The following clipping from the Congregationalist of April 1 refers to a matter mentioned in this department last week, and strongly confirms what I then said:

      The course of theological thinking in this country has followed somewhat closely, though at considerable distance of time, that in Germany. We therefore welcome the signs of reaction against radicalism which are appearing in the German church. The Literary Digest publishes a translation of an article describing a new movement, from the ablest of the conservative church papers of Germany. This article declares that "the liberal and liberalizing forces within the German church have in recent months lost considerable ground, and the beginning of the end seems at hand. On the other hand, the defense of the old faith has grown internally and externally."

      Special courses of lectures in the interests of what is called the old faith are being successfully maintained in many places. Says this article, "Recent events have shown that in Germany the Protestant church is at heart thoroughly evangelical and loves its Bible above [203] everything else." In the same direction the Chronik, a representative of the liberal theology, confesses that the conservative theologians in the nine Prussian universities are numerically much stronger than the liberals. There are sixteen liberal and twenty-six conservative theologians in the university faculties of the old Prussian provinces, and in the newer provinces there are eight liberals and nine conservatives. Twice as many conservatives as liberals have been appointed by the Government within the last two years. Many pastors are rallying to the defense of the divine character of the Scriptures, and the literature for the same purpose is greater than it has been for many years. The effects of this reaction are already beginning to be felt in our seminaries, and an independent movement in the same direction is appearing both in institutions of learning and in churches.

[SEBC 203-204]