THE WORTHINGTON LECTURES.

Ellesmere Guardian, Volume X, Issue 947, 26 September 1891, Page 3

THE WORTHINGTON LECTURES.

11.

;^hAlTeves opinionjnay be formed. of Mr Worthington ana his doctrTny, at leaft want of earheWtaess caH'h'ot be 1 tai < to his charge by those who have read his lectures- We may cavil at his logic, even deny Jbis premises ;" but we most admit thatThisTteacliings are those of a man who thoroughly believes m them and m hie own mission. Tl c work of such a man .must always be of interest whether we aigrVe witn^hini or^Tiof/^and we admit freely that we have read these lectures withi pleasure. 'But '" x "wie'^ must further confess that beyond that pleasure we have derived but little ''direct advantage from the perusal. Possibly this may be due to the form of the book. It; isy in' effect, but ajepo^.pfv a j series of lee ur s delivered by Mr \V( rtb ogton, and Buchj'l.dwe*erc«refully thought oui' and prepared, must lack the continuity and clearness of a book written with a vie^w ,to publication. Mr Worthing on start! with j|ee^finis<is|tplaJie's| tiit, the fjtbsehdf' of^ former.-! J^iarea,!? '^liblv dealing with these, it is not always easj 1 to auree with him. If, however, we grant his lOstuMes and admit hi& axioms, his dVmon'straiionaiinay be reasonable enough. He founds his whole system of philosophy on a distinction, which it is difficult \o analyse, laetwuviy. the Create 'referred! to" m >the first ciiap ter of G< nesis, and the Creator of tinsecond chapter ; between the man created, and the man formed of the dust of 1 1 itground. He says that the first chapter is the record of thought subjective ; the second chapter presents the perfecting as real of ttie ideal man, world ah>> existence. To those who have had th--opportunity of Btwiy'mg under Mr W6rthington, the process of metaphysical ratiocination by which he can differentiate the two, may be easy to follow ; : to the average mind whic't has but thrs-pui.lish-d lectures to refer to the task is not so simple. Yet on this difference is based his theological system. It is

perhaps more easy to <leh'ne bis position nepative'y than positively. It is ulways n ore simple to deny than to affirm ; to pull down, than to build up. The main

•irHin'ißoi'r«iMr wlfch the Srn^tit -.p.' . tilth or? belief m the possibilities o^ hntnanity ; negation of the theory of original sin j Misbelief m a personal devil, n heaven and m hell as commonly unlerstood. Such a ere^'l has oneennphlin? featnro. m that, it.foptprs univproal hrothprly lovp, and such love is a fun■l imcntal prinri'le of the Church of Truth. It is perhaps somewhat out of place, to discuss m a s«onlar newspaper questions of this kind. . Our reason for touching upon the ; subject is that for some time gasi the; fpllowprs/pf Mr ; Worthington havf be^n rapu'lj^ iher<»as ft iner m number and bis church is assuming considerable importance any»ng. t.hp d^nonunations. Q'he publication of b'te l^Ctur^B indicates that thoie addresses have awakened a more than passing m tertfstv and that they are sought after by inquirers who have not bad the or por tunity ©f hparin? themi Though, a« we have said, they are raystijj^Tatherj than maierial, esoteric rather* 'than general, th^y will refiay perusal. IF they fail to, convert, the trailer to- i: t^e peculiar & vle\vi of "the iv Sel?kerft iafl&r Truth, they will at least awaken thought and afford fooJ for reflection. Tho~voYume*"ur obtainable iv- Ghristclmrch. i

I ■ 7^~ ' . ■ ;. j || (Ladiks for Afternoon Tea use'Aulseforjok'd Oswogo Bi-icuiis. A perfect delicacy. Countes 3 , Dachesp, Princess, Empres,s are the registered natnes of the new i'eas. Free from excess of astiinjjency