The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1882-11-09
REV. NH. SHAW
Tells the MethodIsts what His
Convictions Are.
[specinl 10 The statesmanl

Especial to The Statesman.l
CLEBURNK, TEX, Nov. 3.-For some
time past IL has been known that Rev. j.
ID. Shaw, pastor of the Methodist Episco-
pal church ut Waco, has had grave doubts
in regard to some OF the dogmas Of the
faith AS handed down by the fathers, and
that he would present the whole matter
to the annual conference, now In session,
for its consideration and action. He Is
one of the ministers in attendance here,
and to-day he read paper before that
body, written in his usual clear and fOrci-
BILE style, In which he reviews his connec-
tion with the ministry of the church since
1870, his fidelity to the idterests OF re-
ligion, and the slow but gradually deyel-
oped processes of thought and study by
which he has reached his present skepti-
cism. He says In conclusion "I enter
tered the ministry under deep conviction,
and from the first have had the courage
OF my convictions. 1 fully realize
the gravity Of my situation,
and though 1 greatly desire TO
protract the struggle, yet to go further
without consulting you l have thought
would be wrong. / have experienced no
change OF belief that can be considered
departure from religion and virtue.
am led TO make no kind OF compromise
with Vice and immortality. l have suf-
fered no in6delity to our church. My
long and ardent attachment TO her sacred
communion, her discipline and polity, 10
unmoved. In the course of my investlga-
tions l have been forced TO modify my
Views concerning certain dogmas that
have long been held I'm great reverence
by the church. These are:
1. The inspiration of the scriptures.
2. The divinity OF Jesus Christ.
3. Vicarious atonement.
4. The punishment OF the wicked.
The notifications Of belief have ex-
perienced are not to the extent that re-
Ject IN every sense all or any one Of these
dogmas. In regard TO some OF them, and
certain phases OF all OF them, am In n
state OF doubt and hesitation, and caunot
say that believe them nor that 1 disbe-
lieve them. 1 will now state without
argument, and as clearly as l can, the
position l am forced TO occupy at this
time with regard TO each OF the above
named subjects:
With regard TO the inspiration Of the
scriptures, refer TO both the Old aud
New Testaments. | believe the Old
Testament to be a continuous history,
civil and eccleslastical, OF the Jewish
nation from a considerable antiquity
down to within about 420 years OF the
Christian era. The New Testament
Is powerful history of Jesus Christ,
. history Of the apostles and various
pastoral letters by st. Paul and cotempo-
rary writers. containing their views OF
Christ and His precepts. Whatever Is
contained In these scriptures OF pure
morality, as loving God and loving one
another, 'feeding the hungry, clothing
the naked, and visiting the sick" forgiv-
ing our enemies, and doing unto others
rs we would have them do unto US. car
ries upon its very face the force OF inspi-
ration. Whatever Is contained therein
OF vicious or immoral character may be
n true or u false statement OF fact, but
should not, In my opinion, be regarded
as having been inspired OF God. State
ments of historical, chronological or
scientific nature should be interpreted
by the developments OF historical,
and scientific truth.
Statements OF marvellous or super
natural nature, and therefore incom-
prehensible to finite mind, should, IL
seems to me, be left for every one TO
interpret to the satisfaction of his own
faith and reason. No one form of un-
words be made the standard
OF belief. for all men In regard TO that
which none can understand. just TO
what extent those who wrote the Scrip
lures were inspired or Illuminated by the
divine mind, we are not able to say;
then, just how much OF 1t men should be-
not TO say. You will observe from this
that l only doubt the idea Of
plenary inspiration, and believe that we
ought TO interpret the Scriptures by
rational processes of thought.
With regard to the divinity of Jesus
he was the sou OF God by
and that he shared the divine
nature by conjunction. and that he was
sent to save men from sin, and by the will
Of God does save even 10 the ottermost all
them that come unto the father by HIM,
do steadfastly believe. Further than
this am in doubt, and know not now 10
believe unless God by his grace helps me.
With regard TO yicarious atonement-
1t would do me great injustice TO require
Of me O fixed formula Of my belief. be-
cause IL would be premature. My candor
forces me to mention It, because L
have been led to doubt II.
That Christ suffered for US 1 do
not doubt but that he suffered In our
stead, do. Instead OF being our substi-
tuIe, was he not our fIiendf Instead OF
regarding HIM as victim 20 appease an
offended and lmplae able deity,who would
only be satisfied after receiving so much
suffering for 80 much sin,.I am disposed
10 regard him ne the pledge OF Gods
love, who, seeing our need OF a Saviour,
sent one who was willing to come TO us
In our sins, and show us how 10 overcome
them. He could not do for us what
he did without suffering. Instead OF
saving us IRON any rash law or angry
decree by receiving the penalty due 10
us, he saves us from our sinful ways by
teaching us the way OF righteousness, and
giving to us the example Of pure life.
With regard to the punishment OF the
wicked. That God Furnishes those who
wilIfully violate his laws, have no hesi-
tation In believing. have only been led
to doubt the eternity OF future punish
ment upon the question Of rendering 10
finite creature, upon the abuse OF brief
probation, an Infinite punishment"
Finally, Mr.. shaw formulates his own
religious belief which may be c0mpre-
hcnded under the title oil the "Father-
hood Of God and the brotherh0od-0f