The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-03-06
A REVIVAL OF CALVlNlSM.

In view of the efforts now making
in this country to soften the sternness
of the Calvinistic theology, it is
significant that among EnglIshmen
the revival of it is freely predicted as
the next great movement in religious
thought.
The London Quarterly Review is
the organ of British Methodism, and
that church's insistence upon "free
will" as opposed to ''predestination"
is well known. Yet in recent issue
of the Quarterly we findFrederic Platt
writing of "The Renaissance of
Caivinism" as one of the signs of the
times. While he expressly disclaims
any intention of appearing as either
the exponent or apOlogist of that
theological system, he gives it such
praise as the following.
Its keenest critics admit that it
has been the most dominant creed OF
ChriStendom; students of history with
increasing unanimity recognize that it
created a reign of human life entirely
it's own; the highest stages of develop
ment have been reached by CalviniStlc
peoples, and by Calvinistic peoples
alone: strength and progress have
marked its peculiar movements IN
society: it created Scotland:it liberated
England: it gave heroic nationality
to the Netherlands: it is enShrined in
the noble romance of the Huguenots:
1T sailed with the Pilgrim fathers, and
became the impulse of the marvellous
civilization of the western world.
Mr.. Platt also quotes with approval
John Morley's emphatic statement
that 'to omit Calvin from the forces
of western evolution is TO read history
with one eye Shut" the German his
torian Banke'S assertion that 'John
Calvin was the virtual founder of
America, and the American his
torian Bancroft's saying that ''he who
will not honor the memory of Calvin
knows little of the history of Ameri-
can liberty He knows little, it may
be added, of the history of liberty any
where.
1t is easy to understand why
thoughtful Englishmen, whatever
their personal beliefs, should be recur-
ring toCalvinism as force strengthen
ing the state. For many years British
religious thought has been drifting
toward the emotional in religiOn-lO-
ward the feeling that religion is a
point of view rather than reasoned
doctrine. The whole ritualistic move
ment in the established church and
much of the humanitarian effort of
its members have been based upon the
theory that religion is a way Of life
rather than positive conviction.
Suddenly England became involved
in war with people whom she had re-
garded as illiterate peasants with a
religious belief that was merely an as
pecl of their barbarism. She saw her
best and bravest comparing unfavor-
ably i'm energy and efficiency with
these same peasants, who found in
their Calvinistic faith the inspiration
of their grim resolution never to con-
fess defeat. And the eyes of thought
full Englishmen have, perhaps, been
opened to at least the utility Of a
faith that could inspire such dauntless
courage.
To discriminate between forms of
religious belief is not the province of a
secular newspaper. Yet, however one
may be repelled from some Of the
Calvinistic doctrines, one must confess
that Calvinism is faith which sends
men forth TO great deeds with I'M
troubled minds. Inter Ocean.