The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1900-01-16
Two Fifth Avenue Presbyterian
Churches.

The two greatest Presbyterian churches
in New York, the Fifth Avenue and the
Brick Church, welcomed new pastors on
Sunday, the Rev. DR.. PURvKs and the Rev.
DR., BABcoCK respectively. Both were
| crowded and the spirit manifested In the
services must have been encouraging to
the newcomers. Neither pastor bears any
resemblance to the old in his manner and
method, but II their addresses Of Sunday
may be taken as indicating the Tone OF
their ministry It will revive memories OF
Presbyterian preachers OF the past In its
close adherence 20 Evangelical" doctrine
undisturbed by the storm OF criticism now
waging In the Theological world.
Even apart from the compulsion OF honest
conviction, DR.. PURvEs and DR.. BABCoCK
arc prudent IN not attempting TO reconcile
the old faith with the new scepticism, for
the two are natural enemies. and any dis
position shown in the one to make terms
with the other affords evidence OF a weak
ness which can only encourage hopes OF its
ultimate surrender. This has been made
evident very strikingly in the religious
| lCbotC Vht'i ~ pN'A SolhS va III nm
Sun. The party OF scientific criticism has
been able to find no common ground
on which to argue with the party oi
faith, for the one demands natural
demonstration and the other starts
with belief in the supernatural, where
such demonstration 10 impossible, the
only knowledge Of il coming necessarily
| from pure belief in the authority Of a Di.
vine revelation. Accordingly, interesting
IA this discussion in The SUN has been,
and notably able, IL has done nothing tow
ard the settlement OF the great question In
dispute. Denial has been met by afirma-
| ton. and that has been the end OF It..
| One or the other will conquer absolutely in
| the controversy when either shows any
signs OF yielding.
1t is apparent that on the side OF the
natural critics there is no shadow OF
| yielding to the supernatural, as being
improbable according TO their methods.
While they are hammering away at the
citadel OF faith they are fearless OF assaults
on them by their enemies, for the demon
s~tration they demand would at once bring
down the supernatural into the sphere
OF the purely natural and the whole case
OF faith would be gone. On the side OF
revealed religion, however, a new critical
theological school has given fresh encour-
agement to these attacks Of science by it.
self subjecting the revelation upon which
religion depends to the ordeal " natural
criticism and thus preparing a breach
through which they can enter and possess
the citadel. Instead OF appealing TO belief
this school, therefore, has stimulated wide
spread doubt and denial within the
Church itself; for the foundations OF
religious faith will not bear that sort
OF scientific examination, The miraculous
foundation o. Car ,~stianity is naturally i'm
possible; its possibility IL supernatural
wholly, and it exists only for the eye OF
faith alone. Believe, il the watchword Of
religion; prove! is the demand OF science,
and thus the two are tiametrlcally and
irreconcilably opposed.
The late DR.. JouN HALL, who preceded
DR., PuRvEs in the pastorship Of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church, never do
parted from the old doctrine under the in
tiuence ~ this new scientific school OF
theology, but appealed always to simple
faith md insisted on it As necessary to sal.
walton. His doctrine was the same as that
" the Presbyterian preachers Of the past,
and his remarkable ability consist. d in the
simplicity and iucidity with which he pre-
sented 1t. His long hold on the richest
Presbyterian church in the world, In
spite Of the absence from his preaching
OF every trick OF sensational pulpit oratory
and all attempts TO dilute the doctrines
Of the Westminster Confession so as TO
d'alen their severity, was AZ creditablc to
IL IA TO him. IL was Il doctrine that pro-
yided strong meat for men, aud when the
Presbyterlans OF New York were fed by IL
they we're powerful-of the very salt oil the
communlty-earnest in convection and
positive In faith. 1t was u doctrine which
appealed to and built up solid charac-
tiers. Thus it Happened that in the
old days q grsat part Of the intellectual
ability, social conservatism and moral
stamina OF the town wcr' gathered in the
Presbyterian churches. That dominance
has been lost by them Of late year, and
the declin" began co~inridcntally with the
rise Of the new school ~ theological criti.
cism which has taken from tho West.
minister Confession every element that
gives vitality to II and to the Presbyterian