The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-10-21

: fleotion." The final chapter on tn
 character of Jesus whether or not
 justified to the full extent the inferenc
 which he drew from the premises. 1
 one of the most impressive portraiture
 Of the character of Christ which tn
 plentiful literature on this subject il
 the latter days has furnished. Later
 in a series of writings, Dr. Bushnel
 set forth with characteristic franlnes
 and warmth his thoughts respecting tht
 central topics of the Trinity and tht
 Atonement At the outset he broacheC
 view respecting language which in
 volyed as an inference the necessary
 Yagueness and inadequacy of all ab-
 stract terms; a theory equivalent ir
 substance to the idea of Ocean and the
 medieval Nominalsts who followed
 him. The conclusion drawn was the
 denial of the possibility of scientific
 theology, and of mental philosophy as
 we'll Theology and Philosophy being in
 the same boat, must sink or swim to-
 gether, Unwarranted as was the exclu
 sion of studies not having to do with | things material from the category of
 science, Bushnell had at heart a distinc- i tion which is valid and of prac-
 tical worth. He insisted justly
 on the supreme importance which
 the conception of personality has
 in the contents of Christianity.
 In this feature of his teaching he might have cited Edwards, who sets what he terms 'notional knowledge" in contrast with the living perceptions that flash on the soul by an illumina- | tion within. The awakening, sugges-
 tive power of the writings of Bushnell
 has been recognized everywhere by candid readers, They propounded opin-
 ions considerably at variance with cher-
 ished beliefs. Yet no one could doubt
 the authors religious earnestness.
 Bushnell took up his pen, when from
 time to time he was inwardly moved,
 to communicate new light that his rest
 less intellectual activity kindled within him. He was not habituated to schol- arly researches His continued reading had the effect gradually to modify earl fer conclusions. These he felt the in- pulse to recast. No passion for consist ency was allowed to qualify the frank ness of his expressions. In his mature, final exposition of the Trinity he ap- tCl, dS uc aNoWCN, u tIC ar cient orthodox conception of Athanasius and the Nicense Creed. On the Atone ment, as a supplement to his inculca- tion of what is sometimes called the Moral View" he declared his convic- tion that certain propitiatory element, which is imbedded in the creeds and liturgies of the church from the outset, is not without a real basis, and he sought an application of 1t in a form which he deemed more satisfactory than the traditional modes of interpret ing 1t. The discreet admirers of Bush nell will not ignore nor attentuate these concessions of that noble and gifted man. We may designate them as Re- tracta tions-which is the title Angus tine gave to the work in which, in his "Reconsiderations' this and not "Retractions, is the meaning of the title-we find a. not inconsiderate amount of retrogression from his earl fer teaching. The originality and felic- ity of presentation which mark the Sermons of Bushnell have won for them apprecative readers in Eng land as we'll as in America. Happily the need of honor accorded by the sons of Yale to the eminent divines nurtured here Is not contingent on concurrence | with all their opinions. If admiration | Is not misplaced when bestowed on one who unites the attributes of the poet | and the philosopher, 1t will not fail to be evoked by the character and genius | of Horace Bushnell.
 Philosophy, a branch closely allied to | Theology, was taught at Yale for many years by President Day, with a sobriety If Judgment analogous to the wisdom which characterized his official admin stratlon He published little book n review of Edwards on the Will. Be- For his classes he was an expositor ind critic of Locke and Reid, and at ast of Cousin the chief of the French Eclectic School, With the accession of or. Noah Porter to the chair of Philoso- ,hy, the dor was opened fir the admis- ion of the latest representations of the scottish School, and of the various Ger nan schools from Kant onward. These were not only the subject of historical judy, but a place was allotted to them mong the factors which contribute to he outcome of philosophical inquiry. n the same broad spirit of criticism nd independent thought the col eagues and successors of President Porter in this field have discharged heir function.
 As to Theology within the precincts f the University in the last four or five ecades, the period is too recent to be eviewed at length on the present occa- ion, It is period, in all enlightened of the concentrat ton of bought and inquiry upon the historical of Christianity, including he life, the person and work of Christ. { has introduced new epoch in Bibli- al Criticism, which compels recon iteration of the crucial question of the eat of authority, with particular refer nee to the inspiration and authority of le Bible Moreover the state of hilosophy and new teachings and the ries of natural science have called for
 recqnstruction of the foundations of heish, They have necessitated a new ,rtifying of the citadel of all religious aith.
 It may be said with propriety, that ale has been neither indifferent nor lent on these cardinal questions of i orld-wide interest. It is proper to ention that in the field of Apologetics le effort here has been to deal with le new problems in spirit of candor, l ith mingled fearlessness and discre- on Few writers in recent days have ' ade more timely, fresh and effective