The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-10-14
THEOLOGY AND KNOWLEDGE.
DIR. Hiden on The Worth Of Science TO
the Pulpit"

] r. =
etsted that an sound knowledge, and es-
neciallv all real science (Which Is only
| svstematized knowledge is more or less
helpful 10 the theOlogian. II he only knows
| how 10 manage IL. Whewel I'm his "lndi-
cations OF the Creator has the following
| fine passage:
"We began our inquiry with the trust
that any sound views which we should DE
able ia obtain respecting the nature of
truth I'm the physical sciences ana lHe
/ nodo of discovering it, must also tend TO
throw light upon the nature and prospects
OF knowledge of an other kinds-must be
useful to MS In moral political and philo-
/ lorical researches We stated this as
confident anticipation. and the evidence of
| the Justice of our belief already geein5
| to aDpear. We have seen that biology
leads us to psychology if We choose I'd
/ follow the path and that the passage
from the material 20 the immaterial mas
already unfolded itself TO us az one point,
and we now perceive that there are sew
eral large provinces of speculation when
concern subjects belonging 70 mans I'M
material nature and which are governed
| Inv the same laws as sciences altogether
| obvsfcal IL Is not our business 20 dwell
| IN the PROSPECTS which our philosophy
thus opcns to our contemplation, but we
may allow ourselves I'm this last stage OF
our pilgrimage among the foundations o.
! the physical sciences, 10 be cheefed ana
animated by the ray mat thu' pctll9
upon MS. however dimiy, from Ni5"e'
and brighter region
This profound and beautiful view or me
connection between every science with
every other science-a view I'm which me
seems 10 have partly anticipated Profess
eor Drumnond's Natural Law Do the
Snirfual World-may well Dee seriously
Wondered by the conscientious pre''her
who is tempted 90 ignore certain depart
| ments of science. because, iorsoolh lh'y
have no special bearing upon the great
| work OF his life.
Almost any tolerably informed theolo-
oieal student can easily see why be- should
| study Latin and Greek. A really Thought
| fyl student would probably be inclined
to add qt least one modern language oth-
| or than his vernacular: but 10 is TO be
| feared that there are altogether TOO many
/ who are disposed tO ignore what are cali-
! cd "the exact sciences as irrelevant 10
the matter in hand: and &c is obvious that
our educated" preachers. as n body
poeqess altogether TOO little OF the truly
scientific spirlt-a spirit which IS rarely
/ devcIoped I'm any mind that has nor
learned to see ina the higher walks OK
mathematics more beauty than most or
our preachers have ever dlscerned.
| / remember a conversation which ] had
same Years ago With college president
am able man and brilliant preacher he
was what ls called "highly educated DID,
the course OF the conversation j found.
somewhat 90 my surprise. that we were
| arguing a mathematical question. rms
| WIS $50 strange phenomenon that I be-
gan % ask mentally how such % diHer-
ence could originate. The question Was
/ .| rH| n a
/ an the root Of the controversy asked
the reverend president what is great
| clrcle2' when Doe grayoly answered tnal
IL was n circle that had 900 degrees in lt,'
! suppose he Thought chat % small cir-
Gle contained from 100 10 $50 degrees, ac-
cording 90 size'
Now. I suppose % would Doe regarded
as "a Wild notion 81 any one should COM
plain that few of our theOlog.ans have
ever been taught 90 discern amy sort or
! connection between the equation OF the
! circle and the conversion of a soul Lnat
~ plus " R2 has anything 90 do with
Christ cruciicd" viii probably Doe class
ed by most preachers. among the coin-
ages OF "a chmorcial and disordered
brain. but the very fact That such an
Idea cxcitcs wonder. and provokes smile
Of incredibly furnishes evidence of the
| truth OF the observation that such COM
nection lis commonly overlooked.
ann firmly persuaded that not little
nj the loose s.ipshod preaching OF the
day is 20 Doc traced 90 lack Of ace
quaiutanco with the higher mathematics
AND Chat the sections into which many
sermons are SO logically divided, not
/ mu.QuellE i.'lit ul' preachers i-N'-
! rance 0f lle "C0uic sections.
know q very emminent preached who.
when O. college student never learned t1
I follow tho chain of demonstration in "a
proposition OF geometry lie trusted 10
/ his memory 90 reproduce the figures and
! would set down the letters a, b and o.
etc. just as they occurred in his Euclid
and would then repeat the demonstration
By rote. Had De been required % urn
/ his figures uD-sidc-LOwn and substitute
L. g. FOR the letters A. r. c.. he would
have found himself completely noupius-
ed And get his memory served h.m SD
well that he made what were regarded
as crdditable Rotations ln geometry.
ln after life be never mamie .ei mo
least capacity for reasoning Indeed. he
never seemed to De able 90 see when
! proposition was proved His preaching
| was thoroughly evangelical bgt almost
exclusively dogmatic [ have heard him
say many true things. many IMPORTANT
things and some very impressive ana
| striking Things from tle NAItiAf D"t
never heard him prove anything Tie
published many books. some NJ them
very excellent in their way-hut NOT
page OF reasoning IS TO De found in ail or
the many thousands Of pages that have
come from his pen. He had his anthori-
ties" and ne held on 10 them Tor dear
! life + have never known man or sense
, whose opinions We're more 1osolufeiY
fixed or more utterly independent Of al
reasoning. After an that Lachman ana
Griesbach and Trege'lds and Schriyener
and TIschendorf had done Tor New Tesla
ment. Text Criticism this able preacher
and theological professor once said TO
me. "I do not believe there is. In our Re
celved Version Of the Bible. single word
that was not put there py the HOLY
Spirit" and ne astounded me hy adding
when you have read af much as : have
on ire subject you Will agree wish me
our conversation AT the time was on
the genuineness OF a certain passage IN
the Received Version Of the Acts Of the