The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-02-21
The KAISER'S THEOLOGY
Some Additional Statements Regard
ing the Plans and Power
of God.

result Of DR.. Dryander's endeavors Other
portions of the letter to the admiral not
contained in the conclusions given to the
press yesterday are as follows
During the evening entertainment with
us, Professor Deltzsch had the opportuni-
ty to fully confer and debate with her
majesty, the empress, and Dr. Dryander,
while listened and remained passive.
Unfortunately he abandoned the stand
points of tho strict historian and Assyri-
ologist, going into religious and theological
conclusions which were quite nebulous or
bold. When he came to speak of the New
Testament 1t became clear at once that
he developed such divergent views regard
ing the person of our savior that / had
to express the Numerically opposite view.
lie does not recognize the divinity of the
Christ as a deduction therefrom, and as
| serts that the Old Testament contains no
revelation about him the Messiah. Here
the Assyriologist and the historical inves-
tigator ceases and the theologian begins,
With all his light and shadow sides. In
this province can only urgently advise
him to proceed very cautiously, step by
step. and at any rate Nentilate his theses
only In the theological books and in the
circle of his colleagues. Spare us, the
laymen, and above all, the Oriental So
ciety, from hearing of them. We carry
on excavations and publish the results in
behalf of science and history, but not to
confirm or attack religious hypothesis
with Professor Delitzsch, the theologian,
who has run away with the historian
The emperor then goes on to express
regret at the fact that Professor Delitzsch
did not adhere to his original purpose OF
translating and interpreting the relations
/ between Babylonan customs, morals, his
torical events and traditions, ETC., and
the Israelites which would have been In
the highest degree interesting for lay
men, and adds:
l., La
ton in very polemical tone, more or
less denying it or reducing it to purely
human matters. There was a grave error,
for thereby he touched on the mnermost,
lholiest possession of many OF his hearers,
which shook and even shattered the foun-
dat tons Of their faith. 1t is a deed that
only the greatest genius should venture
to attempt and for Which the mere study
of Assyriology did not Justify him.
/ The emperor then, gives his persona
views regarding the revelation, saying
II distinguish between two different kinds
Of reVelation-one, progressive and, as ii
WERE historical; the other purely religious
as preparing the way for the future Mes
siah. .ttsf rt.. =
His Grandfather Among Them D.,
| Regarding the former. it must be said
for me- it does not admit of doubt, not
even the slightest. that God reveals him
self continuously in the race Of men Gre
ated by him. He breathed into man the
breath Of his life, and follows with father
~ love and interest the. development OF
the human race. III order to lead 1t for
ward and develop it. He reveals himself ii
this or that great sage. whether prlesl
or king, whether among the heather, Jews
or Christians. Hamurabi was one; SO was
Moses, Abraham, Homer, Charlemagne
Luther, Shakspere, Goethe, Kant and En-
peror William the Great. These he sough
out and endowed with his grace to accom-
plish splendid, imperishable results fo1
their people, in their intellectual and phys
ical provinces, according to his will. How
often my grandfather pointed out that M
was only an instrument in the Lord
hands. 49,. ,-e.,a@
.iThea second form, of revelation, the
more religious. is that which leads to. the
manifestation of ouraLord. 1t was intro
duced with Abraham, Slow, but forward
looking and onniscient,s for humanity wa
lost without ito. Now Begins the mos
astonishing aetvitN GSf G9d a,s re4 9sHa,on
! ing from it regard faith III one God a.
their hottest possession, and it follows
hold fast to it with ciron-l like consistency
Split up during their Egyptian captivity
the divided elements were again Welde'
), together by Moses, ever trying to- hol'
fast to their monotheisn 1t was the di
;: irect intervention of God that caused tn
lrejuvenation of this people. thus proNe'
through centuries, till the Messiah her
!, aided by prophets and psalmists, FINAL.
appeared the greatest revelation of Co
in the world for he appeared in the sol
himself. Christ is Cod God in human
form. He redeemed US, inspires and en-
tices us to follow him. We feel his fiji
, burning in us. His sympathy strengthen
us. His discomfort destroys us. But also
! his intercession saves us Conscious Q
victory building solely upon his word, "
go through labor, ridcule, sorrow, mlser
and DEATH for we have in him Gods re
vealed word, and He never lies.
D s.,,hat is my view of these matters
is to me self evident that the GA Iesta
t ment contains many sections WHICH di
r of a purely human and historical nature
l and are not Gods revealed word Ihes
are merely historical descriptions OF Incl
dents Of all kinds which happen IN the Pc
: litical, religious, moral ana lll'ei'ec'"s
life of this people. The legislative act .
Y Sinai for example, can be only regarde
as symbolicaly inspired by Co.. VINE
Moses had to rebuEnish well-knoWn para
graphs of the law, perhaps oeriNed iio1
1 the code of Hammurabi, In order to III
t lcornorate and bind them into the loose
weak fabric of his people. Here the his
l torian can, perhaps, construe from tn
sense or wording a connection with tn
Laws Of Han,rnurabi the friend Of Abra
e ham. That is perhaps logically. correc
: But that will never disguise the TACT tha
cod melted Moses thereto and insofar re
yealed himself to the people OF Israel -
pUIEC E0R THF RhRREE