New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-12
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
A PILLAR OF THE AMERICAN CHURCH.

THE LIFE OF PHILIP schaFF s IN rH q D. Pro
so1APH abS2.b hy DaT IN lane
nary With portraits Octave pp' xv'' ~"
Though Dr. schan born and educated IN
Eurone he came 10 be one o. the most representa-
tive American theologians of the last nifty years
II am q Swiss b. birth he used to say yer
man by education and an American by cho'ce.
And in his character he typifed what Is pest III
these three natonallties. He reflected the lruSa'
simplicity of his native Switzerland. the scholar
shin and ,horoughness Of Germany. ana tne
American love OF liberty. His contribution 10 the
religious life OF the United States was o' ho
means small When he came 10 this country !"
1914 as theological professor in Mercersous
Penn. he had already made name TOT ni'sei, III
Germany as a rising scholar. and exhibited Una.
hroad cstboIicitv of spirit that at once beautihed
and strengthened his faith in the fundamentals
OF Christianity. 49,, .
Forty years afterward Dr. Schan had TINS 10
cav about his coming TO this country hao re-
manned in Europe l would have had more oo'''
Portable literary life and perhaps acconphshe"
moro In the line Of mere scholarship. But my ac-
tiyity in America has been more stirrine mo,.
practical. and. l trust. more useful thah IL couu
have been In Europe IL ] was not born mere IL
was not my fault: but am an American by inc
call OF Providence and by free choice with all my
heart The United States. verify believe is the
largest and most helpful field OF practical useful-
ness on this globe in this nineteenth century. ana
has the brightest future before it. 1t Is more IMAM
any other the land OF freedom and tho land OF
promise"
II was IN the spirit Of this American utterance
tina. Dr. schar arrayed himself with those
German Americans who desired TO identify them
selves more completely with American IDEAS ana
institutions and for doing which he was Sharply
criticised by old-fashioned Germans In this couh-
trv. Tho years that he spent IN Mercershurg were
hfo
writer and theologian really began when he came
10 New-York In 1863 to be secretary OF the New
York Sabbath Committee. a place he held ior
six years 1t a critical time, not only IN the
history OF the Nation but OF American Chrstan-
,ty which was cropping blindy for some larger
outlook than that OF isolated sectar'anism' me
desire for religious unity that then srove to shape
itself found expression in the Evangelical ALL
ance Of which DR.. Schaf one OF the most
enthusiastic promoters.
'New-York" says Professor David 8. Schan,
had never before witnessed large or so I'M
posing a religious gathering as the Sixth CONFER
ence Of the Evangelical Alliance. held there In
1873. In fact. nothing had occurred on the Ameri-
can continent approaching II In the NUMBER OF at
tending clergymen from abroad OF established
reputation. The presence OF scholars ike PROBES
sor Dorner ecclesia sites like the Dean OF Canter-
bury preachers like DR.. Coulin and believers
from the ends of the earth like the noted Indian
convert Narayan- Sheshadri aroused wide atten-
ton in circles where by reason OF denomina-
tonal excusiveness religious indifference little
sympathy felt in the objects. or at any rate
with the methods of the Alliance. 1t was TO the
Judgment. energy and organizing skill Of Dr. Schah
that the success of the Conference was In large
measure due. Into the preparations he threw him
self from the start with his whole soul. and as
those preparations progressed the chief burden
and responsibility fell upon him His extended
personal acquaintance with theoogians abroad and
q sensitive appreciation of ecclesiastical ana Ma
tional differences qualified him for the task OF
eelecting representatives, from the Continent Sc
curing their attendance and assigning 10 the
speakers their themes. To his efforts alone II was
due that. a time of great National suspicion
and bitterness the hearty cooperation OF all the
Continental branches OF the Alliance was secured
The Alliance docs not now occupy as large
place in the thought of Protestant Christianity
as II did then. But that is only because II has lost
its identity in other healthful tendencies and
movements which grew out of it either directly
10 the Evangelical Alliance and had Dr. Schaff
done nothing else than make itSan integral factor
in the religious life of Americans he would have
deserved the grateful remembrance OF posterity
Other important incidents in DIR. SchaHs career
were his organization of the American Bible Re
vision Committee. Of which he became president:
his connection professor with Union Seminary,
and his selection delegate 10 various Presby-
terrain councils. He prolific writer on his
works have become standard antherities. He died
in this city in 1898, full OF YEATS and honors hav
Ing left enduring mark on American Christian