Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-10-11
nge with the pastor. Rev 'Bewis~s4''


Eliot as follows:
AT the summer school of theology held
in Cambridge in July last President Eliot
gave an address to assembled ministers
and theological students of various de-
nominations, titled The New Religion
In it he made statements outlining what
that religion would not be and then what
lit might be. In briefest summary he stat
ed that this new religion would not rest
upon authority, either spiritual or tenn
lporal; that in it there would be no delft
ca ton of remarkable human personages;
that it would not be sacrifcal; that it
would concern itself chiefly, not with sin
| and sorrow, but with joy and life; that
there would be no place in it for magic
or miracles, and that it would not be
lbcund by any creed or dogma. The re-
llieious press of the country for the most
part and we'll night the universal voice
of the secular press has been arrayed
against President Eliot as the destroyer
of that which has been most precious
Throughout the branches of the Chris ian
church. Whether we may agree with him
upon one or many of these points. or
whether he may be absolutely opposed
| to him in every claim which he has made
| 1t is none the less good for US for time
at least to look at these truths from an
others point of view, to be willing to hear
| all possible judgments and interpretations
that the greatest wisdom and truth may
be brought to bear upon these problems.
Without attempting to discuss or answer
the statement of President Elio, I wish
| to take for our study this morning GER
| tain great facts in the light of which
| alone it will be possible for us each to
interpret President Eliot, or to interpret
the whole religious awakening which is
upon the modern world.
| DR.. Quimby then went on to show how
the religion of the future is to be differ
ent from mars thought of religion in the
past He alluded to the changes that are
/ taking place in the meaning of religious
words and thoughts, in particular the new
meaning applied to the supernatural as
related to the natural, of miracle as re-
lated to law, the new meaning of inspra-
ton and revelation as representing a uni
versal influence of God upon all minds
and hearts.
| The speaker then explained why these
conceptions and meanings of old theology
are giving place to our new conceptions.
He briefly touched upon the new concep-
/ tons of time and the numberless ages,
where in life has been upon this planet,
the new idea concerning space and how
modern astronomy has brought bast
treasures of knowledge at our disposal
which were wholly unknown to the an
Gent and medieval world
| 10 byy
fact which made very great impression
upon his audience, that the distance to
, the nearest fixed star, Alpha Centaura, is
more than four light years away from
the EARTH or in other words that light
travels $4,000 miles per second and in
single year it would travel 1859 1888, 600 900
! miles, which is only one quarter of the
distance to the nearest fixed star Could
we travel out in space in any given direc-
ton for a period of 800 light years after
that there would apparently be just as
many stars beyond us as the vast area
left behind.
| He touched upon the new conception of
matter as indestructible points of energy
and the idea of the entire universe as
being single cosmic expression of an
enveloping energy which is In and
through us all
| The speaker further dwelt upon our new
sources of knowledge for the study of
history and anthropology and for the crit
lea! and historical study of the Bible,
showing how these vast treasures of new
knowledge belong distinctly to our mod
erh world and must compel us to rethink
and restate all our religious conceptions
the future which will be vastly richer
in knowledge, more efficient in action and
more universal in awakening responsive
ness in all hearts
Inc central truth of this great religion
OF the future will be like that very truth
:. made central in the life of the Apostolic
church, that God is in all and through
alt and that in him we live and move
and have our being" said Dr. Quimby.
The speaker showed how the current
, ideas that have been prevalent in theol-
osy and have been used as the only
means of Interpreting religious thought
Originated when mems ideas of the earth
, and the physical universe were vastly
smaller than their ideas of it TODAY
when mems ideas of God of men. of ma
, ture and law We're far more crude and
| imperfect than these realms Of knowI-
edge now are to the modern mind and
tRt the necessity of the ages the in
IV$cible power of truth and the Divine
Interpretation of a supreme will and soul
are all compelling men to break away
l from the narrow and crude interpreta-
: tloiis of religion that have held sway
> Tor centuries and to build a new in
? depreciation of religion which shall be
{ III the fullest accord with every last
| truth and fact and law which has been
| MADE known to the mind of man. This
makes 1t imperative that man should
. struggle against sin and evil within
{ hlmseil ana society, for it is the God
: within him seeking to overcome that
r within him. which is opposed to the
i. Divine nature; that he should love the
, truth, starve and even die for il fol
, it is the truth of God within him IN
limited form, crying out for the limit.
less truth of God in, the whole uni
verse; that he should seek for create,
, love and alteration for the indwelline
soul of the Father, for it is the God
i'll his childlike cry, calling out for the