The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-25
MINIS TERS MEET
Rev.. Mr.. Dick Discusses "PhI-
Iosophy and Christianity"

The regular meeting OF the Providence
District Ministers association was held
In the Mathewson Street Nj. T.. church
this morning with the president, Rev. c.
III. Ever la the chair.
The meeting was opened with devotion
al services, conducted by Mr.. Ever af-
ter which came disposal of routine busi-
ness.
The speaker OF the morning was Rev.
DIR. Dick, pastor Of the Mathewson street
church. DR. Dick presented a scholarly
paper on the theme Philosophy and
Christianity"
In beginning, the speaker brought out
clearly and logically the distinction be-
tween Philosophy and Christianity.
lie then proceeded TO prove by clear
and convincing analysis that philosophy
Is system and Christianity llfe Az
ter bringing out the distinction between
these two essential features of his SUBJ
ject, Dr. Dick closed as follows:
THE Bible is neither "A divine nor hu-
man treatise on any science, and II is not
the function OF the church TO go wild In
its defence from every attack that arises
out of new scientific theories that may be
presented from time TO time. We are 60
defend the Book only 10 show that IL Is
am infalliblc guide 10 the salvation OF the
individual and Of the race as manifested
in experience
1.-The Bible then IS teacher OF saliva
tion and fundamentally nothing else.
Search tl,e scriptures for I'm them ye think
We have eternal life for they are they
that testify OF me. Il am the way. the
truth and the life These expressions
grow out OF the essence OF christianity as
set forth i'm the revealed truth. Christian
ity as life is not dependent ON the Bible
aud did not grow out of the Bible. The
Bible IL not it's foundation
God Is the author or creator OF the
Christian life the same as he IL OF all
life, and the Bible in the outgfowth OF
this life as manifested in human society,
hence whatever may enter into the Bible
OF historic, poetic, or merely prophetic
character are incidental and have their
value as side lights upon what is funda-
mental.
What conclusions must be drawn from
the facts set forth relative to philosophy
and Christianity? IL must be concluded
that any attempt To make an explanation
OF the moral and spiritual natures OF the
human race on purely philosophic grounds
H.,
eism or pantheism.
ITO scepticism, because there is a large
number of human experiences that can
have no possible explanation on philo-
sophie grounds and seem TO be arrayed
against each other I'm contradic-
tions. This begets doubt and the
grea -er the effort 10 Danish the
doubt on purely philosophic grounds the
more complex IL becomes until the victim
iG Lad In To
agnosticism. because there is "A demand
made OF philosophy that transcends it's
sphere. and the inquirer falls into an
endless chain of causes and their effects
without distinguishing between cause and
effect, and is thus led To the conclusion
that nothing can be known.
He gets as II were between the walls
of science and metaphysics and endless
ly beats backward and forward between
them without ever penetrating either and
finally concludes neither can be pene-
trated. To atheism. because OF the in
congruities that necessarily arise I'm the
conditions OF the race. No man can un-
derstand on purely philosophc grounds
how God can be just and mercful, and
loving, and kind and permit all the suf-
fering to which the race Is subjected
through sin.
'He magnfies what seem 10 him incon-
gruities I'm human experience until he
comes 10 the conclusion that no God can
possibly exist To pantheism, because
the unity that underlies the universe
seems undeniable. It's differentiation is
evidence of "A life that unifes the whole.
That life seems devoid OF Individual con-
sciousness and so a kind of world-soul Is
substituted for "A divine intelligence.
"On the other hand, ii we degrade
Christianity to the realm Of philosophy.
and attempt 10 explain everything of
a philosophic character on that basis we
are driven into direct dogmatism. To
substantiate this fact. / only need to al
others OF that period in history.
christianity is no more adequate 10
explain all the facts i'm astronomy, or
belong TO philosophy than biology is TO
explai nall the facts IN astronomy, or
mathematics. let us fairly discriminate
between philosophy and Christianity and
the seeming conflict is over"
A discussion followed the reading OF
the paper I'm which the views expressed
therein were warmly commended.
CoNGREGATIoNAI.M MINISTER'S.
The Congregational minister's meeting
was held this morning I'm the Bible room
of the Benehcent church.
a good attendance was present and
much interest manifested in "a paper
read by Rev. r j. Goodwin, pastor of the
Pawtucket Congregational church.
The paper was entitled, The Revival
of Catechetical institutions" and was
followed by a general discussion.