ADDRESS

Miscellaneous.

IN MEDICINE, delivered alive some degree of faith in superby Dr. Russell Reynolds, F.R.S., be- natural realities. Dr. Reynolds treats fore the annual meeting of the British his subject from a medical point of view, Medical Association held in Norwich in laying down as guides the following four August last. (From a Correspondent.)- articles of creed:-1. A belief in life; It is especially noticeable as an evidence 2. A belief in man as distinguished that some of the best minds and teachers from other animals; 3. A belief in inin the medical world are, notwithstand- dividuality; 4. A belief in the specificity ing the tendency of various modern of disease. His address showed that investigators towards materialism, led by careful thought and experience strongly to support the belief of the individuality and immortality of the soul, and its influence in the causation of disease; and furthermore to affirm that life is not the result, but the cause of organization, and is an existence per se. It gave me, as a New Churchman, peculiar pleasure to hear this address, and to observe the profound and satisfactory effect which it produced on the large and attentive audience of medical men before whom it was delivered.

It is very commonly said, that the tendency of medical study is to foster a disbelief in the soul and immortality, but any stranger present at this meeting would have come to quite a different conclusion, in presence of the hearty outbursts of applause which greeted the various affirmative conclusions at which Dr. Reynolds arrived. A few of the particular points discussed in the address might be acceptable to the readers of the Repository, illustrating as they do, the very different line of investigation pursued therein, to that followed by Professors Tyndall and Huxley at the subsequent meeting of the British Association in Belfast.

our manner of thought and action in the various fields in which we labour in this world is greatly influenced by the belief we possess in these four great articles of creed. If we disbelieve them, we shall degrade our conception of phenomena, and our estimate of the significance of humanity, to the level of the mechanical and materialistic; if, on the other hand, we believe them, we shall regard the processes going on around and within us as the result of influences above the external, and as subject to a government higher than that of mundane. He showed that notwithstanding all the attempts to regard human beings as the result of the agglomeration of merely physical forces, they did not, and could not succeed in destroying the evidence of, and the belief in, the existence of life, as something sui generis. In referring to a disbelief in life as something apart from organization, he endeavoured by some apt illustrations to show that such a state injured our perception of the subjective symptoms of disease, and vitiated the accuracy of our treatment. Remarking upon individuality, he showed that even mineral substances, as lead, silver, and gold, etc., could not be destroyed by chemical change, but could only be In observing the relationship which altered in their relationships by comscience at present holds to religion, we bination with other elements; from must be prepared to submit for some which combinations they could again time to come to the harsh pulling down easily be liberated, and made to assume of superstructures which have been their original forms; such a change as based by misled theological builders the transmutation of one into the other upon erroneous interpretations of the was utterly impossible; and what was Mosaic records; and remember that true of them was also true of organized only by the removal of these can the bodies and of human phenomena. He ground be cleared for a fresh insemina- hinted, though obscurely, to the facts tion of truths which shall prove science concerning predisposition to disease, and revelation to be perfectly har- hereditary tendency, etc., how some monious and mutually supporting. In men were predisposed to one form of the meanwhile such addresses as Dr. affection, and not to another, which he Reynolds' serve the purpose of keeping said pointed to their origin from a more

interior ground than could be accounted for by the operation of physical causes, attributing them in fact to a disturbance in the proper direction of the life forces (shall we say such disturbances as moral evil and actual sin, with their perverting and deforming effects on successive generations). While admitting the similarity of function, in many respects, he differentiated men from animals, not only as to structure but as to disease, and went on to show that the MOTIVES of action in man, and especially man as a civilized being, were peculiar to him, and originated on a plane of being to which animals had no access; so that, while studying the relations in which they stood to each other, we, as physicians, to be thoroughly successful in treating human ailments, must regard man as a being raised above the beasts that perish, having powers which influence his physical organism, which they do not possess, and which therefore cannot possibly affect them, as he is affected; powers indeed which show man's relationship to and connection with a distinctively immortal soul and

The

CHRISTIAN UNION.-One of the most prominent signs of the times has long been the cry for Christian union on the part of Christian communities. The attainment of this union has been variously pursued. Dr. Döllinger, one of the most prominent, learned, and influential of the old Catholic party, has recently invited a number of theologians to meet at Bonn, with the view of adopting articles of faith which should be acceptable to all national churches outside the Romish communion. Members of the Old Catholic, the Greek, and the Anglican communions were present. The articles produced by Dr. Döllinger showed a great advance in theological thought, and as adopted manifest considerable progress. The effort, however, to conciliate these several communities by the employment of words to which each will give a somewhat variant interpretation can scarcely issue in a close ecclesiastical union. Neither is this desirable. true union of the Church is in its spiritual life. Diversities of Christian faith are not destructive of this life so long as the doctrine of charity is supreme in the Church. The doctrines suggested by In illustrating the individuality of the meeting at Bonn are an approach man, he pointed out that each human towards the recognition of this su being exhibited differences which dis- premacy of Christian life, which is the tinguished him from every other, and life of love to God and love to the neighthat this was true, mentally and phy- bour. The doctrine of justification by sically, even while the family likeness, faith was thus stated by Dr. Döllinger. the national likeness, and the likeness "We agree that faith, working by love, of race, were distinctly evident; this and not faith alone, is the means and was dwelt upon, to impress the necessity condition of man's justification before of a study of men and of disease, each God." "Alone was objected to, on on his and its own merits; so that the ground that it seemed to be aimed while we regard man as the subject of at the English articles of faith. The general influences operating upon and Bishop of Pittsburg moved the amendin the mass, we might not lose sight of ment that the words "without love" him as the subject of family and in- should replace "alone." This was dividual peculiarities. We were all agreed to, and the proposition was alike, yet all dissimilar; facts which at accepted. The Times and the Daily once establish our individuality, our common humanity, and the infinite powers and resources of the Creator.

a life hereafter.

By such remarks Dr. Reynolds led his audience on to the speciality and specificity of disease. He concluded his discourse with some very eloquent passages; some of which are very suggestive, while others are hazy from lack of the bright light which the New Church view of life can alone shed on mental processes, and the present chaotic condition of mankind, whether regarded in health or disease.

Telegraph both point out that as the good sought to be accomplished is unity, it would be well to first seek this unity at home. Why is this, says the Times, to be easier or more desirable on the Rhine than on the Thames? Charity begins at home, and if we could show a strong united front at home we should be in a better position for seeking unity with Churches abroad. The Bishop of Winchester and Canon Liddon, says the Telegraph, have no dealings with those Samaritans of Dissent who dwell in their own neighbourhood. Baptists,

Independents, Presbyterians, and Me- the Church. A sharp and summary act thodists all lie outside the pale, because has been passed to enforce the law, and they have rejected the apostolic grace of a breathing time has been allowed to Episcopacy. They are schismatics on settle what the law is which is to be whom it would be a waste of time to enforced. May that time be used wisely spend a thought. Simultaneous with and considerately. But if the worst these utterances the papers announce happens there can be no justification for that a new society has been formed, secession in either direction. If the under the presidency of the Bishop of Ornaments rubric be so altered that the Winchester, assisted by the Bishops of symbolism of sacrificial doctrine in the Carlisle and Edinburgh, the Dean of Eucharist be forbidden, men are still at Manchester, and many other gentlemen liberty to teach, as they have hitherto for the purpose of promoting the reunion taught, that doctrine. If, on the with the English Church of Noncon- other hand, it be so framed as to make forming bodies holding with her the that symbolism allowable, for no one doctrines of the Trinity, the Incarna- asks for more than this, will men talk tion, the Atonement, and other funda- of seceding, because room is made for mental tenets of the Christian faith. It the school of Andrewes as well as is not intended that the society shall Jewell, of Laud and Ken as well as support any scheme of comprehension Davenant and Simeon." compromising the Church's creeds or constitution, but in matters of secondary importance, such as the retention under episcopal control of the itinerant ministry of Methodism and mission services, the Society would advocate the conces sion of all reasonable freedom of action. It is not probable that a Society which thus relinquishes none of its claims to ascendancy on the part of the episcopal Church will exercise much influence in the promotion of union between the Establishment and the Nonconformists.

The president's address contained nothing beyond commonplace allusions to the business of the meeting, the uses of the Congress, the mode of conducting the proceedings, and the temper in which the several subjects, it was hoped, would be discussed. The address was followed by a long and carefully prepared paper by the Bishop of Winchester (Harold Browne) on the Old Catholic movement on the Continent. After describing the confirmation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, and "the placing of an infallible Cæsar in the empire of the Universal Church" by the Vatican Council, the Bishop says "The ablest, most learned, and most consistent of the divines in the German Church were committed to opposition. What were they to do? Steadily the Church of Rome had departed step by step from primitive Catholicity. Every priest and even every layman was required to accept the decrees of the council and all their consequences." What followed is now matter of history. Some of the persecutions that ensued are described by the Bishop. Here is a statement respecting the Roman Catholic press

CHURCH CONGRESS.-The annual assembly of this body was this year held at Brighton. So large was the demand for tickets of membership that it was found impossible to accommodate all the applicants in the spacious Dome which was placed at the service of the Committee by the Mayor. The Congress was introduced by two sermons, one by the Bishop of Ely and the other by the Bishop of Salisbury. The former selected as his topic the "Two doctrines continually exemplified in the story of every human life, and in the annals of Christianity, doctrines in theory full of difficulty, practically of no difficulty at all-the doctrines of man's freewill and The so-called Catholic press is supported God's overruling power." The topic everywhere by bishops, lauded by Rome. selected by the Bishop of Salisbury was Subscribers are recruited in the conthat of Christian unity. The purpose of fessional and from the pulpit, though the discourse seems to have been in view it notoriously revels in slander and of recent legislation to deprecate any disloyalty. Louis Veuillot, editor of separation from the Church. The the Paris Univers, dubbed by Presfollowing is from the Guardian's brief sensé "the greatest calumniator of the summary of this discourse:-"These entire contemporary press, is an infew next months are an anxious time for timate personal friend and guest of Pius

IX.; when a little while ago his paper in England. "Step by step," he says, was suspended, the first number after "at the same time in England and the eclipse flaunted a brief of sympathy Scotland arose the two parties which had and gratitude from his Holiness. Are most influenced their generation and our English prints entirely free from seemed at this moment to have most this disturbing bias? Remembering hold upon the future. In 1833 the that an Italianized Monsignore lately boasted of the strength of the Catholic element in the public press, and seeing the current representations about Old Catholicism, I cannot repent that in this matter I have trusted to no secondhand informant."

version are now scarcely to be found. An improved version of the New Testament, and, I believe, also of the Psalms, was produced at a later period by the American missionaries who laboured in Assam. In Oriya also, the entire Bible was originally translated by Dr. Carey; but subsequently the version was revised by Dr. Sutton, and in part also by Mr. Stubbins, and more recently it has undergone a thorough revision at the hands of Dr. Buckley. It is intended for the six or seven millions of people who speak the Oriya language, but of whom only one half live in the province of Orissa. The Hindi language may be said to be spoken by upwards of eighty millions of Hindus, inhabiting Northern India. It embraces several dialects, but it is substantially one and the same language. The Bible was translated into it many years ago by the Rev. W. Bowley, of the Church Missionary Society; and subsequently his version, especially in the New Testament, has undergone repeated revisions. But it was reserved for the late Mr. Parsons, of Monghyr, acting on a principle laid down by Dr. Yates, to produce a Hindi New Testament, which is unanimously acknowledged to be a work of surpassing excellence. The first Bengali version was mainly the work of Dr. Carey, who lived to revise it three times."

and active part, is one of their most influential ministers. The address discusses the topics which are most prominently before the Christian public. The speaker recognised that the Church has entered on a new period of its history. The controversies by which it is assailed, and the trials to which it is exposed, are of a more subtle and intellectual kind. "It is a conflict in which every one feels himself entitled to take a part, which is discussed in every newspaper, and canvassed in every place of public resort, which is imported into electioneering struggles, and even into scientific and literary convocations. It is no longer a war between trained armies, but one between peoples, in which every man that can handle a sword or fire a gun feels that he must engage, and, as is sure to happen in all cases where undisciplined valour is thus called into use, there are a good many of the free lances on both sides who are much more feared by their own friends than they are dreaded by their enemies." The address by Dr. Tyndall, which has excited so much attention in religious circles, was very naturally a prominent topic for remark. It was discussed, however, with temper, and its author treated with the respect due to his position as one of the magnates of the scientific world. Comfort was found in the confession of the preface to his publication of this address in which Dr. Tyndall says— "The facts of religious feeling are to me CONGREGATIONAL UNION.-The au- as certain as the facts of physics. But tumnal meeting of this body was this the world, I hold, will have to disyear held at Huddersfield. The town tinguish between the feeling and its is in many respects well suited to an forms, to vary the latter in accordance assembly of this kind. It is the centre with the intellectual condition of the of a populous manufacturing district on age." On the question of the unity of which the Congregational body has long the churches, Mr. Rogers expresses dishad a strong hold. Within the last trust of the "strange tendency in some few years several new chapels have been good men to cling to authority, and erected in the town or suburbs, and their still stranger trust in the paper some half-dozen congregations, some of fortifications by which they hope to them very large ones, assemble for maintain its power." This has seldom weekly worship. The meeting was very been exhibited in a more singular form numerously attended and excited con- than in the recent attempt of a few siderable interest in the town and neigh- divines-well-intentioned, learned, and bourhood. The address of the chairman, devout men-to lay down a new basis of Rev. J. G. Rogers, was, as usual, a long Catholic faith, and to lay it down in and elaborate paper, its general topic terms which admit of different interprebeing "The Age and our Work in it." tations. There is no hope of a united Mr. Rogers is a man of ability, and from Christendom from the union of these his strong opinions on the educational ecclesiasticisms who are seeking it in and other questions in the discussion this manner, and who ignore the position of which the body takes a prominent and uses of dissenting communities.

These translations continue to undergo revision and improvement.