The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-02-01
A REVIEW OF THE WORK
Mrs. e. G. Glenn's Paper on Edu-
cation.
AT THE MOUNTAIN VIEW
The Function of Revealed Religion in
Its Relation TO the Natural Sciences.
Methodism Is Peerless in the
Educational Field.

In connection with the Sunday even
ing service at the Mountain View NJ. L.
church held in behalf of colleges. the
following interesting review of Metho-
dist educational work was read by Mrs.
Il. G. Glenn:
When the legitimate and laudable
study of the sciences, particularly nat
ufal science, disclosed many errors in
previously accepted ideas undermining
theories supposed to be taught by
Christianity. II unsettled some minds III
the truth of revealed religion. Undis-
criminatingly predicating their faith
upon the assumption that certain the
cries pertaining TO the material uni
verse are biblical, ana that ii Is the
province of the Bible to teach authofi-
ratively on such points, when they
have found that the progress of nat
ural science has disclosed the inconsist-
ency and absurdity of these theories
their confidence in the Bible has been
impaired. Very many in the first re-
vulsion following such discoveries re-
jected Christianity, while others strug-
gled on with enfeebled faith. But men
are learning better what are the func-
tions of revealed religion as related to
natural science; that the first chapters
of Genesis give us only the grand out
lines OF the first stages OF creation,
leaving the scientific details untouched,
and that the correspondencies in these
leading features of the creative pro-
cesses with the clearly ascertained
facts OF nature are so great and con-
vincing as 10 overshadow all the sup
posed discrepancies i'll regard TO the
details.
These outlines says Professor
Guyot. were sufficient for the moral
purposes of the book. the scientific de-
tails are for us to investigate. There
is much that the most recent readings
of science, says Professor Dana, have
for the first time explained that the idea
of man as the author becomes utterly
ncomprehensible. BY proving the rec
ord true science pronounceS II divine.
for who could have correctly narrated
the secrets Of eternity but God him.
self?' Such testimonies from men
whose names are enrolled i'll almost
every noted scientific association in the
world assure us that doubts as to the
old records have seen their most Nigo-
Ious days; and we are compelled To
say: What hath God wrought The
steedS of science are harnessed to the
chariot of Christ, and consecrated halls
of learning are vocal with his praise.
Let us see what part Methodism has
taken in educational work. And as |
review our achievements it is not in a
spirit of -gloritication, but Of great
thankfulness, for whatever one denom-
ination aceompliShes helps not only it
self but all others. Mr.. Leckey says:
'Methodism has intellectually increased
the efficiency Of every religious body.
1t has been a case, not only of trans
fusion of blood, but of spirit also. The
other churches have received not only
members and ministers, but doctrine
and faith. methods and inspiration as
well. There is a giving that does not
mpoVerish, and Withholding that
does not enrich.
at is our privilege 10 he identified
with a denomination that is peerless in
her achievements in the educational
field. Methodism was born in a univer-
sity. It's birth-throes were the study
of Greek. It's father was cultured
oxford student, a man who redeemed
his minutes with more ceaseless watch
fulness than a miser cares for his gold.
He travelled extensively over the king
dom. reading on his journeys the most
voluable works which issued from the
press. he conducted an immense CORE
spondence: engaged in writing and
abridging books, which constituted a
numerous library: founded school for
the children of ministers and others,
for which he begged money from door
to door; published tracts and distributed
them freely; visited personally every
member of his societies every three
months in London, and ultimately es-
tablshed monthly religious magazine.
His labors in any one of these depart
ments would have seemed to be suffi-
cient for any ordinary man: yet with
all this he preached sometimes az many
as five sermons day, and usually two
or three in one place. We find this
remarkable entry in his journal: Here
rested for two weeks that l might
write ND my notes, preaching only
every morning and evening Even
when between - and So years old he
was publishing enough To keep an ordi-
nary man at work. His published
works would fill Is or 20 large volumes
and included grammars of English.
French. Latin, Greek and Hebrew.
Having such a founder. is it amy
wonder that Methodsm has built up Il
system of schools superior TO any other
denomination? Scarcely had Wesley
formed the first society when he opened
school at kingwood for the education
of the poor GOLFERS
AT his first conference he proposed a
school for the education of those who
might assist him in the sacred work,
but ne was obliged 10 defer the project
school was, however. enlarged to re-
ceiye the sons OF his preachers, and
others who gave promise of intellee-
tual vigor.
In the United States as early as 1850
Bishop Asbury turned his thought 10
the SUBJECT OF euucuilon, anu prepared
a plan for a seminary, securing some
subscriptions. but the times were so
hard that little was accomplished.
little later he joined DR.. Coke. and they
succeeded in founding an institution
called after both the bishops, Cokes-
bury college, This was the first Meth
odist college. So, YOU see, the begin
ming of American Methodist education
al work and our republic are nearly
contemporaneous. This institution con-
tinued for about 10 years, when it WAS
burned TO the ground. together with lis
library. philosophical apparatus and
important private papers Some friends
in Baltimore purchased a building in
that city, and the institution was re-
commenced. In precisely a year from
the previous disaster il caught fire and
was consumed. After these discour-
agements. no further effort was made
TO rebuild il. And not until 1917 did the
church fully take up again The work
nf EST a hi shinG nlnaal lnnAl Inst iInIinnS