The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-01
Agnosticism Even Among tho Metho-
dists.

The Methodists OF the main or Episcopal
division OF that family OF Christians have
held their second Church Congress at St.
Louis this week. Like tho Church Congress
Of the Episcopal or Anglican Church. IL is
simply voluntary association. without
legislative or other power, In which various
questions are debated. but in It Is revealed
the animating spirit Of the communion.
Naturally at this time the prevalence Of
religious doubt and criticism was Q fore
most theme Of the discussion at St. Louis
These nre supposed to have entered into
Methodism less than into some other
branches Of Christendom, but that actually
they have modified the tone OF the denomi-
nation was made manifest In the debates Of
the congress. Tho original FIRE OF Method
Ism has been cooling for a generation past
1t was kindled by the great religious re-
vivals OF the earlier part OF this century
more particularly. Wealth and luxury
have come in; carriages are now drawn up
before Methodist meeting houses awaiting
prosperous worshippers inside The camp
meeting has changed radically in char
acter and spirit during recent years.
The old violence OF religious excitement
has passed away and the meetings hav,
become sober, restrained and conven-
tional assemblages, brought together
rather for secular instruction and
worldly amusement than for spiritual
reformation. Tho crowds arc terrified
no longer by pictures OF hell FIRE and
the torrents Of lost souls. In these days
that sort OF thing has como to be looked
upon as rude and somewhat coarse. Yet
the now greatest of the Protestant denoml-
nations In this country numerically, was
built up by such awe-inspiring appeals.
Plain and bare meeting houses OF the old
days have been replaced by structures OF
an ornate ecclesiastical architecture. The
old Methodist prejudice against specific
ally trained ministry has died out and
great and costly theological seminaries
have been established.
This very radical change was indicated
strikingly In the most notable paper read
Mt the st. Louis congress, the author OF
which was Prof. NJ. d. LEARNED OF the
Pennsylvania University, on THE Message
OF tho Church TO Men OF Culture" He IA
spoken OF as free lance in Methodism.'
anu tllnb He IL ldT removed from inc old
type Of Methodlsm, even from Christianity
itself is suggested by the very title
OF his essay; for, OF course there Ia no
message OF the Church" to Culture"
specifically. Tho Founder of Christianity
made no such distinction, the only culture
recognized and extolled by Him being Gull
ture OF the spirit, wholly apart from worldly
knowledge and learning and consequence.
His was tho Gospel to the poor and simple.
" Except ye be converted and become as
little children, 20 shall not enter the king
dom OF heaven" Is there any message to
men Of culture" in that, and where else il it
In the words OF JEsUsp
When, therefore, Prof LEARNED lamented
the tendency OF such men TO keep aloof
from the Church. he took very different
track And the reason no gave for his
departure was remarkable. 1t is because
there is "a startling consensus among
scholars, scientific men and men OF culture
in general as To the valuelessness OF dogma"
But II dogma Is valueless what valuable
foundation has tho church, Without dog
matte assumption, how can there DO any
supernatural religion? Must not theology
OF necessity start with dogmar II men
are not told authoritatively Of the mystery