The San Francisco call., 1897-06-14
Doctrine Of the
Trinity Explained.

Rev. Marden D. Wilson at 81. Peters
Episcopal Church spoke on the Doctrine
of the Trinity" yesterday morning, sub
stantially as follows:
TN more theological ages than this in
which weliVe the doctrine OF the Trinity
/ was matter OF tie keenest intellectual in
terest. In the days OF Bishop Butler, in the
days OF Jonathan Edwards fierce q nd intense
was the discussion that ragged around this and
other doctrines of the Christian revelation.
Men hung upon the lips OF theologians, watch
ing for some word which would make more
clear the mysteries OF religion, which would
more plainly reveal the truth. Not that they
desired especially that which was new. but
that they would reach the very essence of vital
truth.
In these days the mulntudes seem again to
have taken up the old cry of the Athenisns OF
the days of st. Paul and 10 be clamoring for
something which is simply new" The new
preacher, the new doctrine, the new prophet
whether he halls from India TO teach the Oc-
cult revela ton Of Buddha or from Boston TO
teach the wild vagaries OF what is falsely called
Christian science, all have their ardent lis
teners and oftentimes their eager and de-
luded followers.
Sometimes we ask why is this? What does it
mean? Is the whole world becoming un-
settled? Have these old teachings lost their
force and value? Are men generally losing
the religion of the former ages?
The present writer is not q pessimist. A
good many things are being unsettled but
the old truths remain. Men not losing
their old-time religious instinct. Man is q
religious being. He cannot avoid the religious
strings within him. In q general way we
believe man is more religious III this genera
tlon than ever before. The very restlessneSs
which induces some in an apparent spirit of
braggsdocIo to turn from the churches is an
evidence of deep religious sentiment This
very appeal TO Buddha which is having a GER
tain vogue in San Francisco to-day, is an evi-
dence Of the same deep ana widespread re-
IgiOus thought.
We have lived through an age of destructive
criticism and the tide is turning IN that M +
TO n 3
Professor Harnack, the pride of the Univer-
sity OF Berlin and the very prince of scholarly
critics, is evidence that destructive criticism
has had its day. He declares that the liters-
ture of the Christian church, from the earliest
writings of the New Testament canon to the
time OF Iren eeus, is proved by critical inVesti-
cation TO be in the main poin Is ana in most OF
its details, fr ON the point of view OF literary
history, veTacious and Trustworthy" 'The
essential accuracy OF tradition, with but few
important exceptions" has been critically
established. If this be true, and criticism has
come back to tradition for its authority, and
the whole Christian contention TO litera-
ture has been fully established through the
agency of those who have sought to des troy
it, then surely We have ground TO believe that
when these fads and fashions Of the day have
begun to lose their charm, then men and
women will in greater mum bers come back to
the old church and the old truths, and find
there the only satisfaction for their storm
tossed and weary souls.