The record-union., 1899-09-17

"A great deal is said in these times
about the scientific method and the
necessity for its application to various
departments of investigation" says the
New York Christian Intelligencer
(Ref1 "That is all very we'll so long
as the scientific method is characterized
by common sense. For example, evi-
dences of intelligence and other mental
qualities when reached in the course
of investigation, are to be acknowledge
ed If they are not, the method OF m
vestigation or the investigator is de-
/ fectiye, because lacking in common
sense. When biologists say that they
reach an infinite and eternal energy at
the end of their research. and fail to
saw that ii is evidently endowed with
intelligence, wisdom, and goodness, and
righteousness, they exhibit a want OF
common sense, or. which is worse,
lack of common honesty. The mass
of men though tending towards skep-
ticism or. as the Bible calls it, unbelief,
in everything in which one living and
true God and righteous Ruler is con-
cerned, will continue to exercise COM
mon sense, and when they shall attain
knowledge of the adaptation OF one
thing to another as revealed by scien-
tific scrutiny, will exercise common
sense and maintain an intelligent, wise,
. good and righteous energy is a person.
a divine person, who in tho common
/ speech of all men is called God"
! "The best-intentioned Christian"
! says the New York observer" Pres),
4 lis powerless to reach the hidden
! springs of character, the secret sources
( of volition, in the souls of those to
1 whom he would do good, save by the
play of mysterious forces of sympathy,
| love and faith as these are quickened
and applied with exquisite adaptation
I to the needs of the subject of the labor
| by d divine baptism of power Souls
+! can rarely if ever, be converted SIM
ply by a perfunctory performance of
routine worship, and il they ever are
| so reached, it is only because God has
respect for His own Word, even when
uttered by unworthy instruments, and
steps in, and, for one or another in
dividual listener, WHITES and applies
the indifferently delivered messages by
some special exercises of His over-rul-
ing grace. Yet let no lukewarm and
lazy believers take comfort from that
thought, for the true way, and the way
most generally successful in point OF
conversions 1ndQe ana CndEdCIelS eur
fed, is the method of fervent spiritual
JUNCTION, a Whole-souled devotion to
self-taxing ideals of service, and a Vi
talized personal apprehension of truth
which cannot but be uttered as with
tongues of flaming inspiration. What
is needed is truth warm with genuine
human sympathy, logic on fire, knowl-
edge glowing with love, and a testi-
mony brought as a living coal from off.
the altar of a divine communion and
conSecration.'
The notion that the period of the
Christian pastors usefulness ends with
the attainment of his fiftieth year is
"preposterous" in the opinion of the
Examiner (Bapt.), New York. 1T is
time it was cast aside, and the reason
able view suggested by DR.. English
adopted and acted upon," it says. "It
cannot be denied, of course, that there
are men in the ministry, as in other
callings, whose work is done by the
time they are two score and ten-yea,
and long before. But discrimination
should be exercised. 1t does not follow
that, because A gives out at fifty, b
should be shelved at the same age. The
whole idea is wrong, mischievous, in
furious alike to ministry and churches"