Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-08
THEOLOGY IN THIS CENTURY

The twentieth century opened IN
Chrlstendom with an ayowed intention
on the part Of many Of the sects' TO
wage a warfare against irreligion that
should make the age triumphant FOR
Christianity Immense sums OF money
TO be raised were in view though not
IN hand, and II was proclaimed that
there would be united efforts to evan
gelize the world The contemplated uni-
" which is necessary to the carrying
out Of the design. does not seem to
progress very fayorably The division
between the different denominations
not only continues with It's former force
but dsgensions still occur within the
respective congregations.
This is not only the case In America
but in other parts of the Christian
world. The Liverpool Post Of recent
date contains a lengthy report OF an
Evangelical conference, held In the
Southport town hall Several church
dIgnitarIes were present and took part
in the proceedings, which were pre-
sided over hy Rev Canon Robson, vicar
OF Christ church, Blrkenhead. The
principal address was by Rev, Canon
Altken. who referred to the skeptlcal
spirit OF the times, fostered by the
contentious of modern theologans and
by the introduction into the pulpit OF
the discussion OF "al sorts Of topics,
that had only the romotest connection
with Christianity II they had any at
ALL" He declared that what with
Sunday evenings with the poets, and
Sunday afternoons with the musicians,
what with the discusses on art and
literature and the discussion OF modern
social and political problems, the Cos
pei Of the grace OF God and all the mo-
mentous issues that hung upon It, had
to take back seat and in some fa-
vored places Of worship was only very
rarely allowed to make an obsequlous
and apologize appearance" He went
on to say that the questions asked by
the man In the street. were such as
these:
Why should we bother our heads for
the SAKE Of religion about which us
own exponents cannot agree-a religion
that rests upon Book that is declared
to be mainly legendary and mythical
by learned professors who are paid TO
expound lt?' II It has come TO this, that
the incarnation and resurrection Of
Christ are to be regarded by Christian
teachers as open questions from the
historical point Of view. while the doc
trine Of the Divinity of our Lord Is 10
be similarly regarded from the theolo-
gical, could they wonder that men OF
the world should say, The game is not
worth the candle, What sense can there
be In handicapplng ourselves In our en-
joyment Of the things Of this life for
the sake Of n religion that seems a van
ishing quantity According to some, at
any rate, Of It's accredited teachers, who
claim to be regarded as experts, there
seems but little left In the creed either
TO live for or to die with. There is
nothing for Il, therefore, but to make
the best we can Of the bird In the hand.
albeit It may be very poor thing. and
let the two which may or may not be
In THIS particularly dense bush take
care OF themselves. "
The Canon argued that the fact that
It was possible to ask such questions
did not look very much like spiritual
progress. Turning to the condition Of
the church itself, and particularly to
the branch Of II to which the conference
belonged, he asked whether it could be
said that the prospect was encourag
ing lie declared that he apprehended.
They sadly contemplated a condition
OF Internal strife more fierce and de-
termined than anything that had been
witnessed within her pale before. They
were confronted by a deliberate at
tempt 10 reintlOduCe the creed. the GUS
toms, and the ceremonies OF the middle
ages; blended with considerable in
fusion Of what did not exist even then,
the more fully developed superstitions
OF modern R0manism. Let Il be clearly
Understood that, In the parlance Of
modern Eituallsm, the word Catholic
stood for medieval and, therefore.
Catholic usage meant medieval innova-
ton Did this seem 20 promise well for
the spirituality Of the future? Were
The middle ages distinguished by a
generally high tone Of true spirituality,
or were they generally characterized by
"a prevalence Ot gross superstition
alongside OF a generally low moral tone.
ut Grass ignorance, pcrvadng an
classes and q horribly corrupt aud I'M
righteous political condition? The sys.
TEN had been tried under the most ia
Nora0.e conditions, and weighed in the
balance OF history. and il had been
FOUND hopelessly wanting. Was us re-
viva q hopeful omen for the spiritnai.
" Of the future? For his own part. he
ieloiced 90 be able 20 say that the one
cheering feature Ia So much that one
deplored was the obvious and mdisnut.
aole spirituality OF NOT few of even
the most extreme portislDs OF this rgt-
aggressive movement But the man
passed away; the tendency remained;
and In that ,enicncv with the
present condition OF the Church OF
Rome AMI %! ire Greek church before
him. Dr. touH see 40 promise oi spirit
ual q rg.psF Aas the prospect ma,h
lottcr Whcr Troy contemplated the CON
dilrn = 0Aet uur't Doc covered b, IN,