The sun., 1881-10-30
The Miracle of Jonah.

The Biblical narrative concerning JONAH
and the whale has just become subject of
immediate present interest to the Presby-
terian Church. A lady who was a teacher
in Sunday school Of that denomination at
San Francisco has been called to account for
laxity in her doctrinal instruction. On ex.
animation before the Presbytery she avowed
her belief in the inspiration OF the Scrip
lures, and said at first that she accepted as
historical narratives the wonderful events
related in the Books of DANIEL and JONAH.
Subsequently she modified her statement in
respect to the escape Of DANIEL in the lions
den and the sojourn Of JONAH in the belly
OF the whale These, she thought, might be
merely pictorial representations. The re-
port before us says she expressed her de-
sire to teach CHRIsT's teachings till her
eyolids closed in death; but she did not
want to be asked anything about whales or
such things" because they seemed worth
less to her.
The Presbytery held that this teacher was
not q suitable person to instruct the young
IN the Bible.
Their decision is not unanimously ap-
proved even In the Church itself. Our es-
teemed contemporary, the Evangelist, pro-
tests that the case ought to have ended
before it began. On the other hand, the
Observer applauds the Presbytery and the
valiant elder who complained OF the teacher.
Here Is a radical difference OF opinion be-
tween two such distinguished theologians
as the Rev. DR.. FIELD and the Rev. DR.. PRIME.
The subject is so interesting that we have
taken down from our shelves the sixth
volume OF the Speakers Commentary on the
Bible, and read the notes on the Book Of
JONAH. As our readers know, this work was
prepared by largo number OF the best
scholars OF the Church OF England, under
the auspices OF the Right Hon. JOHN EVELYN
DENISoN, formerly Speaker OF the House OF
Commons. The idea was to make it ortho-
dox but enlightened. The commentary on
JONAH was contributed by Prebcndary HUX-
TABLE, from whose introduction we now
quote:
Here the question arises Is the book narrative Of
actual paraboc story story invented
10 be q vehicle OF religious teachiugi
THAT the latter is itself impossible suppos
ton. is shown by the Arst three chapters OF HOSEA
There is 10 believe that this detached portion OF
HosKA, onearly the same length JONAH Is paraboc
prophesying IN which the prophet narrated series of
imaginary experiences befalin: himself to forth in
JEHov.n and HIS retelliou people. MAY not it Is asked
tie Book ot JoSAH be likewise parabolic prophesyinss
The reverend prebendary goes on to dis
cuss this question with much fairness, and
finally reaches the conclusion that the book
is an authentic narrative rather than an
inspired parable; but his entire discussion
indicates that it would not be discordant
with genuine Christianity to conclude, on
the contrary, that the story was purely
parabolic. He regards it as historical, sim
ply because the weight Of evidence that
way seems greater; but II the other infer
ence appeared stronger. he could adopt it
just as readily and remain just as truly a
Christian.
This view Of the Book OF JONAH, as pre-
sented in the Speakers Commentary, seems
to differ from that entertained by the Pres
bytery Of San Francisco.