Christian Evidence Societ...
The Times, 1824-11-25T00:00:00

The sittings of a Society under this name, instituted, accordinz to the declaration of its fbundtrs, " for thle stmpression of infidelitr and scepticism, bv means of rational discussion -lone," was resumed last night at the Crown and Atichor Tavern, Strand. Curiosity ap- peased to be the ptincipal motivewhich brought together the greater number of the audience last night. There had becn a previous meet. ing on the 12th inst., at the Globe-tavern, Fleet-street, wlich broke up in disorder, acnd it was then resolved; that " no person should be allowed to address the assembly at any convention, without having previou.sl5 notiiSed his inteation to the reeretary." The question fixed for dissussion llst night was, the first para. g;rraph in Dr. Paley's ERvidencc. of L'.stitenify. whtich is as fol- low2s:-< I deem it unnecessarv to prove that mankind stood in need of revelation, because 1 have met with no serious person who thinks that even unler the Christian revelation, we hatve too much light, or any degree of assurance wvhich is superiluous." At seven e'clock, the chair was takern by Jur.LIEN HIusnT, Esq., of Trinity (C1legz, Canibridge; supported on the left bv the Rev. Robert Taylor, A. B., whlo is secretary, indeed chief of the societ, and wwho had upon his left Mr. Gale Jones, who appeared to take a deep interest in the proccedings. The Rev. RonxtT T.AYLoRopened the debate, by opnosing Dr. Paley's proposition, and contending that proof of the revelation was neceisary. He professed himself a staneh advocaLte for (hristianity, but net upon the existing evidence of its credibility; and he then im- posed upon those who differed from him the light task of wlading through the parchmentsin theVaticanat Rome, and the Britisb Mtit seum, for the purnose of technically studying the Greek and Hebrew ieanliingof the 773,692 words of holy Wvrit. He next gave some speciinensof hiis own literary acquirements, anti captacitv for this species of investigation, in which he lhad a decided advanitage over his hearers; for a M\r. Fih loudllv interrtupted him to obtain a translation of a long Latin extract from. Casatbon, who charged the first commentators upon holy writ with " helping out the trath of Hfeaven with their ewn lies." RICHAnI) WILLYAMS, EsQ., opposed lfr. Taylor's arguments, and quoted Locke, against Casanbon. lir. ALLrN, Ilt.A., commenced a vituperative attack upon some individual in the room, and then described himself as a phi. losopher of nature: lie tdeduced the benignitv of God from the greatness of nature, wvithout requiring the aid of revelation. THoMiAs SMITHr, Esq., defended revelatiost, and was replied to in a whirlwind of words by GALE .JOSNES, who talkea for half an hour about " the light of nature." It was then announced bv Mr. TAYLOR, that the names on the list of regular speakers had spoken, and that those who meant to speak at the next meeting sisAxt send in their names to'hin to have their order of proceeding arranged. The meetin- at hialf-past 10 o'clock being sufficiently edified with what they had heard, procciled to decile by a show of' hands upon the question, when it was carriAl by a larce majority that Dr. Paley w-as wrong in the first sentence of his work. The decision was fol- lowet wivth en ejaculation of *' Poor Paley " Neither-in the speakers, nor in the audience, did there appear any extraordinary fitness for thc discuision. It is difficult at firtt view to judge of the character of any society, or of the means whicht it can command to promote the end it pro- fesses to lave in view. How far able mnen, competent to discuss such topics as they ought to he discussed, will commit themselves with sceptics and enthusiasts in a Lonton dehatng society, remains to be seen. We can hardly expect 5hat the assembly congregated on these occasions will resemble Milton's mixed communion of men and spirits. who met " to raise their celestiel voices to the milidnighit air :" it is more likely to be comnposed of " tile jarring sceds of ill . assorted things".-of that class of controverters in divinity described by Ben Jonson. who "1 like swaggerers in a tavern, catch for ar. minent that which stands next them, the candlesticks or pots." llWe shall no doubt have "' sermon popgims" in abundance, re- peatingandtdischarging texts,proofs, and applications, until. likethe woman (lescribed in the Spectator, the perpetual din inflicts a head- ache whieb tinkles even in sleep. There cannot be in such a society tihose materials of organizalion, without which, as Hooker ob- serves, "dlisputation about the knowledge of' God commonly pre. vailethi little." Ahout 200 persons, among whom were several well-dressed elderly fexuales, were crowded into a smnnaJ room, and the lieat was almost instipportable. _ CAURfSTI4NV ERVThNCE SOCIETY.