New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-17
FAITH AND DOUBT.
DIR. SAVAGE SAYS THAT EACH HAS ITS PLACE
~ TIE RELIGIOUS LIFE.

~ THE RELIGIOUS LIFE.
The Rev Or. Minot j. Savage preached yesterday
morning in the Church Of the Messiah from the
text Thessalonlans Y. p: prove all things hold
fast that which is good" He said in part:
The attitude Of the Church-and by the Church
| mean the historic Church OF the past-toward
doubt and faith is well known to us. It has
demned doubt almost universally something evil,
sinful. 1t has praised faith something almost
universally good. But in my judgment the trouble
with the human mind up the present time has not
been a too great readiness to doubt but It has been
too great an inclination 20 believe. There has
been too much Of what has been called faith, and
there has been li;te Of honest fearless. earnest
doubt
Where did this modern civilization OF ours begin?
Did IT ever occur TO you that il began when mcp
began 10 doubt? II began We say. with the Renais
sance The Renaissance was the birth OF doubt.
the birth OF question. the demand the part OF
men VINO began TO wake mp and think FOR evidence.
Here then began the civilization Of the world. and
all that Is finest and highest IN industry in educa-
ton In discovery. In tho whole external civilization
or the world came in with the coming Of this spirit
that questions ana that asks for proof.
Il DO not wish You understand me supposing
that all kinds OF doubt good. equally good The
Church has been accustomed to teach Us that doubt
was wrong. and there are certain kinds OF doubt
that are morally wrong certain kinds Of doubt tina,
are disastrous to the highest and finest life OF the
world
There arc doubts which spring ont OF the fact
that men under the Influence OF personal interest.
as they suppose OF strong desire. wish - follow
certain courses and they doubt ana question the
lavs moral or mental. religious or what not. which
stand in their way which wogll prohibit their hav-
ing their viii. suppose am told that the CathoH,
Church is infallibc. and an asked 10 accept IL a.
an article Of faifh. Again here the Introduction
the word faith into domain Ike this Is i'm
p-rtfneucc Faith has nothing 10 DO with IT, Tina,
l. a question Of fact. W. can read history for the
last eighteen hundred years We AN nnl out what
the catholic Church has said and what the Catholic
Church has done as TO whether Il has proved itself
absolutely nfaliDlc or not. II is matter % study
and decision intellectually. ana II is my duty 10
doubt that which does not bring authentic crcden-
Faith is a purely rational faculty II has nothing
TO DO win tie past. but Il always the evidence 81
things hoped FOR, the substance Of something not
Hive faith thon in he people. faith in their
healthy instincts faith In their general sanity fath
in their desire for the right and the true ana this
is genuine exercise OF faitn. for the past history
yourself IS a child OF God. do not mean
c"occit. / do not moan an overesiimate OF your
ability mt belief that you can 10 great. grand
noble things belief that you can become sonnet hing
great noble grand: belief I'm the possibility In this
life or in some other life OF unfolding all that is
highest frleet, sweetest IN manhood and woman
hood Let u.s. then. believe IN Col believe In TRUTH
believe I'm humanity. believe in ourselves. and then
NAV work toward the coming Of that far grand
time when the dreams OF the world shall be realized
ard is faith shall become reality"