A CRITIC IN CHURCH.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11056, 6 May 1899, Page 1 (Supplement)

A CRITIC IN CHURCH.

PASTOR CLARK AT THE TABERNACLE. [in' eclectic.] Observing that Mr. Clark's subject at tho evening servico last Sunday was " Christianity, the Great Civiliser; or, Women's Indebtedness to Christianity,'" I. as occasionally I do with increasing pleasure, wended my way to the Tabernacle. I had not the least intention of commenting upon the discourse, and took no notes, but will, I trust, have no difficulty in recalling some observations, which I venture with great dofereneo to deal with. I had rightly concluded that the sermon was inspired by some extraordinary observations made at the recent women's conference, and I would greatly prefer to range myself 011 tho good pastor's sido in such a controversy wore it not that I fear his masterly exposition was nevertheless an unwarrantable overstatement of the. case.

The text was taken from Si. Luke xiii. 21, ono of tho many beautiful and simple! parables to which Jesus likens tho Kingdom of (Ind. It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till (lie whole was leavened." Tho present writing is not intended as a. commentary upon a discourse bristling with beautiful thoughts, eloquently spoken and delivered, at frequent intervals, with fine dramatic effect. Tho preaehei is an artist, and would, had he unfortunately chosen tho dramatic profession as his carce r , have distinguished himself. That lie is a Shakesperian scholar goes without saying, and Clark "Hamlet" or Clark's " Richelieu" would have been masterpieces. How finely lie works up his periods, modulating his voice till the climax is reached with a burst of impassioned and splendid eloquence! His elocution, so far as I am aware, is altogether unequalled in this colony. True to his lofty vocation, he never forgets to subordinate tho purely intellectual to the outpourings of a fervent heart, eager to win souls—a good man, almost a great man, boyond all controversy. When I recall so much, so truly admirable, I almost repent of mj purpose to deal with one portion of the sermon, which jarred upon mo like a discordant note. It was when he claimed for Christianity a monopoly of all good. The human race, and women especially, said the preacher, owes every blessing to Christianity. Before its appearance the world would appear to have been a pandemonium, and since its appearance all progress, all art and science, all invention —divilisatioD itself is due exclusively to Christianity. Claims so far-reaching, so vast and overwhelming, are surely enough to " givo us pause." Do we owe nothing to Judaism, of Buddhism, and other Eastern cults, so much more ancient? The former, who liavo foi _19 centuries and more repudiated Christianity in their polity, social, and religious life, are they one" whit behind the Christian? Tho latter, the religion still of by far the most numerous of the world's inhabitants, have thoy no claim to be heard in their behalf? And Mahommcdans, coming 600 years aftei Christ, arc they to ho ruled out of court? If soma superior being can\o to us -from another planet with no bias, no' preconceived opinions, no inherited predilections, and made an impartial investigation, taking universal history and carefully studying existing religious institutions, would ho ! agree with Pastor Clark? I have had tho good or evil fortune, as tho case may be, to havo dwelt amidst alien races, and, to tell the plain truth, I have felt ashamed of my countrymen and other Europeans, who boasted much of their Christianity. Miss Lilian Edge,, a highly competent judge, would repudiato such claims, I am very sure, as the result of her recent visit to India and lior studies of the vonerablo religions which such vast multitudes profess—aye, and follow to the letter.

Now I desire, without reservation ot recalibration, to avow my sincere and liumble belief in the true teachings of Jesus. That such a confession of faith would satisfy the narrowly orthodox I am, alas! very certain. They aro content to dwell in tho badly furnished lodgings of orthodoxy, and know nothing of the pain and sorrow of renunciation. Tint he lo whom truth is everything, who with bitterness of heart and soul is compelled, with increased knowledge, to jettison such a largo proportion of the teachings of his youth, how great the travail, his only guerdon the approval of his own oonsoionco, his faith in God. Tho Kingdom of God " iB liko indeed unto a little leaven,", and 0! groat preacher, know that the Kingdom of God is within you, and this leaven of real Christianity sapping the foundations of orthodox Christianity till the whole lump shall bo pormoatcd, and lionco tho lingo and incongruous superstructure is tottering to its fail. For my poor part, 1 constantly realiso tho blessedness of that freedom with which Christ makes us froe. I realiso the infinite gain to truth and righteousness in having dropped the incubus of orthodox Christanity, which has obscured and blighted Christ's teachings. It is thus that such multitudes aro gottting back to .Testis, and, liko Bunyan's pilgrim, laying down tlio insupportablo burthen at tlio Gate Beautiful. I cannot express without exhausting superlatives my lovo and admiration for the life, the character, the teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. In another than tho orthodox sense, I regard him as " verily God manifest in the flesh," while disavowing my belief in somo of tho unprovable, incredible, unthinkable claims of tho Tabernacle's popular preacher. In conclusion, I write with a profound feeling of. responsibility when I approach tho subject from tho historical side, and discount so much of the preacher's claims for Christianity. The clover lady who provoked this discussion may take heart of grace. She will bo difficult to vanquish it she rests her claims upon an unprejudiced interrogation of history. It is amazing indeed that a doctrine so sublimely beautiful should have been so rapidly transmuted, that a fountain so pure so soon corrupted; that a lifo so simple and altogether lovely, teaching so sublime and unrivalled, should have been so transformed. Oil, the pity of it! And this still greater pity that men of light and leading should so miss the charm, the truth, and beauty of such a life and such a doctrine. Other systems have been superseded, but once we penetrate to the inner temple of Christ's teachings, they must appear altogether unsurpassable, and such as ought, long ore now,_ to liavo transformed the babel of discord into an earthly paradise. I can never forget, however, that lor moro than a thousand years Christianity settled upon the nations like an intellectual death. How profound and dreadful the eclipse! arresting all progress and invention, at enmity with all science and discovery. Shall I recall the awful inquisition and its myriad victims? Four hundred years before Christianity the Greeks laid the foundations of science, to be afterwards Bwept away by ruthless persecution. Alas! that a religion so puro should have become so contaminated! That hand, avowedly lifted _ to tho Most Merciful, should bo stained with blood! Coming later down the ages, what do we behold? Is the spectacle of warring and jarring sects, of so much intolerance, of heresy hunts, and all uneharitableness, an edifying one. Aro these the fruits of 1900 yeirs of Christianity? Tho crusades of the Middle Ages became i revelation and a rebuke, for they found enemies they despised as brave and chivalrous as themselves, but vastly more cultured, and the sacred places of tho earth is still tho possession of tho degenerate descendants of the unconquerable Saracens. Hoy absurd and arrogant aro claims to such superiority! I verily believe that the leaven of the Kingdom of God is working mightily in these days, butt falsehood tad error dio hard Many generations must pass away ero the whole bo leavened. How long! 0, Lord, how long. The writing of Esdras under the willow trees, As for truth, it endureth for ever, and shall conquer foi evermore," , like . the little !•' lea von" of 'the Master, ; should ; meanwhile I inspire out courage' and purify our faith. 0, for the mountains of myrrh and tho lulls ot [ frankincense ! ( • • '•» ft