The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-06-11

The conviction Of the Rev. DR.. BLAUvrnT
as hereto is one of the most interesting
of recent ecclesiastical occurrences. The Re-
formed Church. the old Dutch Reformed, TO
which he belongs, Is one Of the strlctcst in
matters of faith and doctrine of all the
Protestant denominations. 1t is n body
which has u great dread of innovations of
ell sorts. and its Calvinism Is Of the old
kind. The fact that this communion has
punished u minister FOR the latitude ~ his
Theological teachings is not at all surpris-
ing, though il j. noteworthy that minister
80 surrounded, bred In faith so austcre,
and with SO much TO keep him in the
straight path. should have gone after heresy.
No one who knows the cd Dutch Church
would have expected osoc an advocate OF a
hcrctical theology step out of it's ranks
The hcresy Of Dr. BLAUVELr was coniain-
ed in series of magazine essays, In which
he discussed the relations Of religion to
science. Though TO those ou' side the evan
gclical party his views might have seemed
inr from what is called "adNanced," they
outraged his donomiuatioual associates by
their suggestion that the old theology must
adjust itself 10 modern progress in thought
IL
dead force IN society. lie lid not deny the
inspiration Of the Scriptures or the divinity
Of CHRIST. His point was that orthodox
theology Is not really Christianity; that in
order for a man 10 become n Christian he
must break with ii; and that its standards
are not the proper te-ts to use in Judging of
mans Christianity or course this was
rank hcrcsy, for the orthodox view is not
that it, theology needs Improvement, for
lis truth Is final. but that opposing views
require 10 be reconcilel TO it in order to lie
in harmony with the teachings Of JESUS
CHRIST.
1t is plain that tho Reformed Church is
mo- place for pr. HLAUyLLr H. was an
enemy IN the camp, man who was pronch-
ing against tine doguuS which are its
foundation. and he is rightly suspended
| from its ministry. II seems that he is en-
trcly willing to leave, and would have re-
signed his Office If the Church rules had per-
mittcl i'm TO do So; bat minister can only
I 20 out 10y exclusion or SIS pcn~ion. The fault
/ he finds with the Synod Is That It brought
I him ia guilty of "onmity To CHRIST, 90
/ whereas he calls himself the true Christian.
and his accuser- the false representatives.
/ of Christianity. lie would have had them
join issue win him as to whether their mo-
tions or bis were according o. CHRIST; but
this they would not do, contrutins them
solves with comparing his teachings witt
A.-ir StaNdHla-, Which rcallv wa- an n.
could expect them to DO, for not ,nos.. i.,,.
hc, had boon brought 20 trial.
DR.. BLACvfLr makes the remark thai
They are going 90 have moro hcrrtics t'
try We shall not bo Surprier'l u this shall
prove true The ae,u used minister evident
ly had a party in the synod, though tina
his views We're totally al variance with TIM
orthodox Reformed theology cannot h'
denied. If, then, lattudnarani-m ha
crept into the staid old Dutch Rcformr,
Church. whore else may it not hive entered
Ii the very stronghold Of Calvinism has t.
defend itself against enemies inside it,
rumpar- what Is happening along TN
outer line?
The fgct is, Or HL,rvrLT represent il
his criticism of old orthodoxy and in li
tendency 10 skcpticism, II class %, minister
who occupy not few pulpits; but he speak
out his opinions, while they discrcctly hol,
their tongues, retain their places, am
preach diluted theology.