The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-04-30
I1E TOWERS OVER ALL OUR
PUBLIC MEN OF THE PRESENT.
BY DR.. THEODORE BRYANT kINosBuaY.

six sermons. Two are by Bishop
CRANBERRY, Virginian, and the
other twenty-four are by as many
preachers. I think I referred to the
volume before. and as of singular
merit and interest I really do not
recall more valuable and entertain
ing volume of sermons, and / have
been a reader of sermons for more
than fifty years. l began my studies
in that department with Bishop
Jeremy Taylor, Robert South, Henry
Melvill, Robert Hall, Bunyan, John
Wesley and others of lesser mark. In
the Methodist Pulpit South there
are sermons of distinguished merit,
and the.' are strictly Biblical, thought
full, in places eloquent often, and
very imp essive. Among the writer's
represented are Bishops Wightman,
Pierce, Soule, CRANBERRY, Doggett, Nc
Tyeire and Marvin. 1t would be diff
ficult to surpass in any body minis
ters of more pronounced individuality,
power, eloquence, attractiveness and
taste. Some of the other more dis
tinguished representative men of the
Southern Methodist pulpit of that pc
riod-1S50-'60, were Rev. Drs. Joseph
Cross, Thomas o. Summers, Lovick
Pierce, Leroy NJ. Lee, John f. Ed
wards, Wadsworth, Boswell, n. f.
Reid, and others who might be
named. There are, i believe, six of
the twenty-five contributors, natives
of North Carolina. Four are from
Virginia. The learned, able. genuine
Methodist theologian, Rev. DR.. Thorn
as O. Summers, worth a dozen of the
latter-day "progressives" with dis
coveries' and scmi-scepticism, was of
English birth His two superior and
learned volumes of Systematic
Theology. sound and Methodistic. are
textbooks at Vanderbilt University.
BY the way, | remember that recent
number of the able Charlotte Presby-
terrain Standard. makes this state
ment, and it is very complimentary
of that ablest of all Method : insti-
tutions of learning: 'As for Wander
bilt it may be just as we'll for Pres
byterians to know that they have not
a single institution in the South that
compares with this Methodist institu-
ton in the standard of scholarship
1t is well to know some things about
education when writing on the sub
ject."
Bishop Granbery's two sermons are
really admirable, and fine models of
pure. thoughtful, careful sermonizing.
| am not sure but the sermon on
christianity Reasonable in it's Doc
trines and Demands is not fthe
ablest, greatest sermon in the volume.
He was but twenty-nine years of age
when he wrote it, / think he would
confer a blessing upon Southern
Methodists now if he would publish
one or more volumes of his sermons.
1t would be proper thing to do if
the Methodist Publishing House at
Nashville would publish a new edi-
ton of the volume l have been con-
sidering. When that volume was sent
forth probably there were not in all
Southern Methodism more than 600,-
600 members. Now it has nearly L.
100000. Can the church in 1906 pro-
duce an ADLER volume of sermons than
that of 1859? If so it should be done.
What better recognition or surer
benefit could be conferred on the re-
ligious element in our Southland
than by the publication of two such
volumes-provided the second volume
was as true to the doctrines methods,
traditions and beliefs of original
genuine, Wesleyan Methodism as the
first volume-that of 1859-is? /
have heard that Bishop Gambler. of
Georgia, holds that no one ought to
read theological books that are not
an hundred years old. 1t is quite GER
tain that a great deal of the theology
of the present is tainted, vicious, de-
structive. l tried three now volumes
som ten or fifteen years ago, and
they were so unsound, so filled with
vain philosophy and speculative
theories. and new theories and "isms''
so rotten in places. that / resolved to
wash my hands of all such putrid
stuff, and l have stuck to the promise
and kept the faith" 1 have read
many volumes since of theology, but
have not touched the hidden virus in
the books that flow in streams from
the press. [ have been content with
well tested works in several denomi-
nations. 1t is dangerous, unwise and
laundering to read books by most
writer's of the new theology, and fell
lows who deny the plain funda-
mentals of the Bible. including the
greatest of all--the Godhead of Jesus
Christ and salvation only through
Him. The man who will study Wes-
ley, Richard Watson, John Fletcher,
DIR. Clark, DIR. Summers's two vol
umes of systematic divinity, and a few
other true, sound Methodist volumes
setting forth the great leading doc
trines of the Bible, will be sure not to |
go astray after new theological and |
sceptical views, but will be steadfast |
and faithful to the end. / could not |
be persuaded to read any of the new
volumes l see advertised in Northern |
and monthlies unless j |
had a guarantee of sound able learn |
ed Southern theologians that they were |
free from all new-fangled theories. |
discoveries and poisons. Life is too |
short and uncertain, time too preci-
Gus. the grave too certain and near to !
be wasted over books that are full |
of vain speculations, new and rash |
theories yelled or open scepticisrn, !
and effors to destroy confidence in the |
inerrancy of the Holy Bible and the |
of the soul. Professors |
i'm Universities. Biblical teachers and |
auaantific writer's are of the corps of |
he Sappers and Miners, and they /
may be well watched as enemies of |
the Truth as it is in Jesus, and of the |
HOLY Scriptures. Gods own blessed |
revelation of His will to man. Walk /
inEthe Old Paths, stick to the sound, |
safe old Theology. eschew vain. |
e1n,bty-headed Infidels as you would |
The Devil himself, and cling to the |
grand. glorious fundamentals of the I
Rank of books. if you would live !
f;plnt be happy here. and at last get I
ho,soe to Heaven when this poor, little |
lIfe, so transitory and vain, is ended.
Tbg HOLY Spirit never prompted any
49, tn, Cod IF ic nnIV Of I