The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-07-01
PREsBrrER1AN1sM IN NEW FORK.
Reply to the Diagnosis Of It's Disease
Made by the Rev. DIR. Mutually.

Made by tho Rev. DIR. Mutually.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir; The Rev.
DR.. +. p Mutually. in his letter on The Causes
OF the Decadence OF Presbyterianism In New
York " in The SUN to-day, gives the i'm preston
that | had contended that 1t Is wrong for
truth to controvert evil. when In reality
only smoke Of Presbyterians controverting
among themselves over doctrinal differences
Why should a herald OF the truth engage
In controversy with truth itself2 When
Jesus Christ disputed with the Pharisees.
Paul with the men OF Athens. John Calvin and
Knox with the Romanists. It was with those
who did not agree on things in which they
agreed. but who believed differently. The
sort VI controversy DR.. Mutually ondeavors to
uphold was not countenanced by Paul. who
said to the Phiippian Church: DO all
things without murmurngs and dsputings."
Jesus Himself said: Every kingdom divided
against itself is brought to desolation. Every
city or house divided against itself shall not
stand How then. can II be maintained that
the Presbyterian household Of faith should be-
come divided by controversy DIR. Mutually
says that the Presbyterian Church has not
neglected home missionary work" In the an
nual report OF the Board OF Home Missions for
1898 the latest published. $722 9O5 A is given
as the amount expended to carry on its work for
the year In the reports OF the Board Of Foreign
Missions for 1893 1t is shown to have expended
$l,1J4 .3OS.U0. Does this not seem to indicate
disproportionate interest In foreign missions
to the neglect OF home miss ions? The Presby-
terry OF New York contributed last year $40
IL for home mission work, and Of that amount
drew out only S4O30.55. Thus the bulk OF its
contributions is expended outside OF the city
II neglects and delegates to the Roman Catho-
lic: Eplseopalian. aud salvation Army people
III the Church In New York gives money and
attention to piOuS pnterDriSeS Of every kind
why Is 1t that a branch Of its own. administered
to By the pous and scholarly man. the Rev p
The N hoth frs"Rb Of sHne
to the poor BY saying that at the present rate
Presbyterian churches left and those few will
be In IN the prosperous and fashionable portions
=, The Rev, DR.. Mutually repudlates the idea
that Calvinism Is cold. and does not appeal to
tie r people heard the Rev Dr. Benjamin IL
Princeton Theological Seminary. say that it Is
not we'll to preach Calvinsm, pure and simple.
and Edwards wrote in a controversial age.
They did not write for this present age, Truth
different ages. Truth, as 1t is apprehended by
our minds. grows and develops. as the author
blade. then the ear; alter that the full corn in
the ear" The grave clothes OF Calvinisnl. In
which truth was, once enshrouded. have given
place to something more commensurate with
modern thought. .Calvinlsm. Of course. is not
cold to men Of philosophical minds. but the
Ny ShFss ds% 2r ri The ca" @ s"a not Sr
ming in literary or philosophical channels. as In
NE days Of Kant Loeke spinoz1 and Fic len e.
give up Caivinism In order to save her life"
Need | be less OF CaIvinist II / hold tothe
1stend Of the form OF The
VII the and ana r4 give
up the d eontentions and go back to the his
keep on discussing predestnation!
You will and you won't;
You can and you can't;
You will be damned IL you do,
Aud you will be damned II you don't
Nov; there IL no use Of difreren,iating about
whether DR.. A, orc attends him; and those
dead in responses and sin need the kind care
Of the Great Physician. not disputattons over
Dr.. Mutually would beittle the beautiful SER
| vices OF the prelatical Church. Do we care for
form ald ornamentation? II not, why, do
have paid cho!rs. which. IN principle. are Just
ieer surpliced choir. in an Episcopal church?
| have asked asked not few members OF the Epis.
ch Ha h w9s d h nsy hsy
The SERVICES" i Jesus reached the multitude
reached the people through the miracles he
| wrong t. why may We not appeal to them
through their senses or aesthetic nature? It is
| not the good old religion" as DR.. Mutually
| says. that New York Presbyteriansm needs.
but more Of the good old Christian releI ion.
and it needs 1t right away. never said that
| THE Sun was apethetic to New York Presby-
tcrianism, as might be inferred from his letter,
| for hold 1t in the highest honor and esteem.
| TROY. \. y. June 20. J. NJ. b.
| The Pastoral Work of the Rev. DIR. Chambe rs.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Sir: Promi-
nent men in the Presbyterian Church Of New
| York. both lay and clerical. sustain the position
taken by THE Sun with reference to the state
ment made by the Rev c. A. Stoddard as to the
cause OF DR.. Chambers's resignation from CAL
! vary Presbyterian Church. They characterize
| the Stoddard letter as itself sensational" not