, 1881-06-19

from the traditional answer What cvitenc,
can ne derived from comparative study O
lne Septuaglnt with regard to later interpo
can we gather from the Rabbinical records 4:
TO the formation of the Canon? Is there
positive, evidence to show, for example, tfa
tne BOOK Of Esther and the Song Of Solomon
were not admitted to the Canon till after thu
Ialmud, that storehouse Of Jewish tradition
help us o'lecide the questions about the datt
OF me composition of the Pentateuch as we
Pos possess itT These are some OF the problems
i'll "a manner that for "'@'s sobriety, @
caution, and good taste leaves nothing to be
aeSlree: s. e His ohject as he himself expresse:
to make the Old Testament more real to its
readers. Many of The current modes Of eX
planning difficulties are felt, even by those
w1o no. use them, to be nntenable; they ire seen
stant in dealing with other books Is there
no better way? the student asks; is it moi
possible, BY free use OF the knowledge and
the scientific method that time has placed in
our hands, to rescue the Bible from the do
main OF Mnreality into which, little by little,
the unwiscom Of its defenders is banislling
1t? Is it not possible, by demonstrating the
real nature Of the Bible, to place it once and
tor all on foundation where it will be proof
against all shocks OF time, against all change
/ lect? 0@'~0 >'''>~ N'~s'
It is known how the Free Church has re-
ce!yed the action Of her distinguished son,
and most people will agree with me in think
ing that the Free Church. has taken a dis
astrous step. wish to speak with all re-
spect Of the natural tenacity of the conyic-
tons which religious people commonly hold
with regard to the Bible. These convictions
by amy process Of reasoning; and it is neither
to be expected nor desired that they should
be Lightly changed. AS Prof. Smith himself
says: g It would argue indifference rather
readers, to whom scientific points of view for
the study OF Scripture are wholly unfamiliar,
could adjust themselves to a new line Of in
vestigation into the history OF the Bible with
thought not far removed from distress and
alarm" But if a frivolous readiness for
change is one extreme, an obstinate nnWill-
| lnEness to admit new points of view is the
other, and it is into this latter extreme that
the General Assembly has fallen. The Free
Church-there is strange irony in the title
has east out Frof. Smith; and the regret
fni comment Of the world is. SO much the
worse for the Free Church. For it is mere
asSoh fho to sppse tat t these matters on
are matters. Of opinion or belief; they are
| matters Of de1nonstrable fact In matters
that are beyond the sphere OF proof Church
may lay down articles Of belief and demand
agree to them; but in matters where certainty
Is attalnable by the ordinary methods OF
sclentiic inqnlry she has no such right
Questions of Biblical criticism, it cannot be
too often repeated, are questions Of the latter
class. They do not rest upon opinion, or
consent. Or tradition; they rest upon evil
dence. Philology, historical research, the
comparative study of the documents are
guides that must be accepted in this depart
inent as certainly as they must be accepted
in the department Of classical scholarship;
that the work uf a N0ldeke or Robertson
Smith can no more be set aside by the vote
Of General Assembly than eau tue work of
Bentley, OF Mommsen. That the Free
Church does not recognize this obvious
truth is 4 matter Of sincere regret to all
friends, will not say of religious liberty,
but Of Scotland and OF common sense. As
well attempt to guide leyiathan with hook
from its pursuit of facts, or to clleck
scholarship III its advance. But what
causes grief to all who feel the value Of
religion to mankind is the reflection that
ligious bodies tends to widen the breach be-
tween religion and modern life. The more
the orthodox party commit themselves to all
attitude of opposition to the growth Of criti-
cis1ll, the more they tend to drive into revolt
the mass Of those who cannot see things
from the traditional point Of view. We are
always hearing Of the unbelief ~ of the
working classes, and of the fruitlesness of
ll1 dLtClllpiS ~ lEclhII1l llell liz IRaI way
to reclaim them is for the churches frankly
to admit that the documents on Which they
base their cIa1n,s to attention are not to be
accepted III blind obedience, but are to be
tested, and slfted, and tried BY all the meth
bear. Your obedient servant
TEE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES.
APPOINTMENT OF 4 COMMISSION TO REVISE
THEIR CREED.
The Committee appointed by the National |
Council Of the United States to select Com
mission of twenty-five to consider the matter |
of preparing new creed and catechism for |
the churches have been delayed in reaching |
4 conclusion by circumstances beyond their |
own control, growing mainly out Of the ne |
cessity laid on them to secure the consent Of
the persons selected to serve, before making
any announcement The list is, however, at !
length completed, and IS as follows:
The Rev. Julius H. Seelye, D, D., Amherst, Mass.
Tho Rcv. Charles II. Mead, D. D., Andoyer,
The Rev. Henry NJ. Dexter, D. D., Boston. Mass,
Mass. |
The Rev. Alexander Mckenzie, D. D., Cam
The Rev. Samuel Harris, D. D., New Haven,
Conn.
The Rev. Georne P. Fisher, D. D., New Haven,
The Rev. George L. Walker, D. D., Hartford,
conn. |
The Rev. William S. Karr, D. D., Hartford,
Conn.
Prof. George T. Ladd, Brunswick. Nc.
The Rev. Samuel r. Leeds, D. D., Hanover, |
\. H.
The Rev David B. Coe, D. D., New York.
The Rev. William N. Taylor, D. D., New York.
fhe Rev. Lyman Abbott, D. D., Cornwa1l-on-
he Hudson, n. Y.
The Rov. Augustus F. Beard, D. D., Syracuse,
!. I.
The Rev. William ". Patton. D. D., Washing
on. D. G. |
The Rev. james H. Fairchild, D. D., ober-
in, o.
The Rev. Israel ". Andrews, D. D., Mariet- |
a, O.
The Rev. Zachary Eddy, D. D., Detroit, Mich. |
The Rev. James T. Hyde, D. D., Chicago, ILL.,
The Kcv. Edward P. Goodwin, D. D.. Chicago.
The Rev. Alden Il. Robbins, D. D.. Musca-
inc, Ia.
The nev. Constans L. Goodc!, D. D.. st, Louis, I
10. .
The Rev. Richard Cordley, D. D., Emporia, i
us, +
The Rev. George Mooar D. D. Oakland, Cal. ,,
In making the selection different sections of $
le country have been upon somewhat in j
roportion to the membership OF the Consre- !
ationalist churches in each. The list enl- !
races men who are understood to represent |
iifercnt shades Of opinion. whld holding t
lst to the essential truths Of the Gospel. | {