Year: 1868

of its doctrines 10 was always lhe BeFNci, uio AF-
ing innermost core Of eternal truth, that was the
object Of his interest His Interpretation Of the
dorlnas Of the evangelical creed was SO liberal as
to throw doubt over the genuine
ness Of his orthodoxy. At the great meeting
of the Evangelical Alliance in Berlin in 1884, in
which Bunsen participated with deep sympathy he
was denounced as a Ratonalist and Romanist, ana
the celebrated historian of the Reformation, Merlo
dAubgn6, felt himself obliged to apologize Tor MS
courtesy towards man who was burdened win such
abominable errors" Indeed, it must be contesseu
that to an American Protestant the comDlhaliOh u
fervent religious zeal in the character Oh buhsen
with latent disrust absolute rejection OF tue ac
credited doctrines of the Church, presents some
what singular aspect. His spirit OF devotion hau al


most a mona site flavor. lie was the strenuous hu'o-
cate of strict ecclesiastical obseryances lie enJoSeu


great delight in the social exercises Of religion lhe
Bible was never absent from his head or heart scarce
ly ever from his hand But the study the Scriptures
with him was mot the main thing, mot the thing itself
but only means TO it," Christianity and real faith'
bo writes sis "A fact Of the inner man, far above all
erudition and outward knowledge; which can only
originate in an inward consciousness of our fallen
nature, and the impossibility without Gods help,
without the grace Of his Holy Spirit to do any good
tbingD Revelation, according TO Bunsen, IS not
through the medium of protocols; it Is not to bo III
terpreted literally, prosaicaly automatically; but
has been made through the imperfect medium oil the
human mind, language and history. 1t Is to be ac-
cepted for what it is not elevated to place. when
it does not claim. History and narrative must DO
taken as such; matter of fact as such poetry Ike
Joshuas command to the SUM- for instance, as such;
and writings like the book of Daniel in tho spirit
of some ancient saint such. Prophecy
has not the character of diyinatlon or
necromancy. In every instance, it Is based
on historical facts We should not regard it rs the
foreteng Of an external event as such, with indlca-
tion of name and time but rather as the perception
of the divine and eternal element in the palpable
facts Of the present There is not single instance
saws Buusen in which the details Of the future are
actually foretold. j is equally certain that not all
prophecies are fulfilled. The Ritual law was an
abhoITent system which only the cOarseness ana
sensuality of the Jews could have compelled Moses
TO impose upon them In other points of no less
importance Bunsen deyiated from the ancient
standards Of the faith, unwilling as he said of the
English Evaugelicals, to ego on threshing the old
straw" but always trusting to the progress Of
science and research for light in the domain Of
theology. According TO Dr. McCOsh whose singu-
larly interesting account Of visit TO Bunscn at
Heidelberg is reproduced in this work. he went to
the extreme length of saying that ho was not sure
about allowing that God is a Being, and could not
admit that God is a Person.


The details of Bunsens life are gwen by lis blopa
pher in rather confused for1n the greater part of
the work consisting Of extracts from his voumlnous
correspondence with scarcely attemptat eonscc-
uive and orderly narrative Still his career presents
an abundance of attractive features his social and
private life was rare example OF dignity and worth;
and no one can contemplate his pure and noble char


acter without sympathy and admiration. Bunsen
was born at Corbach, in the principaty of Wadcck,
Ang -, I5ol. Tho family 10 which he belonged
of the agricultural order, and Bunscn was ai"~ys
proud of bis descent from the kernel of the nation,
the cultivated and cutvatng class of society" Alter
residing year az the University in the picturesque
little town of AIarburg he removedto Gottircen in
1902 where he pursued his studies chiefly under the
guidance of Heyne the celebrated classical scholar,
who a, once recognized the uncommon gifts and ac-
quiremen,s of his youthful pupil He there made tho
acquaintance # Mr.. William b. Astor at that time
student in G0ttugen, aud the connection which he
formed with him a private tutor, Hpened into a
friendship which continued with ardent attachment
on both sides TO the end of Bunsen's life. At this
| period also, he formed intimacy with Schopen-
hauer, whom lie accompanied on a tour to Gotha,
Weimar aud Jena, and was first introduced by him
! TO Goethe and the othcrremarkable men Of Weimar


In after life that brilliant and eccentric metaphys


clan courted the friendship Of Bunsen, whose high
mcntal enuONlntNlS nc lnStiH'llNtN hl'tfiHthi but
there was too little congenialy Of disposition to al
| low permanent relation between them. The frank
and generous nature OF Bunsen could feel 10 sympa-
thy with the cynical and misanthropic philosopher.
In the Spring Of 1916 Bunsen left G0ttingen, and
ioined Mr.. Astor for a short time at PARIS meeting
him again, according 10 previous arran cement, at
Florence in the month Of July. Up TO this date, his
studies had taken the widest range Frequent jour
news had brought him into contact with the most
eminent European scholars. with whom be always
became fayorite especially with Niebuhr, whose
interest in the enthusiastic student became the turn


ing point in the life of the latter The commence
ment of his Florence life is well described
in letter to one of his friends in Coffin
gen. II am working here with real fury; in
the morning at Ferdusi till nine; from that
time ill twelve at the Laurentian Library, over
the Ferdusi MS. from twelve to three in the
Gallery, where / imbibe undsturbedly the gran
deur Of those ancient forms, even TO ecstasy,
particularly the Niobe. At three dinner and from
four to seven. again in the Library. AT seven |
return to my lodging and find my landlady and her
sister spinning in our common hall and talk or read
Italian with them. | continue 10 read the New
Testament, and desire to 90 through both Old and
New in the original languages but have need first
of more inward comprehension Of the sense. l con-
template working out part of my general researches
into the nature of language the beginning Of the
projected course well known to you"


The following year was marked 10y his introduction
to the English family of Waddington at Rome,
the eldest daughter Of which he married in July,
1917 This union was a of lasting happiness TO
Bunsen. Ills wife was lady of admirable charac-
ter and rare accomplishments, and her sympathy
with his pursuits grateful stimulus 10 Bunsen
in all the prOracted years of his subsequent life.