New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-12-16

enected While their ultimate appeal Is 10 au-
thority the worlds ultimate appeal is 10 tru'n-
Liberal Churcfmen. like Dean Fremantie' recos-
nize the propriety of this appeal, ana tney
therefore Law the emphasis not on questions VI
noIIty. which cannot be proved to the satisIac-
ton az all men, but on the spirit of Christianity
which nj once proves itself to the universal con-
science. There is no need, they say, to assume
the fact OF an infsllIble Church in order 10 per
petuate such principles as the Golden huie y
the brotherhood of man. Once stated, no ni".
ter by whom. they will live without any u.
fetal coddlng. The distinction between saoieU
and profane they believe to be OF the essehee
Of, heathenlsm, and In so far as the OnuiN"
recognizes such a distinction II reVer's ~ -
panIsm. God does not, they say. confine his
government TO the Church. His presence anu
His power are Just as truly seen in the secular
world To establish righteousness on the eai'''
is the sole object of the Church. ThereIore'
whatever makes for righteousness is kin 10 the
Church even though ii labels itself win some
nurelv secular name So, instead OF Judging
conduct Inv doctrines and ordinances. the latter
should be judged by conduct III accordance
with the teaching of the Master that Tree
is to be judged by its fruit
According 10 the conservatives doubt IS the
great sin of this age. and they call on the
world to contemplate the moral beauty OF the
old ages of faith. But in his Lowell Institute
lecture the other evening DR.. Gordon held that
doubt is really an aid to faith. Much or the
religious doubt to-day arises because men be-
Ieye the old theological conceptions TO be
denial of Gods rectitude Of the essential
truth of things. Such doubt is really religious
In intention though it may be mistaken in its
facts. Modern doubt. aided by its twin sister
ridicuIe has overthrown a great army of de-
basing superstitions 1t has helped men to see
the universe as it really is. Witches, ghosts,
devils and hobgoblins no longer share its gov
eminent with the great First Cause. Under
1.-The sarcasm of fact, the irony of knowledge,
1.-THE noble mockery and laughter of truth, whole
'hOsts Of imposing superstitions have passed
"clean out of existence In cleaning this Au-
"gean stable. science has been our Hercules;
land one can do no less than commemorate
"the broom that has swept into tolerable con-
EDITION such unspeakable spaces"
This, then is the situation that confronts
Christianity to-day. The traditionalist demands
that the world shall give its unquestioning allie
glance TO a dlvnely commissioned body which
need take no account of any alleged truth out
side of it. Those who deny this assumption
declare that truth wherever and however ascer-
tanned, must take precedence over every dogma,
however ancient "The wise believer says
DR.. Gordon. will rejoice in the baf1ed thought
that issues in profOunder seriousness and In
greater honesty. He knows that without these
nothing can be gained in the affairs of the
spirit. He will note in the moral strength of
nineteenth century doubt the preparation for
"a new spiritual realism. Everything must go
that is unreal in order that everything real
"maV have due recognition