The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-02-09
DIR. CALIS!CH ON
GREAT REF0RiMERS
First of His Series of Such Lee
lures.
HE WILL TAKE BUT FEW
Men Who We're the Dominant Figures
i'll the Movements With Which
Their Names Are Connected
TO Be Discussed.
He WILL TAKE BUT FEW

faDOl II N. CailScll utiiFeleo a. i'o'A
Ahaba Synagogue last night the intro
ductory lecture to a series 10 be given on
succeeding Friday evenings on the great
Religious Reformers' of the world. The
congregation was large and the lecture
was greatly enjoyed.
Iiia took his text from Deuteronomy
xXxiv, 10. And There Arose Not AGAIN
q Pro.3et in Israel Like Moses, Nnom
t;odi knew Face TO Face and SAID IN
part:
when tie author of this verse penned
these lines, he doubtless thought that
through all the passing OF the ages there
never would arise again III Israel man
of such extraordinary ability and power
as was Moses. In SO far as the spirit or
his law is concerned the seal oil time mas
been set upon this decision and has Verl-
fled it There is not a civilized country
on the globe whose law is not louiueu
upon that of Sinai, there is not thro1i7
that is built on justice, or truth, or moral
itv. that has not gotten its strength from
the inspired words of Israeis prophet.
yet it may be said that. in certain
measures. each people and even each CEN
tu,y has had its prophet who came 20
revise the work of his predecessors; ana
to change, not SO much the spirit OF Tue
law, as the vehicle OF its expression 70
rive it a nobler Interpretation in conso-
of mankind. These men have not louhueo
new faiths. but made such startling rector
nations in the theological conceptions
of their day as to give rise to distinctive
denominations, that are as the rooms
within a house, covered by the same 1ooI,
shielded by the same wallis, out coii'l'te'etS
distinct from one another.
THOSE TO BE DISCUSSED.
..J-he list that will be taken up is py
no means complete It will embrace
those. orllv who have been responsive LOT
the largest movements in the world Oh
religious thought, and for obvious reasons
will embrace only reformers in Judaism
and Christianity. The names toucheu
upon VIII be Wicl1iffe. Huss ana Jerome
Luther, Savanarola. CALVIN, S"eoeil1 ,s .
Neodelssohn Wesley and Wise. Ihese
names are used because the men are
identified. with but one or two exceptions
with the various denOminatlOnal DIVISIONS
of the two faiths. The names Oh Hn!o'
OF Alexander, of Socrates, Ma1ilioli1u.s,
Spinoza and Darwin, might have WIN
Justice been included. for these men u!u
nightly influence the religious thousit
of the world. But they were not strictiE
ra,icious thinkers. Their labors wera
more in the realms OF science ana ~
speculative and natural philosophy. II
i trI,e That their labors did affect the
religious aspect, the work OF Darwin es-
necially. There is no one WORK IN liioueih
times that has created SO sweeping d
revolution in theological thouSht aS ms
Origin of Species. 1t has conpeiieu (.
complete reimbursement oil theology 1et
Dauwjn,s work was more scientific than
religious. or even theological, and 1t at
footed religious thought only when the
latter came in contact or confilct win
modern scientific discoveries, or natural
philosophy.
UNCONSCIOUS REFORMERS :.
..-rhese four mentioned might be ciasseo
as unconscious reformers, but the course
10 h, taken up wiz deal with those onIE
,.,,o CONSCIOUSLY and knowingly recoS-
niZed the necessity Of reform IN tle re-
Foious me,hod and thought OF Their day
and as consciously set up a duty LOT
themselves to bring it about, to Top OH
hfeleSs branches, to clear away oeati
caves. to re-establish the freshness ana
purity and strength of faith, by freeing
it from the choking growth OF eccies.is,l-
cad and rabbinical usurpatlonS, ana tiie
deadeninc incubus Of ceremonial eNtFaVa-
ranre and superstitious eNaggeranons.
rhav were warriors Who fought for the
s.rYIrit,laL liberty Of the people against me
pntrenched power Of hierarchical donfl-
nance and established authority. that hao
sought to enslave the conscience.
.:rTne work they have done has been OF
great moment to the human iLGe '''i" 20,
affected vitalty the lives or al peop4e'
Possibly there may not be the same 1ascl-
cation as there was in recalling the lives
If the founders of faiths, as there Is
no+ as . rule, as much interest III the
.emo1eiinc OF q thing as there IS IN It's
original creation. Yet there IS TO us d
nnre than historical or intellectual an
crest There is to us every one, Idth-
,fic m. Protestant or Jew. q personal APP
zeal Of great power, for the lives OF these
men have fashioned for us our own view
noint of life and faith and God
Each HAD HIS PIONEERS.
.vrha men whose lives will be taken UP
r,-s-,s rho dominant figures in the mo"e-
,,ants wifi which their names are con
,arrei vet they were but the eliminating
factors of them. Every great achleVe-
nent has its years Of hidden preparation
when silently and unconSciously the con
;1it;ons are being ripened tor the ma.
ienoument, for the harvest OF nope aho
,lorv and freedom. Each of these men
bod his nioneers. who went before into
rhe wilderness to blaze The way. Yet
they had the courage ana the Judgment
to seize the ripened fruit of opportunity
and to launch their bark upon the flood
tide Of prepared circumstance. inefeAn
,ay their strength and greatness. Ihey
could not have created their reformatloHs
had not conditions been ready for them
The evolution of the human race Is a
gradual and certain growth 1t can DE
neither. FASTENED nor retarded. When the
hour strikes, God raises UP His men.
the tools of His great purposes, and with
them effects His planes for hum;Dl prog
resS The SLOW ripefanS we do not per-
ceive. The chemical changes are hidden