The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-10
MINISTERS MEET
Methodist and Congregational
CIsrgymen in Session Today,

Inc regular meeting Oh the tToNlutntc
District Methodist ministers was held in
the Mathewson Street NJ. l.. church this
morning. In tho absence Of Rev. "A. j.
Coultas, the president, Rev. ii. ~ Ridge
way, the vice president, was i'm the chair.
Devotional exercises were conducted by
Rev. w. |. Ward pastor OF the First NJ.
T. church OF Fall River. The essayist
of the morning was Rev. G. A. Stenhouse
of Pawtucket and his subject, present
Day View OF the Atonement"
Asserting, i'm beginning, that the atone
ment is the central doctrine OF Chris
tianity, the speaker stated that history
of the doctrine shows that Ii has been
the common battle ground or religious
disputation for ages.
The most surprising thing i'm the
church universal today he said. ''is tho
lack OF respect paid TO theological opinion,
no matter who the author or how hoary
with age IL may be.
Indeed Ii seems to have come TO be
settled conviction among the most
thoughtful Christians today that sys-
tematic theological statement OF Scrip
tural truth is impossible. and that any
one Offering such is TO be regarded with
the utmost suspicion and Indifference;
suspicion az TO ulterior motive fffIndif-
ference 20 claims made"
OF prominent theologians regarding the
atonement and charging upon the same,
the speaker called attention TO the In
nuence which the theory of evolution Is
exerting upon the doctrine of atouement
and summed up his conclusions as fol-
lows:
"The purpose of this paper will be COM
pleted I'm n summary of results evident
mainly from the quotations but partly
from influences legitimately drawn from
the present attitude of thinkers OF all
schools.
Among the great results evident now,
moro than at any previous time are:
First. the atonement is the central truth
OF Christianity; even evolution cannot dis
place it, although IL knows hardly what
| TO do with it i'm the centre of its system.
| Second, Satan has beeH displaced from
! the important place he has held in the
| transactional theories God permitted the
| introduction of moral evil in the world
! for his own wise purposes and through
| Jesus Christ assumed all responsibility.
| That responsibility eliminated on the
cross. Third, the incarnation of Jesus
| Christ does not assume its real import
ance until the cruciTxion. for men are
/ introduced TO Christ Incarnate through
| the Crucinxion. All schools agree. how
| ever, that it is what Christ is that makes
| his atonement effective Fourth, mans
| relation 10 the cross Is personal and i'm
| dividual. The atonement is OF no benefit
| until he wants 10 displace sin in his life.
| and it is so then only when he determines
| to allow holiness TO take its place.
'The cross means more than forgive
| ness: IL means a new life. But no one is
compelled i'm any way TO accept this offer
! OF reconciliation with God.
"Fifth.all schools OF thought are stand
4 ing on the common fact OF the atonement
and much nearer TO universal theory than
| ever before.
''The destruction OF warning systems OF
| theology is n direct benefit 20 universal
! Christianity"
The regular meeting of the Congrega-
! tionalist ministers was held In the Bible
| room of the Renencent church this morn.