The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-03-31

SOCRATES IN WILLIAMSBURG

ANOTHER SESSION OF THE RELIGIOUS DEBATING
SOCIETY - Err. MCCARTHY Defends HE
BIBLE.
1t was three o'clock yesterday afternoon when the
weekly session of the Religious Socratc Debating
Society Of Williamsburg began. But the Rev. j. p.
Mccarthy had been in the hall for some time pre-
yious-at one moment joking. at another arguing
with his whilom opponent. Mr.. White. The door
was carefully guarded. and visitors entering
taxed one dime. much to their surprise. one young
man begged be excused aud returned to the street
evidently deeming the play unworthy the candle.
Is THE BIBLE A REVELATION?
Finally the meeting called to order and tho
secretary OF the society seated himself in the chair
Mr. Mccarthy would have presided. but preferred to
occupy the floor and participate in the debate. He
spoke for half an hour. affirming that the Bible is
said inspiration was believed to be either OF supcrn
tendcnce. of elevation, of direction OF suggestion or
OF verbal inspiration. Each OF these dehni-
TONS however, insufficient and ambgu-
Gus. ut is mistake. said he ITO sup
nose that because God is perfect, everything
that proceeds from HIM is also perfect Nature is an
enigma, and its study is filed with surface contra
dictions. The storm ana hurricane are contradic-
tons Of the sunshine. Little difficulties add to the
worth of the Bible. II has been asked whether it
would not have been better Il no mistakes had been
made when IL was written. answer NO.. ltwoud
have been impracticablc and not adapted to tho
great end in view. All sewers flow into the ocean.
but it is not dedlei thereby. vapors rise from
loathsome spots on the earth. but the sunlight
is not obscurcd. There Is salt enough In the sea to
purify it Of accidental pollutions and there is truth
enough in the Bible to maintain its inspiration. IL
that is proved, superficial contradictions need
not be taken into account, and the proof OF inspra-
ton lies in the wonderful foreknowledge shown
by its authors. The many prophecies OF tho
life and character of the Messiah, so thoroughly
fulfilled, are to my mind conclusive. What would
we think of who made trough from the sea
to little muddy hollow, and there stirring the
water into filthy mixture. exclaimed, This is the
ocean; behold what filthy thingl" That Is exactly
what my friend. MIR. White. did in this room last
Sunday. He showed us not the Bible, but o puddle
made by his own ingenuity.
AN ARGUMENT ON THE OTHER SIDE.
AR Mccarthy sat down and Mr.. Gabriels stood up.
Before he began to speak he reminded that the
Socratc method was in operation. He had been
bred a Presbyterian. but had come to believe that
the Bible not inspired and held that there was
no evidence OF its inspiration. Those who claimed
that there was were not agreed TO the mean.
ing of the word. but they had TO cling ON
TO the belief (snappina his hngers) their occupa
tion was gone. He had been told when
little boy. knee high to grasshopper. that God was
good and on; but the Bible paints Him otherwise.
1--WE told" said Mr. Gabricls that he wrcstled
with Jacob" sAnd broke his leg, interrupted
Mr.. White. EYES," continued Mr.. Gabricls, threw
IL out Of Joint. IL is said that Moses wrote
the first books of the Bible. We don't
take any stock in that. The volume In made
up of history, biography poetry. cpistlcs-which
have some good things in them, but. as the fellow
that intense lunacy called the Apocalypse. II tho
Bible was written by God IL would agree with what
we learn OF the creation by the study OF geology Its
authors, Luke among others, didn't claim that IL
was inspired. To me II + monstrous libel ON =
Just God"