The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1899-10-30
RELIGIOUS.
Theological Contrasts in England and
America.

Theological Contrasts in England and
America
(By the Rev. Charles s. Macfarland,
Phi. D., of Yale, in the Independent.
The recent international council,
bringing together the leading preach
ers of Congregationalism from Great
Britain and America, about fifty of
whom appeared upon the platform,
gave opportunity for comparison and
contrast There were two or three very
significant points of contrast, both as
regards manner and matter.
Nearly all of the American speakers
appeared with carefully prepared man
uscripts, which they generally read
verbatim, with only occasional attempts
at anything like oratorical effect. Sem
fences were carefully chosen; rhetoric
was good; subjects were handled logi-
cally; but the appeal was mainly intel
lectual, and won intellectual assent
In some cases the reading was almost
dull. There was little, if any, of the
hortatory tone; the evargelistic fervor
was wanting. They were seldom slim
ulatirg in any way except intellectually.
Each paper was a clear, straightfor-
ward presentation of the case, with no
attempt at special pleading of any
kind. The witnesses were brought into
the box; the truth was told; but the
advocate did not further urge his suit.
But not so with the speakers from
abroad. They were more extempora-
neous. They rose to eloquence. They
had genuine pathos. They could not
rest satisfied with merely presenting
the truth; they were there to plead for
it. They sought not only intellectual
assent, but to awaken moral and spirit
ual feeling. They did not read to the
council; they preached to II and admon-
lshed it. Nearly every address had its
eloquent peroraton. 1t closed with an
appeal. Suffer a word Of exhortation'
was the earnest request Of one speaker.
They were thrilling, tender. simple and
moving in their appeals. They sought
not only to gain consideration, but to
effect conviction,
The American speakers sought to pre-
sent the truth. Those from over the
sea pressed it. They not only gave it,
but forced it upon their hearers. This
is not to say that our own speakers
were men incapable of preaching in
this sense. There would probably not
be anything like so great a contrast be-
tween their preaching on Sunday and
that of their foreign brethren. And yet
this distinction, so marked in the coun7
Gil, does indicate certain difference be-
tween the Congregational preachers in
the two lands. Our men make more of
hn ir,tn fDr ~
the evangelistie, hortatory method.
And this is not to be traced to differing
schoparship. This same type of preach
ing is even most marked in such men
as Stalker, George Adam Smith, For
syth and other men of superior scholar
ship, Mr.. Moody draws assistants for
his British campaigns from among men
of scholarship. even including theologi-
cal professors, AS preaching is COM
monty regarded cur colleagues from
over the sea are ahead of us. We may
convince; but they do more, they per-
suade But still more marked, and to
most of US more to be wondered at,
were certain contrasts with regard to
what they preach. For one thing, there
were fewer illusions to criticism and its
results from the lips of the visitors We
know that this is not because they are
behind us in welcoming criticism. They
are altogether freer, and have always
been less fearful than we. They have
received 1T with relative completeness
One or two interviews revealed their
attitude. One young Welsh preacher
to the writer. I'VE ignore
it in our preaching, Do we accept it?
Yes indeed But we don't talk about
It in the pulpit" Said another, an older
preacher: I'VE feel that literary dues-
tons are not so important as the sub
stance of the revelation. Criticism UNI
1erlies our preaching. But we don't
bring It's questions into the pulpit.
There's no need of it, and the people
don't want it,"
The most marked difference was one
theological and more spe-
,ifcally Chrstological. Evidently. to
he British preachers. the cry, Back to
Christ" does not mean just what it
loes to us They would say, indeed,
hat it means more. Their meaning
'ame out most clearly in the now eele
grated address of DIR. Forsyth but 1t |
'rOppsu out III 0lneTS IN perOfatlon |
magnificent in its style, passionate, fer |
I'D, profoundly reverent and solemn, |
Dr.. Forsyth declared that 1.-The final |
eat of authority is in the Cross of |
Christ as the Forgiven and Redeemer; |
thirst is King, not as the Son of our |
Creator, not as the Logos of our reason, |
n as the ideal Of our soul, but as our |
saviour" 1.-The seat of authority 4.
must stand forth either as an insttu- |
ion or as person in an act. There is !
nut one authority. 1t is the grace of /
Tod to us sinners in the Cross of Christ. |
'he Ethics of the future must be the
APPLICATION of the cross, and of the
ross understood as a Gospel AS
n atonement. He redeemed us from |
he curse of the law, being made
ursa for u.s." In many such striking
DR.. Forsyth declared the the
ry known Of old as that of the "blood-
tenement" as the very heart of the |
Gospel, as the Gospel itself. 1t was |
pure and simple, |