation itself is only
symbol. We do not fully comprehend
a rfifn
ming. Nevertheless, in order to remain
Christians, we must know that God
is not simply a symbol, expressing the
great force of evolution, and that these
forces are the response of matter to His
will.
Our relative independence of the
divine and the necessity for His sup
port renders religion n necessity and
possibility.
I'VE confess our faith in the resur-
rection OF the body, but even along this
line we have changed our IDEAS some
what. All our miracles may be trans
formed in future into a higher recogni-
ton Of naturalism.
The harmonious adjustment OF these
two forces called the natural and the
supernatural will eventually lead TO
the perfect religion
THE GOSPEL TRUTH.
Rev. Hall. Harrison, d. D., of Elliott
City, Md, then spoke as follows:
christianity has been in the world
.onS enough to be regarded as fact
It's doctrines and precepts cannot be
considered as matters of private inter
probation; 1t has long passed the stage
OIL mere documents. If we would know
what it is we must go out into the world
IN the light of these words of Cardinal
Newman on the development of Chris
iianty ] propose to ask n few ques-
tons.
No one denies that Gods truth is
fixed. The question is about our inter-
pretatons of the truth.
II God gives us more light are we not
to progress ?"
The speaker eulogized Prof. Dornln
who he said, had revolutionized mod
ern thought and science.
Lord McCaulcy's idea that the word S
Of the Bible" said he, were the words
of God himself, was, as we all know
now, erroneous. Since his day evolution
has entered and absorbed our theology
rake the first article Of The creed
Is it not admitted that the doctrine of
evolution has replaced all our old ideas
of creation? There has been change
and progress, but there is pcrmanence,
too. Christianity is both progressive
rallyinG point of Christians when our
other systems have ceased to be-"
MODERN EXPRESSION.
Rev. Prof Edward S. Drown, of the
Episcopal Theological School, Cam
bridge, Mass, was the next speaker
He said:
There We're two reasons for the ORR
gin and growth OF crceds. One was for
the Necessity of faith itself, another
grew out of the need of defending creed
The APOSTLES creed is the epitome OF
the gospel spirit. In the Ncene creed
we move throughout in the realm OF
controversy.
THE church was right when She
knew that to preserve a truth it must
he expressed in the language OF the
time. ~ truth may be changed by be-
ing Kept buried in words made for one
generation. long after that people have
passed out of existence and their pecu-
liar mode of expression has become
crude, if not meaningless.
III anything else is substituted for
the Christ of the creed NE are misin-
terpreting. We are wrong. too. if we
say that the creed is merely a system of
words 10 express alteration or praise
Not so! We are to express our solemn
belief by il. Creeds are not sectcrian-
they are catholic.
What great change has been
wrought in these fifteen centuries.
What a great task rests upon the
church 10 express the body and person
ality of her Lord and Master to these
latter day mateTalsts.
Il may sum Zip i'll a word: Loyalty
to Christ! Are you going to put any
thing between yourself and Christ?
Don't make your religion, your faith
and your comfort n stale and meaning
less thing. We must not allow If ia