Notes by \ J. H.
the Way s. TORREY
"Dr. Torrey is too dog- ' s ! «) DOGMA, matic," said one. What i s dogma? Doctrine, principles, convictions. A teacher or preacher without dogmas has no call. Jesus was dogmatic. He "spake as one that has authority," they said. He said, "We speak that which we know; and testify that which we have seen." The question is, of a preacher, not as to his manner, is he dogmatic? but as to his matter, is it true? A preacher who does not know, and know that he knows, is not fit for his office. Now, what he knows he should affirm as a witness to its truth. A preacher with- out convictions can produce no convic- tions; a true man can state his convic- tions only dogmatically. Dr. Torrey is dogmatic because Christ was dogmatic, and Dr. Torrey is right to state Christ's teaching as if there can be no question of its truth. A CROP OF The new crop of preach- PREACHERS. ers producer by our seminaries are not dog- matic about anything, save the so-called "results of modern scholarship," which are that we can be sure about nothing biblical, that open-mindedness is our proper frame, and that it is open-mind- ed to doubt everything. The prophets, apostles, and the Lord were too dog- matic, too narrow, and must be taken with a grain-^rather a ton—of salt. These flowers of scholarship are proud of being "broad"; broad like Pilate, who said, "What is truth?" but declined to have an answer. They are not dog- matic as to the extent of inspiration, or of its nature; as to the virgin birth, and the veracity of Luke; as to the deity of our Lord; the literality of His resurrection; or the significance of the Cross. They are without convictions in their souls; therefore without convic- tions in their congregations. Give us the dogmatic preacher. Go on with your dogmatism, Dr. Torrey; only be sure of your dogmas. ... It is odd to see the Roman- PATRICK, ist exploiting Patrick as one of his patron saints. Patrick was a Protestant, before Protes- tantism, a Christian of the Apostolic faith before Rome set foot on Britsh soil. He was one of the first of; the Culdees, who were afterwards the op- SAINT
ITEM A sly doctor, spied on a cer- THREE. tain resident statesman, now advanced from a state to a national office of great dignity, and learned of his druggist that the Hon. gentleman, a "Christian Science" lec- turer, too, had got a prescription re- peated which had "demonstrated" effec- tively a few months earlier. ITEM This much-traveled and philan- FIVE. thropic lady, dining at the wri- ter's table, told how she chal- lenged a "Scientist" friend, boasting of her religion. "What good are you 'Sci- entists' doing in the world? I have met many philanthropists of all denomina- tions, in years of attendance on their beneflcient congresses, and I have never met a 'Scientist' among them." ITEM In our vicinity a "Scientist" TWO. was enjoying that mythical malady supposed to be a toothache; she had that illusion, a swollen face; a most material-looking bandage comforting her jaw. To her callers she said she was feeling first- rate. There is no doubt of that; her feeling was all in good shape. In fact, it felt so well that she felt so bad that on her guest's departure she resorted to that vanity—a dentist. ITEM A Boston lady, who for years FOUR, has advocated various philan- thropic organizations before assemblies and conventions from one end of the land to the other, is taking medical treatment of a Boston physi- cian now sojourning here. The Jady pointing to a "Scientist. Church" opposite, said, "Doctor, if I were a 'Sci- entist,' now, I would not. bç here." "I do not khow," said the doctor; "since we are both so far from home, I will venture to tell you that several of my Botson patients are members of 'The First Church Scientist' of that city. EDDY These i t e m s are authentic. ITEMS. The "Scientist" is sly. Item One. A neighbor of ours re- quested her doctor to leave his auto in front of a neighbor a few- dpors beyond! The honest man declined to -conspire with this fair "Scientist."
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