New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-03-15

Scripture do possess. nave made for
new faith in the Bible in an age when
many reasonable men were losing their
faith in II. After contest 10 which
the unhappy Strauss may be acknowl-
edged To have contributed. a contest in
which the very foundations OF faith
seemed 10 he removed, n basis for be-
lief has been afforded "a positive and
secure as any which man ever enjoyed.
with the advantage that IL is a founda-
ton upon which the modern man can
and does securely build.
The absence from Professor Moore's
essay Of any dogmatic hostility toward
scientific announcements goes TO
deepen ones confidence in such relig-
ious guidance as the book. albeit with
out ostentation. proffers. for with the
hospitality shown in treating Of Au-
gustc Comics Positivism. Of natural
ism and agnosticism there is no dis
uosition 10 do more than the scientific
spirit in theology would demand II is
a not unpleasing sign of serene conNic-
ton respecting tine vital values Of cath
Ole faith that the agnostic contention.
which an earlier generation could not
away with, is here given credit for its
salutary influence in tanning the ex-
ubcrance of Theological affirmation. AS
the author puts it:
In the sense ~ the recognition OF our
ignorance and of becoming modcsty OF
affirmation. over against the mystery into
winch All our thought runs out. We cannot
reject the correction when dsnOstlcIsm
has administered. II Is a iact which has
had disastrous consequences, that pre-
cisolV the department of thOuBht-namely,
In. religious which one might suppOs.
would most have reminded men Of the
outlying mystery. that phase of HE whose
very atmosphere l. mystery, has most
often been guilty of arrant dosmatism.
I'm this good sense Of "A parallel To
that agnosticism which scientists profess
for themselves within their own appointed
realm there * q religious aenoStcism
which il one Of the best fruits Of IN"
labor Of the age. II is not that religious
men have abandoned the thought of rrvr-
lation They apprehend,d more justly
I'M. nature. of revelation. They are
prepared To say concerning many Of tn"
dicta of feigiosity that they cannot affirm
their truth. They are prepared 10 say
cOncerng the experience Of God and IN"
soul that they know these with An in
defeasible gertrude. This Just and whole
some attitude toward religious truth Is
only a corollary of the attitude which
science has taught us toward all truth
whatsoever.
As 10 the emphasis on social aspects
of religion. dating from the appear
ance in 1864 of Seeley's 'Ecce
Homo" Professor Moore draws at
tention To the assumption made
in recent years. sometimes with I'M
bitterment. that the centre Of gray
ity of Christianity Is outside the
Church: a feeling that the charac-
terislic mark of modern Christianity
is that il has transcribed the organs
and agencies officially created for II.
Granting the essentially Christian spirit
Of much social propaganda. that part
of the Christian Church which under
stands itself rejoices in nothing so
much as in the fact that Christ's in
fluence is felt by many who do not
know what influence 1t is which they
feel His work done by vast numbers
who would never call themselves His
workers. Nevertheless, that part of the
Church is not herewith convinced but
that there is need Of the Church as an
institution and Of those who are con-
sciously disciples Of Jesus in the world.
The happy Transportation witnessed in
the last century i'm which religion has
been brought strongly to bear upon
movements for social reform delivers
Christianity from the indictment that
its concern has been only with the inner