The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-13
Rev. Mi. Eells on Difference Between Lib
eral Orthodoxy and Liberal Christianity.
THE REMARKS BY REV. Mr.. FURMAN.
Liberal" He Explains, Implies That Which Is
Truthful and Sympathetic Liberal Christianity
Delivers Men From PetlInsss.

| Inc lauleS' nlgnt gathering OF lnt
Unitarian club, which was held in the
Trocadero last evening, was not as
largely attended as IL would have beer
! If the snowstorm had not decended on
the city, comparatively few ladies ven-
| turing out. The affair, however, was
a most successful one. there being quite
| "A large number OF gentlemen, VINO mad
| gathered To do honor To the distin-
! gulsned guests of the club.
| The members and their guests en-
| joye pleasant half hour of social
! chat in the pariors before the supper
! which was served In the large banquet
| hail, which was made up OF an excel
| lent menu,and which was apparently
heartily enjoyed. AT the close of the
! repast the club was called TO order
by President Shaw and the regular
routine business was transacted.
President Shaw then introduced as
the first speaker, Rev. James Eells, pas
tor of the First church, Boston, who
spoke on Liberal Orthodoxy and Lib
eral Christianity" Mr.. Eells said there
was a distinction between these two,
and one that was of great Importance.
The first part of the subject provides
that one can be liberal, but he must be
orthodox. The speaker then spoke of
Old Testament and did not hesitate to
express some doubt concerning its tra-
ditions, but who, when they came TO
the New Testament, stopped all criti-
cism, and accepted IL as truth beyond
question. This was orthodoxy. Ii is
absolutely impossible, the speaker said.
for genuine orthodoxy to be genuine
liberal. There was no dishonesty i'm
tended. and these people were actuated
tsyh no 10 h.. ,isyh httf
the fact is that they believe in evolu-
ton as far as the Old Testament is
concerned, but evolution as applied 20
the New Testament they call revolu-
ton.
Unity of thought could never be
brought about by prescribing what men
should think. Men could not be made
TO think alike by putting them into an
enclosure. Recent heresy trials were
reminders of the middle ages. Many
persons have an idea that there is a
sort Of social prestige attached to or
thodoxy, and that is the main reason
why they adhere to il so closely but
they do not realize that il is a bar To
the full practice of liberal Christian
'ty. "A liberal Christianity says that
the great power OF God is with every
man in the present. and the liberal
Christian will not be bound by any
spirit of orthodoxy.
The next speaker was Rev. William
+. Furman, of Wilton, n. H.. who said
In substance that the liberal Christ
ians were often accused of all sorts
OF things, and sometime even of inf
deity. But as liberals any such ac-
cusation should be repudiated. He
believed that the proper question 10
ask was not is there liberal orthodox,
but are there any liberal orthodoxs?
~ A. 4.
liberal and i'm early days the orthodoxy
OF the church was not very exacting.
AS time passed the standard became
more and more eXacting. and the Nj
Gene and the Apostles creeds had much
to do with the change. The speaker
said that into the great trunk of ortho-
doxy. Luther drove the wedge OF lib
crality, but later. Professionalism itself
became tyrannic and oppressive. On
Plymouth Rock the purest and best
liberality in Christianity was estab-
lished. and great stress was laid rather
ON purity of conduct than on staua-
chess of doctrine. Then again dogma
tiSm expelled liberality. and still later
came Claiming. and he stood forth
as the exponent of "A liberal Christi
lnity.
But is il possible To have liberal
christianity any more than IL is To
nave HDeral orthodoxy? 1t Is abso-
utely certain that we must submit to
some restraint. and this we find in
Every direction and in every form OF
ife. Christianity. when properly con-
'idered, represents neither more or less
han that amount OF righteous restraint
which is good for mans
'oul Without n church established on
teachings of Jesus, democracy would I
,e impossible. Man was free I'm a large
ense. His was a divine freedom. Some 1
restraints must be submitted to- In 1
he very best governments. In the fam !
~. freedom must be surrendered IL !
christianity is to be rejected IL is not /
because IL Is "A restraint; IL must be l
'ecause IL H. an unreasonable restraint.
But i'm it's original simplicity IL does
ot exercise unreasonable restraint
At the close Of Mr.. Furman's address
vote of thanks was extended TO tho
peakers. and then President Shaw de-
Jared the meeting adjourned.
During the evening vocal music was
urnished by the choir Of the First
congregational church. Mrs Vaughan.
irs. Stone. Mr.. Towne and Mr. Lane.
heir selections being My Loves Like
Red. Red Rose" bv Garrett, and
Cradle song bN Rarnby