A letter to Dr. Bartol indicates in a word the
situation in which the critics put him : —

" I will try to comfort myself in the hope that
I am about right when you, on one hand, set me
down as the demolisher of nature, and the 'New
Englander ' complains, on the other, that I defer
too much to nature, and am too much under her
power." And again : " It is really hard times
with a poor fellow. The ' New Englander ' tries
me all through by the New Haven theology, and
Dr. James makes me a ninny for being in the
New Haven theology. About everything said on
one side is thrown back on the other, and I am
pelted all roimd."

But little of this criticism was based on its
merit or demerit, — so determining was theologi-
cal prejudice. That he was regarded in Boston
as a " demolisher of nature " and in New Haven
as deferring " too much to nature " is a reflection
of the fixedness of the thought in each region. It



"NATURE AND THE SUPERNATURAL" 233

was evident that a fresh thinker had broken into
the world of New England theology. But while
the shepherds were contending over the book, —
one side denying that it was food for faith, the
other that it was true, — the flock found their
way to it, and were fed and comforted. Like
" Christian Nurture," it was another deliverance,
and another lesson in the Christian faith.
