New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-13
THE REV. DIR. GROVES SERMON
HAPPINESS AFTER DEATH. HE SAYS. is DEPEND.
ENT ON MANS OWN EFFORTS TO LEAD
A BLAMELESS LIFE

A BI.AMELESS LIFE
Eternal Hope. Elghty-hrst-st, near Columbus-ave.
preached yesterday morning a sermon on doctrines,
In which he maintained that the happiness OF man
after death dependent upon his efforts to
live blame!ess life In this world. He declared that
the only true doctrine to teach the human race was
that Of mems responsibility and ability to do that
which right, and he severely denounced as one
Of the greatest dangers OF the present the ten
dency the part of science to ascrbe all crime to
physical infrmty heredity.
There are" said the preacher certain doctrines
that weaken. and other doctrines that strengthen.
the cause OF religion The test Of religious truth 10
that it gives moral power to individual natures
Any doctrine. creed. any theory system Of be-
lief that does not give moral power and responsible
ty TO the individual is false Joseph Cook. In the
course OF his erratc occupancy OF the pulpit, said
many foolish things. but he said thing which
emnently wise, and should cause him to be re-
membered. He said that whatever doctrine works
we'll In character and conduct is true; any doctrine
that fails TO work we'll Is false
I'm every creed there is a eliminating height, one
supreme thought which stands out as the meaning
OF the entire creed. Twenty other things In the
creed may be true or false. but idea stands out
the accepted conclusion. From the year 200 A. D:
to 1850 A. D.: one great ideal which was dominant
and obscured everything else was the conclusion
thar the souls Of men were saved by the Ghurcn.
Az a result Of the idea that the Church could save
or thu dct1m of is priests the Christian nations Of
the earth became wretchedly immoral. People must
believe in their own ability to do right and their
responsibility when they do wrong. The reforma-
ton Of Gavin and Luther was moral revolution.
A moral life resulted from their new conception
OF mans responsibility Calvins theory Of predest.
would II 1t stood alone destroy all feeling OF
responsibility. But that was not all or half OF MS
teaching. Calvin taught that the evidence OF pre-;
destination and eternal happiness In the Individual
was In his attitude on earth. IL he was a gooiy
man and followed after Righteousness. then he could
be assured that he was one OF Gods children CAL
practically placed the salvation or man IN Ms
own keeping.
THE result OF his teaching was the awakening Of
mans best impulses. and the beginning or race or
the most unconquerable manhood the world has
ever produced. Luther said You must be saved by
faith alone proposition equally as illogical as Cal
WINS doctrine Men are not going do what there
is no need OF doing. Thought and righteousness
cost too much unless some reward Is onered you
are saved by faith said Luther. and then he pro-
ceeded to advance entirely new doctrine. You
must your own conscience and intelligence 70
good ac By that e op S MS wSrd
the father Of independent thinking and independent
DR. Grove referred to the reaction attempted ono
hundred years ago by the sentimentalism OF the
original t'nversalists. who maintained that when
the body died and IT'S results died also. If that
theory born o, love and founded on mistaken idea
OF Gods goodness, had been accepted, and man was
this earth ne entered into eternal happiness at
death We Should soon again a the
o gre et danger IS To- be found in certain tenden-
Giles OF science In these latter days comes in the
form OF charity and kindness Every form OF crime
and vice is asserted be the necessary result OF
some physical disease moral maformation due to
heredity. There IL enough OF truth IN IL 10 make
1t especially dangerous The moral efect OF excusins
template Cavns doctrine OF predestination Is not
half as injurious or ridiculous as the mandy pamby
II men had souls. such theory might be ten.
able