The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1909-11-21
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Speculative Thought.
, Editor of The Age-Herald:

10 the Editor OF The Age-Herald:
Over 90 years ago 1 read in New York
newspaper an account of theological
controversy In Andover Theological semi
nary about the original sin OF man. The
same paper editorially remarked, And
over seminary was founded in the seven
teenth century. These grave and dignifed
professors learn nothing and know moth
ing" inferring that seventeenth century
theology was out Of joint In the nine
teenth century.
In January, 1908, I attended In Cooper
institute, New York, Sunday night dis
course delivered by the Rev. DR.. Lyman
Abbott on the Religion of Jesus" and
the following Sunday night by Professor
Faginiani of the Union Theological semi
nary. His subject was: you Cannot
Serve God and Mammon." Both of these
addresses were purely ethical, and neither
had any theological or dogmatic favor.
1t is customary at Cooper institute after
the address is delivered to devote one-half
hour to a general discussion of the dis
course. Some one in the audience ques-
toned Dr. Abbott: What chance has an
atheist to go to heaven? This answer
came from the venerable DR.. Abbott;
1.-THE same chance as the very best Chris
tian-he who lives a life of righteousness
and moral rectitude. whether he be Chris
tan, Jew. Mohammedan or atheist" And
DR.. Faginiani was also liberal in his utter
ances. Last spring year ago Dr. Bar
den of ST. Marks Episcopal church. in
New York, delivered a series of dis
courses on higher criticism of Genesis,
and the reverend doctor was bold enough
to state In the course of his address that
the stories of Adam and Eve, Noah s
food and the Tower of Babel were Baby
lonian myths. After the service was oyer
DR.. Barden invited his audience to a
general discussion in the clubroom of the
church. / questioned DIR. BaHden as to
how 27e .harmoniy' the Mythical story
of Adj n with Il Hogmatic teaching of
st. Paul on the original sin of man, and
Christ as the second Adam. DR.. Bar
den evaded the question. On the follow
ing Sunday night asked him some other
questions and how his liberal attitude
squared with the Episcopalian theology.
He simply smiled and again gave mo an
eyasive reply. On the third Sunday, al
though he was still lecturing on
higher criticism, he discontinued the open
discussion.
Dr. Charles W. Eliot, president emeritus
of Harvard, recently In an address be-
fore the Howard Summer School of The
ology prophesied the advent of a new
religion ut will not be bound by dogmas
or creed" he said. Its working will be
simple, but its field of action lmitless; it's
discipline will be the training in the de-
velopment of cooperative good will; 1t
will attack all forms of evil; there will
be no supernatural element; 1t will place
no reliance on anything but the laws Of
nature; prevention will be the watchword
and the skilled surgeon one Of its members;
It will not deal chiefly with sorrow and
death, but with Joy and life; God will be
so eminent that no intermediary will be
needed; It's priests will strive to improve
social and industrial conditions. The new
religion will not attempt to reconcile peo-
pie to present ills, but the promise of fu-
ture compensation"
Let US reflect on these men OF light and
truth--truth the way 1t is conceived to-
day! AS truth Is only relative term,
what seemed the truth of yesterday will
be the error of tomorrow. These earnest
seers discern the light on the hilltop that
will soon spread in the low places. What
contrast to those men who are trying
feebly to retard the onward march of a
human thought and a higher outlook Of