THE REV. ALEXANDER MACKENNAL, D.D. of style few writers or preachers of our times surpass Dr. Brown. The fourth member of this group is Dr. Cave, Principal of Hackney College in London, and a theological writer whose works are well known both in his land and ours. In the list of ministers of middle age I mention first Professor Massie, of Mansfield College, who has an international reputation among Biblical scholars. His special department is New Testament Exegesis. Next comes the Rev. W. J. Woods, the successor of the late Dr. Alexander Hannay in the Secretariat of the Congregational Union of England and Wales. It is enough to say of him that his service as Secretary has justified his election to the distinguished position which he holds. Following him is Dr. Wardlaw Thompson, whom I think I may call the great Secretary of the London Missionary Society; an unsurpassed administrator, and a man whose wisdom and sympathy are recognized wherever the work of the London Missionary Society has penetrated. Dr. Thompson more nearly resembles the late Dr. N. G. Clark, of the American Board of Foreign Missions, than any other missionary secretary whom I have known. The Rev. J. Hirst Hollowell, who is The last name in this group of men in middle life is the Rev. P. T. Forsyth, D.D., pastor of Emmanuel Church, in the University City of Cambridge. In intellectual clearness and strength Dr. Forsyth ranks next to Dr. Fairbairn among English Congregationalists. I have often thought that his true place is in a professor's chair. Dr. Dale regarded him THE REV. P. T. FORSYTH, D.D. as the ablest of the younger ministers of the Kingdom. He has long been in poor health, and works under great difficulty, but with surpassing intensity and power. His sermon at a recent meeting of the Congregational Union in Birmingham on "The Holy Father" was one of the most memorable discourses ever given before that body. A quiet, retiring man of singular genius, he is a preacher for teachers and scholars, who has found a congenial field in a pulpit under the shadow of a venerable university. as one of the most remarkable preachers of the present day. He is, I believe, a graduate of Christ Church College, Oxford, and was trained a Churchman, but has since become a Congregationalist from conviction. It is said that not since Frederick Robertson preached in Brighton has that city been so moved by the ministry of any other preacher. Still another name was originally upon our programme, and its removal was a serious disappointment. The presence of the Rev. Robert F. Horton, D.D., would have been a rare Passing now to the younger ministers, addition to the meeting. Considerably we find on the pro- under forty-five, he Of these men it may not be invidious to say that Fairbairn is the pre-eminent theologian, that the good work of Wardlaw Thompson is known in all lands, and that the splendid promise of Horne and Jowett and Campbell gives hope for the future of a race of preachers among the English churches as great as any in the past. THE REV. A. M. FAIRBAIRN, D.D. Of the laymen who will attend, Mr. Albert Spicer is a member of Parliament, and perhaps the most prominent layman in English Congregationalism. He lives in a palatial home at Lancaster Gate, near the Marble Arch, in London. He is a leader among the churches, has been well nigh around the world in their service, and is as consecrated in his religious service as he is uncompromising in his political duties. It was once said that with the Pilgrim Fathers "the finest of the wheat" of Puritanism came to this country. The mention of these men, of the positions which they occupy, and of the work which they have achieved, shows that much fine wheat was left on the other side, and that Binney and Raffles, Baldwin Brown, James Parsons, Rowan Hamilton, John Angell James, and Robert W. Dale have able and worthy successors. The true Apostolic Succession in England rests upon a firmer foundation than the hands of the Anglican bishops. Australia will be represented on the programme by the Rev. L. L. D. Bevan, D.D., formerly of New York and now of Melbourne, and by its bestknown theological teacher, Professor A. Grosman; and Scotland will have for its speaker the Rev. James Stark, D.D. Woman's Work is to be presented by women. Mrs. Armitage is well known in England, and the name of Dr. Grace Kimball has become a synonym for all that is sublime and unconquerable in heroism. She enjoys, perhaps, the unique honor of being the most hated woman in the world-by the Sultan of Turkey. I have space for only a word concerning American members of the Council. The name of the Rev. Dr. Richard S. Storrs does not appear on the programme. Dr. Storrs was the first choice for President, and accepted the office. Later, however, in obedience to the positive orders of his physician, he withdrew his acceptance. Among the Americans who will read papers are: the Rev. F. A. Noble, D.D., of Chicago, Moderator of the National Council of Congregational Churches; that splendid trinity of College Presidents, Tucker, Hyde, and George Harris; Professor George P. Fisher, who divides with Dr. Storrs the honor of being known as the Nestor of American Congregationalism; the Rev. Harry Hopkins, D.D., of Kansas City, and son of the great President of Williams College; the Rev. Alvah J. Lyman, D.D., of Brooklyn. Among the younger ministers it is enough to mention THE HON. ALBERT SPICER Patton, of St. Louis, Jefferson, of New York, and Brown, of Oakland. English Congregationalists in politics. are nearly all Liberals. The strength of the Liberal party is among NonconformThe distinction between LiberalUnionists and Gladstonians has nearly disappeared. It is therefore enough now to say that they are chiefly Liberals. All Nonconformists in England are of necessity politicians, since they are made Dissenters by the existence of a State Church. If the question of disestablishment could be eliminated, lines would no doubt be differently drawn, but for the present they cannot be. Disestablishment must always be a part of the programme of the party which expects the votes of the Nonconformist Churches of all denominations. Leaving politics and coming to theology, a few general facts may be stated. Few English Congregationalists are Calvinists, but all are strongly Trinitarian; few are willing to dogmatize concerning eschatology, but all are loyal to the per-son of Christ and proclaim his deity enthusiastically and constantly. Most Christian thinkers in England of all denominations incline either to the doctrine of conditional immortality or of ultimate restoration; but, on the other hand, very few have any sympathy with the older Universalism. They believe in the doctrine of retribution; that it holds in this world and all worlds; and that while there is sin there must be suffering. The Andover controversy would have been impossible there. Edward White and Robert W. Dale accepted the doctrine of conditional immortality; others believe in final restoration, and all teach the universality and eternity of retribution for sin. They are divided on this subject about as the other denominations. The following seems to me to be a fair statement of the theological attitude of most English Christians. They are loyal to the Bible, but not afraid of criticism; they hold firmly to the Trinitarian doctrine of God, the essential deity of Jesus Christ, the objective value of the work of Christ, and sure retribution for sin; but a large proportion accept either the doctrine of conditional immortality or ultimate restoration, and this is true even of the most conservative thinkers among all denominations. I once heard Dr. Bevan, formerly pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York, say that theologically the English Churches were thirty years in advance of the American. The opinion is quoted for what it is worth. More generally than the American churches, the English have an intelligent and strong faith in the continuous ministry of the Holy Spirit, and what I delight to call the growing revelation. the Council will never be formulated. There will be no attempt to settle any thing by a show of hands. Some of the greatest subjects of human thought will be discussed in a reverent and prayerful spirit; then the Council will be dissolved, and its proceedings will be published, and that will be all-when looked at from one point of view. But American, English, Australian, Canadian, Norwegian, and many other churches will be brought nearer together by these meetings; there will be an enlargement of horizon, a clarification of the intellectual and spiritual atmosphere, and after a while it will be evident that the Council has helped the cause of Anglo-Saxon unity, consequently of worldwide unity, and that it has helped the churches to put their emphasis on essential rather than non-essential teachings. It will gladden the hearts of many in America as they see that their English brethren, without losing their hold on that which is vital, have laid aside many theories which have hindered faith; and, most of all, in many ways and in many lands it will help toward such an appreciation of the Sanctity of Man and the State as will make all missionary, philanthropic, and political service easier and more efficient. To those who have a passion for statistics, and who believe in votes, this Council, no doubt, will be a disappointment; but to those who have faith in principles, in influence, in the conscience, and in the ability of the Christian revelation to justify itself at the bar of reason, it will In the nature of things, the results of be a great and abiding inspiration. The Publican I would be strong, O Lord! Strong-souled to trust Thee in the midst of foes, Strong-armed to strike at every wrong and sin— Yet gentle, Lord! For all injustice give me fire and sword; I would be brave. O Lord! To speak Thy word 'gainst every lying creed; When for Thy truth I stand, though all alone-- And not unmindful of that yesterday When 'mongst Thy foes I stood, and truth opposed. I would be true, O Lord! Would seek to find, would find to do Thy will; Till Thy light floods the world, and all men see- What's truth to me another soul may vex O Master mine! that found me in the way |
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