The herald., 1897-06-07
Rev. Howard on Where
We Are Drifting
MAN REcoNcILED TO GOD
THE SUBJECT OF DIR. THoMSoN'S
SERMON AT UNITY
Rev. John Gray breaches Whitsun'
tide Sermon-Dr. Mclean at
Simpson Tabernacle

Simpson Tabernacle
At the First Presbyterian church yes
terday morning the pastor, Rev. Burt
Estes Howard. took for the theme Of his
discourse: 1.-The present drift and our
attitude towards it,
A brief synopsis of the line of thought
is as follows: The spirit of the age is a
vision is narrow it may seem skeptical
spirit But call it by whatever name you
WILL it is swiftly destroying the old
spirit of easy credulity, which hstlessly
received the statements of the Scribes.
whether religious or political, without
investigation, and calmly swallowed
without winking whatever was offered
by the Pharisees, both of theology and
practical politics.
A spirit of criticism, which Is simply a
tion involves radical changes in exist
ing forms. 1t requires no sharp insight
to discern the revolt already at hand
with reference to many of the old and
familiar forms of theology, and the grow
ing restlessness of men everywhere under
the present forms of social and political
institutions. To all but to those who are
blinded by their own fatuous obstinacy
1t is plain that a day of judgment is at
hand, in which all of the present forms
nd ;afx Y1f
must give an account of themselves be-
fore the bar Of an enlightened public
opinion.
There might be some ground for alarm
and pessimism in this uneasy shifting of
forms were it not that the age is assert
Gus as it is critical. On all sides we find
an intense study of the questions that
affect the race-not diletantte abiding
in religion and sociology and politics
but men are peering into the great prin-
ciples of things, longing for clearer truth
and a better civilization.
~ 1t cannot be denied that the spirit of
the age Is destructive. 1t is destructive,
but 1t not wanton. The alarm of the
timid, who tremble at the seeming
iconoclasm of the day, would be largely
done away could they see-what we must
all come to see-that forms and principles
are not identical. The forms of theology
and society and state are but partial.
temporary expressions of constantly un-
folding truths. If we believe in living
God, we must also believe in an expand
ing civilization. And If life is a synonym
for progress, If the great informing soul
Of things is constantly unfolding, If the
world and humanity are not doomed to
an endless stagnation, then in the pro-
cess Of development the time must come,
over and over again, when the forms of
theology and society and state will no
longer adequately express the growing
ideals of men; and when this time does
come, as come it must, there is but one
thing that we can do. When our theories
fail to fit new facts, or when the existing
forms no longer meet the demands of a
fuller and clearer truth. we must be in
tellectually honest We must enlarge our
theories and change our forms.
The terror which seizes many an earn
est soul when the existing order is at
tackled arises from failure to grasp the
point at which the essential is parted |
from the non-essential in theology. |
social theory and political systems. The |
derlying principles and not in the forms
which serve only as temporary express
sion of these principles-efficient for a
given time, but not sufficient for all time
1t does not destroy the eternal verities,
the mighty spirit of religion, social sys-
TENS. or political institutions when the
forms which have served their day are
found too narrow for the growing life of
a nop
When the unfolding spirit of the age
moves out from the old forms that have
long been it's dwelling place, it pro-
Eounces no curse upon the old. 1t simply
declares that there is a better.
We are now in the midst of an era of |
image-breaking. The existing formulas
of religious belief and the prevailing
social and political institutions are be-
ing subjected to a most searching criti-
cism. The inevitable result will be rad
ical change of form in all these things
In the midst of theological upheaval and
of social and political convulsion, we
must keep in mind clearly the spirit and
not the letter of things. 1t is the great
moral heart of life, not the mere husks of
it. that is to be preserved Whatever
brings into human affairs Gods right
y
associates men in communion of divine
sonship and human brotherhood, what
ever lifts the race toward the realization
of that holy ideal set forth as the thought
of God for us allr-"Let us make man in
our own age"whatever gives to
earths dusty millions a larger hope, a
wider and truer outlook, and an opportu-
nifty to attain better and more perfect
manhood must be let into our thought
and into our life. even though it bursts
the old forms in which we vainly try to
fasten it.
This breaking up Of old and cherished
forms of theological or social faith, is no
evidence of any decline of the religious
or social consciousness. 1t is rather the |
reaching out of the soul after better and
nearer vision of God than the old forms
give us. IT is the evidence of persist
ent faith that "all truth is from a living.
self-revealing God, to living, growing
humanity" that "the apprehension of |
truth is progressive" and that Gods |
moral government is a rational and ever
expanding revelation of the eternal mind |
and heart. If men are questioning the |
old forms, and going often contrary to |
the letter of them it is for the most part |