The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-22
The New Theology.
To the Editor Of the PTes--

To the EGat0T OF tee ITSS-
Il see the ministers are to have meeo-
ing In Auburn, Febr uary 18th, TO give
the "new theology" chance to speak
for ITSELF This is right. Nothing WI
settle the thing quiokere than to allo"
new theory, or new f ad to explain ioseii
out of existence if there is little Mefi1 III
it. The old theology is based on one
Bible. as a whole, has been explaining
itself.to the general satisfaction OF tne
Christian world for nearly nineteen Gen.
turtles. 1t is left to this generatlon TO
show that past generations have been
ouite wrong in the matter. In the at
tempt to prove this l think the people
flor the "people," l am sure, as well as
the church going part of the community
are interastedl will require something
mora than criticisms as TO the anthem
ITCHY of certain books Of the Bible, or
the denial of certain generally accepted
facts EThey will require something
more of the new tn eology than NOR al in
strict ion as to right-liying and the mere
temporal I'D van cement and improvement
of man. All this is old; the new bor-
rowing from the old,-an integral part
OF the old theology and old religion, as
no better and higher moral code can pos
sibly be conceived than that found be-
tween tn lids OF the Bible and taught,
as living lesson, in the example oil
Christ The world has always this be-
fore it, and is thoroughly familiar with
it.
II there is to be any attempt to separ-
ate moral from religious teaching and,
at the same time, destroy the falth OF uhe
laity and the people, generally, In the
Bible as the Word of God, can sea but
one result: that the time will speedily
come when VS. shall need sneither minis
+. tiers nor churches. The enlightenment
of aees of training; conscience, as per-
sonal attTib butte and guide, and the law.
as 3 wholesome corrective. Will take the
place of these. Tbis, / think, is precise
ly-what the people need light upon and
what they will require to be explained.
Whether the gist of the new theology
is not q reputation of the essence OF the
gospel of Christianity personal CONVEX
sion, through the repentance OF SIN, and
direct appeal for the forgiveness or sin
thus heading stoward Unlversallsm and
denial Of the Spiritual element OF
faculty in man thus drifting into pure
material ism.
Ministers are supposed to be, dis
tinctiyely, spiritual guides and teachers.
Are they becoming distincJively some
thing else? President Elliot says: The
improvement of character and conduct II
the individual, in this world, in society
and state, and to ameiiorate the COM
mon lot, is now becoming the prlncipa
aim of many churches and ministers. ;
II this is true, and if by this is meant
and it would seem too mean nothing elst
that ministers and churches are to de-
vote themselves to the material, instead
of 1.-THE spiritual wants Of MANKIND, there
would seem to be no need of picking tbs
Bible to pieces to launch new theology
looseninR plank, here and there, TO SCI
if the ship will still float, but better
scuttle her at once If Christianity and
the church are based on anything they
are based on the spiritual Intuition ant
spiritual capacity" in man. Christi
teachings-the New Testament-are based
on this. Christian experience and CHRIS
tisn practice ara based on faith In the
Billie and in Christ. Destroy this ano
you destroy Christianity and substitute
.naterialism, the doctrine of Robert In
oersolI which he has so assiduously
taught and for which he has been SO I'M
VERBALLY condemned, SO far as the Chris
the belief in the spiritual, as disti lci
from the moral and intellectual forces,
and you destroy the belief in, and hope
of, an immortality. The world Is ruil o.
unhclieving Ihomases, so far as .'splrlt
uality" goes, who are lrreproacnapse II
their moral life, and who would not q
across tire street to hear sermon or T.
he told how they may live letter IN thi
world, or how to prepare for the next
There are still thousands of others who's
belief ie grounded on peculiar I'D exoep
tional personal experience and to Wnon
faith is as absolute as knowledge. Cal
any new theology he of any benefit t.
either of these classesP
If the aim is however to lift up 10
hieher moral a a ihtsllectual plane tn
lowest and most 'ebased, the fslum'
lu9ulation OF our cities, what need o
showing over the old, or new" tesla
ment to accomplish this? Will th
clergy or the church gain in power an
influence through q new departure ID I'LL
direction2 If the slum population IS TO-
low down to be reached by the Gospel
Is certainly too low to be reach I'd through
moral effort. alone.
If the church would draw "a sharpe
and clearer line between Church AM
State in all that relates to the moral I'm
provemen6 Of man, much might re dc
complished for his TEMPORAL and splrItua
WEllHE9 WIbHOub EooUi UtES w hoW uAAe
ology. But while tina incubation OF vice
in sill its forms. is profitable to thos
who are engaged in tie business and
encouraged by those who gain by it i
other ways, very little can be accom-
niisb ed. The law punishes crime whll
IT rseoen ICES the chief source of crime
There is little reason and logic in tn
attempt TO spread morality, while W
encourage the spread of vice, through tn
existence and encouragement OF vice
uroinoturs and breeders 1t is ike tn
man who triedsto lift log off from ar
other who was being crushed nnder II
by sitting down on the log and trying, t
raise it with his hands. He showed tha
bis intentions were good, but his nw
great many well-intenttoned, moral an
religious people vino ara helping to hol
down the log.