New-York tribune., 1899-07-02
very administration which is most to be blamed
for the bringing to naugnt Of his benehcent
LJRFRALISM IN SCOTLAND.

II nc some say. the American Presbyterian
Church is drifting away from its moOrings, IT
Is only following the example Of its venerable
mother. the Presbyterian Church or Scotand
American PRESBYTERIAN liberals have yet to
fight for recognition and tOleraton but in the
Scottish Church that stage was passed some
years ago Professor Briggs would not have
been molested in the Church founded by John
Knox. On the contrary he would have found
in il scholars and thinkers like-minded with
himself Open -mndedness Is the characteristic
OF the Scottish Church. Implicitly If not eX-
plicitly. truth Is the first article of its creed
and all the other dogmatc articles of its creed
are interpreted in the light of the truth. III
Is true the Biblical scholars and theologians OF
Scotland are more conservative than those or
Germany But for all that some OF them Wouiu
have as hard a time in the American freso!-
teran Church as Professor Briggs had. Nor IS
that ALL A ritualistic tendency has grown up
in the Scottish Church that has for its OBJECT
the restoration of some lturgical and ceremo-
nial features that were discarded at the
Reformation This movement meets with
sympathetic response from the people In the
larger towns and bids fair TO revolutionze the
Church Only in the remote country districts
will one find the typical Presbyterians of the
old davs. and as they die there are none to
take their places. Thus, in spite of its strong
government and It's uncompromlsing creed.
Scottish Presbyteranlsm finds itself moving
along In the stream Of tendency.
But most remarkable of all Is the drift
away from the severe conception or hfe ana
religion that characterized the Scottish reform-
ers During the last few years there has Deen
n noteworthy change of sentiment IN regard 10
the observance of the Sabbath Not long ago
Principal Story. the Moderator of the General
Assembly Of the Scottish Church, preached a
sermon on Sabbath observance In EdlnDurgn'
In this sermon he made n strong plea for
less rigid Observance Of the day. and especial
ly for the opening Of clubs. public gardens
museums. art galleries and libraries. And he
referred In scornful terms to the prosperous
Pharlsees' who oppose the opening OF such
places. where poor people might obtain needed
rest and recrea ton. while they had no thought
for the overworked men and women In their
mills and factories. whose lives were Deing
shortened nv unrelieved toll. He told how he
had visited Continental cities aDd mad seen
worllingmen spending pleasant ana prOntapie
hours on Sunday, with their famllles ana
friends In galleries full OF beautlful worKs OF
art. or listening to music fitted to elevate ana
refine their thoughts. That so prominent anu
representatlve a man should thus hold up the
Continental Sunday for approval In church
in Scotland's capital city is striking lllustra-
ton of the change Of sentiment that has come
over the Scottish Church to-day. 1t shows how
difficult If not impossible, 1t Is for a Church
m resist the tendencies Of the time. 1t may
refuse TO change one ota Of its creed; yet along
with the old creed the members Of the Church.
both ministers and people, will, perhaps un-
consciously. modify that creed as to square
il with their environment And against such
q modification Of creeds there Is no protection
and can be appeal.
The movement for the revision Of the West
minister Greed in the American Presbyterian
Church came 10 an untimey end some years
ago. and there was great rejoicing on the part
Of the conservatives But the more or less un-
modification Of that creed in the
thought Of Presbyterians has been going on
ever since. Against that tendency the General
Assembly Is helpless. 1t may suspend Briggs
or advise McGifert TO withdraw for the sake
of peace. But the sympathizers of these ana
other teachers of the new theology remain in
both the pulpit ana the pew Anu All! Se'iou'
attempt to drive them out would split the
Church in two. In the old days tne people
shaped their theology in accordance with the
preaching Of the pulpit. To-day they read Oar
win Tyndall. Huxley and Spencer, and are
more or less familiar with the results OF mod
crn Biblical criticism. Their religious think
ing Is profoundly affected by these and other
similar influences. and the only way in which
the Church can cOunteract such influences Is
70 forbid the reading of all such books. But
Of course. that would he Ineffective. as it has
no mower 10 enforce such prohibition.