Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-27
THE GOD WE WORSHIP.

LAAAA WA " - W NAN1e@eAf
The Christian world is agitated every
now and again by the cropping out Of
peculiar sects and Of ideas out Of the
common way. many Of which are ira
tional and most Of hem In opposition
10 the teachings Of the Bible, book
which is supposed 10 be the written
standard for them ali. A late number
of the Literary Digest refers TO some
or the changes that are taking place
I'm the doctrines held BY orthodox de-
nominations. and It quotes from an ar
ticle In the Congregatlonalist by Dr.
Arthur Little, Of Dorchester. Mass
That writer points out The fact that
some OF the leaders In ghat is dubbed
"the progressive movement" are them
selves becoming fearful Of the conse-
puences OF their so-called advanced
theories.
Speaking Of the shadowy nature Of
fhe notions that are put forth as ad-
vanced Christianity. he says. There
81 a pressing need Of a clear and def
mite statement OF the things we surely
believe and hold IN common on the
subject of Deity. DR.. Little makes soms
pointed comments, part Of which are
here inserted.
During the past few years the cur
rent theology has been sadly warped
by the attempt TO twist IL into har-
fnony with the improved hypothesis Of
evolution. Hence miracles and the SUI
pernatural now have little value. That
attempt ought TO be held IN allegiance
until fresh supply Of scientific GER
families appears. Prof. O. w. Knox has
recently said that while the old sys-
tematlc theology no longer rules, no
better fate awaits those who attempt
its reconstruction according 20 sci
ence which Is up 10 date, FOR without an
accepted cosmology or metaphysics.
where shall system-bu find his
MATERIAL II the modern theologian
finds himself short Of material. how
would II do for him 20 80 back TO the
Bible
"A few words abou, the fathers Our
fathers looked up 10 God as enthroned
above all things directing and guiding
10 predetermined end the universe
He hal created That belief VIII
stand. In the majestic imagery ~ lsa-
tah, the Psalms. and the Apocalypse.
God is thus cnthroncd, and his trans
rendence Is gloriously affirmed. The
sovereignty Of God Is a doctrine that
ought TO be preached now. SO far as
j know. the divine immanence and
fatherhood have always been taught
with varying degrees Of emphasis
80 much insistence Is now placed
upon the mmanence Of God as 10
bring US dangerously near the border
land Of pantheism. and 70 make II easy
for 'unwary and unstable souls 10 es-
pouse an sorts Of panthelstlc vagaries
like Mysticism. Theosophy Christian
Science. the New Thought, and other
kindred emotional cults.
while il IL happily true that We do
not attempt To put Into exact forms OF
statement the relations between the
Father. Son and HON Spirit, ] am con-
fident that the great crceds Of chris
tendon express the belief Of our de-
nomination touching the unity and the
IeTENil anu MNI ~ Nl " NAN NNNH ANN" NN
existence as the eternal LoEos and his
birth from the Virgin Mary, through
the power Of the Holy Ghost are ] am
sure generally believed and taught by
CONGREGATIONAL ministers, ana accepted
BY the vast majority of laymen.
"Serious divergence ~ opinion on
these cardinal doctrines must in the
nature ~ tho case. be devisive. The sur
-. - 49, NfeforIe facts d. the
surrender of The citadel"
one of The causes NJ So much eonfu-
sion in the minds o. religious people on
she subject presented IN the foregoing
Is that very indehnlteness concerning
rthe relations between the Father. Son
and Holy Spirit, which Dr.. Little ad-
sniis is to he found In the statements
concerning the Trinity and that char
arierizcs all their creeds Every ate
tempt that is made ~ anything like a
definite explanation ahomds with cone
Predictions. and the conclusion reached
s. that God is 'incomprohensihle 20 The
doctrine Of the immaterlaliiy Of the
Divine Being is 10 Itself beyond com.
prohcnsion. and Is in direct opposition
70 that which IL revealed IN the Holy
Scriptures. The notion that because
rGod Is a Spirit" he must perforoe be
without form or tangible substance o.
cupying no space. possessing no prop
critics IN common with matter leads
away those who entertain Il into the
region of mystery and beyond all hui
man understanding.
"Mormonisn.7 in the midst Of an the
speculativc' theology u the times.
gives the only definite explanation OF
the relations between the persons
composing the Holy Trinity. that IL in
conformity with the declarations con-
rerning them 70 be found IN the Old
and New Tesiamenis. That there Is a
vast difference between the essence
called spirit and that which Is COM
monty known a. matter must be- con.
ceded but % do,s i'o' foii"N ,'s-sa-s
Of that difference that a sprit. whether
Of man or Of Deity, has nothing which
ran be grasped by the human mind. but
u without shape or substance that may
rome within the scope n The material
The God 81 the Bible IL always repre-
scented as Person The spirit Of man