New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-12-21
WHAT DR.. ABBOTT SAID.
Part Of the Cambridge Address and Subse-
quent Interview.

The address of Dr. Abbott which has caused so
much comment in part follows:
I wonder if you students in Harvard will under
great first cause. Tomorrow the newspapers will
get hold of this and brand me as hereto. My
God is a great and ever-present force, which is
manifest in all the activities of man ana al the
IN and gbr OIL and Of everyhngno an absentee
God. whom have TO reach through Blble. or
a Priest cnsa Sr ssme other outside aid but Coo VINO
Science literature and history tell that there
is eternal energy that the Bible no longer can
be accepted as ultimate, that many OF us laws
were copied from other religions, mat the Zen
Commandments did not spring spontaneously from
Moses. but were. like all laws, a gradual growth,
creation. No thinking man will say there are
many energies The days of poythe are past, past
been working 1t is an intelligent energy No
scientist deny it, 1t was working before
Yet Cod has a personality We recognize it as
Angelo Only God is always working. always Great
ing whereas their work is done. God stands near
gives her daughter one. two, three gifts without
Icing recognized. Finally there breaks through
70 f Aio re So 0osi s nd FACE then throws
its around her neck and kisses her. Even
so we, ever in the presence of God come to realize
his proximity and love God makes for good
Mans progress is progress upward. Each day
is better than the first
The New-York Herald" yesterday had an in
terview with DR.. Abbott, who was still in Cam
bridge. He said
My present position Is not new. 1t seems strange
that marked Importance should be attached to my
utteranCe of last night, which is the same l nave
preached in my sermons and written In my pub
lished works for the last fifteen years | stand now
where | have always stood, where all thinking men
and tending at the present time. 1t Is
the irresistible conflict of the old with the new
All transitions of thought involve friction, LAGER
alton and, unfortuna tely. some strife In this case
il is the old ideas of mans relation to Cod with
its special revelation and special mediators con-
trasted with the broader and more spiritual view
In which each soul to the fullest sense of Its
over and above the world, related TO it as me
chanc TO his machine To-day we have come to
the more sniritual view of God Nas the 1ndWeIllng
spirit who is in and of the entire universe. This
permits of doctrine of mediation 1t brings each
soul as near to God as any man has ever been or
ever will be, whether II be here to-day, on the Isle
of Patmos on Sinai.
But what becomes Of the Bible and direct rev.
elation?" was asked. DR.. Abbott replied:
The Rible will remain as it always has been. the
record of mans greatest aspiration ana achleNe
ment in the religious life. 1t is above all other
books simply because it surpasses all other records
of religious achievement. The old idea OF ulrecI
sDeCial revelation has passed away, No one pc
Iieyes il to-day The Bible is the greatest reveal
ton we have. but ii is no truer revelation tnAh
spiritual souls have to-day.
.Bu+ If YOU reject the doctrine OF mediation what
becomes of Jesus Christi" asked, the reply
being:
Christ IS in history what the Bible is in htera-
lure the supreme expression of the divine lde3;
As such He remains distinguished from an
other men and must always remain our ldeaI Oh
the divine expression in human conduct.