The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-03-13

First, as DIR. Crane uses it, to designate
the ndtura ndturatd. that is, nature in
it's passive sense as representing the
created universe; second, to designate
the ndturo naturans, that is. the active
principle of the universe, as Coleridge
says, to signify "the inward principle of
whatever is requisite for the reality of
things as existent" Now, it is this lat
ter sense that is meant when the theist
speaks of God as natural. or of the
spiritual as natural One has perfect
right to use the term in this sense. To
make the point clearer: Sir VIM. Ham
ilton Gays that THE term nature is used
sometimes in wider. sometimes in
narrower extension. When employed in
its most extensive meaning, it embraces
the two worlds of mind and matter.
When employed in it's most restricted
Specification, it is synonyme for the
latter only" 1t is this wider meaning
OF the term that is in mind by those
theists of US who often say, Everything
is natural"
1t is thus seen that we have perfect
right to use the term in this sense, and
we have always tried to make it clear
that this is the sense in which we use it.
| protest, therefore, that DR.. Crane has
no right to say that the position OF the
anti-supernaturalist destroys God or the
foundation of religion, or to say that he
is fool" 1t would be much better to
try to understand him than to persist
emily and ignorantly misrepresent him.
say ignorantly because l cannot think
DR.. Crane would wilfully misrepresent
our position.
The theological naturalist uses the
term nature to cover both mind and
matter, the material and the spiritual,
the phenomenal and the noumenal, God
and the world. He recognizes, however,
the restricted sense in which others use
the term and has no special quarrel with
them 80 long as the sense in which the
term is used is understood by all; but he
insists that his own use of the term is
also legitimate and should be both I'M
derstood and respected. He does not
object to any fair argument to show that
the narrower meaning of the term is the
better; though on this score he will be
found to have good reasons for his own
use Of the words nature and NATURAL but
he does object to being classed as ma
terialist, pantheist. atheist, or fool, not
any one of which does he conceive him
self to be.
There is another and more practical
phase of this matter. There are in the
Universalist ministry men who for some
reason prefer to call themselves super
naturalists; that is. they like the term
supernatural and profess belief in
such an order. There are others who do
not like the term, who may be called
''anti supernaturalists." Both parties
are engaged in common work and
could they understand each other would
find. think, that in reality they believe
practically alike in this matter, differing
only in the use of terms and names.
What is to be deprecated is that each
will not try to understand the other and
in speaking for the other try to recog-
nize his standpoint With all the work
before US that needs so sadly to be done,
it is deplorable that any one should be
engaged in the task of attacking his CO.
workers who wear a different name. or
10 prejudicing against them the minds
of people who do not understand the
matter; or in telling them, as DR.. Crane
does. that they should "step down and
out" of the ministry.
RODNEY F. JoHoNNoT.
OAK PARK. Ill.