The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1882-11-09

or illutninaiod by tho divine mind, We a.
not UJle ~ say then, Just how much Vf
men should believe 10 have beeii inspired
We ought not 10 say. You Will observe
FROM this statement, that only doubt th
idea Of plenary inspiration. and believe tha
we ought 10 interpret tho scriptures by m
tional processes OF thought.
With regard 10 the divinity ofJesus Christ
That Io was the son of God by adoption
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 uttermost all them that
come unto the Father by Him, do stead
lastly believe. Further than this | am in
doubt, and know not how TO believe unless
| God by His grace helps me.
With regard to yicarious atonement. II
would do me great injustice 10 require of
me fixed formula OF my belief, because IL
would be premature. My candor forces me
to mention it because ] have been led to
doubt it. That Christ sufferd for us, do
not doubt; but that He suffered in our
stead, Il do. Instead of being our substi-
tute, was He not our friend? Instead of
regarding Him as victim to appease an
offended and implacable Deity, who would
only be satisfied after receiving so much
suffering for so much sin, / am disposed
to regard Him as pledge of Gods love,
who, seeing our need of Savior, sent one
who was willing to come to MS in our sins.
and show us how to overcome them. He
f Hs d,d not ;,bor 90 for Us Ist..S What at
saving us from any rash law or angry
decree by receiving the penalty due to US,
he saves us from our sinful ways by teach
ing us the way of right business, and giving
to us the example OF pure life.
With regard to the punishment. of the
wicked, that God Furnishes those who will
fully violates His laws / have no hesita-
ton in believing. l have only been led to
doubt the eternity of future punishment
upon the question of rendering to finite
creature, upon the abuse of briefproba-
ton, an infinite punishment.
Finally Mr.. Shaw formulates his own
religious belief, which may be compared
under the title Of the Brotherhood of God
and the Brotherhood of Man"
CLEBURNE, November 4. Especial. Mr..
Shaw delivered his farewell address before
the conference this morning and to a
large and expectant audience. The scene
was solemn aHd impressive. The address
is as follows:
To the Bishop and Members of the Northwest
Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. south:
DEAR Fathers AND BRETHREN by youf
action yesterday | was constrained to re-
turn you my credentials and retire from
the ministry. Having been honored By
your confidence with a place on the general
board OF missions, secretary of the confer
ence board, member of the board of cura-
tors of the Southwestern university, mem-
Der of the board Of publication and asso-
ciate editor of the Texas Christian Advo-
cate, now desire through you to tender to
these various bodies my resignation. Now,
brethren, have come to the end of my
official relations with you and the church
love so dearly and served so gladly. In
this final communication let me assure you
| bear from you a heart full of gratitude
for the honor of your friendship and affec-
ton thus imposed upon us may
be nothing more than in name,
and that in heart we may still be one with
all who love God and are devoted to His
service. The ordeal through which have
passed has been painful one. have suf-
fered much anxiety lest | should find left
in my heart some sore feeling, opposition
or enmity to the church, but l thank God
that during the last twenty-four hours |
have experienced no such feeling. My love
and affection for you, as well as high regard
for your honor, virtue and integrity still
remain, and Ihope will ever abide in my
heart. | hope to walk near you in fellow
ship with all the good and pure of earth,
and meet you in Heaven. With great re-
sptCU, AN your Irle1u uuu lellOW-SerVdnl
of God and our fellow.men,
J.D. SHAW.
. Rev. 0. M. Addison introduced the 'ol-
lowing resolution, which was adopted
WHEREAS, Rev. ]. d. Shaw, late mem
Der of this body has felt constrained by
change of his doctrinal views to sever con-
nection with us, therefore,
Resolved, By the Northwest Texas con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal church
south, that in view of the high moral tone
and Christian integrity of Brother Shaw, it
IS with deep regret that we part from him,
and pray his future be so directed of GOD
as to make him both happy and useful.
[Signedl o. M. ADDISON,
Il. A. WooD.
Thus ends the career OF one of the most
eminent and useful ministers of the church.
What will be his future he himself has no
wel-defned idea, but your correspondent
believes he will ever maintain his Christian
integrity. For the time, at least, he will re-
main a citizen OF Waco. He has acted as
ar honest man. None who know him will
regard his action as whimsical He has
sacrificed position and post of honor to
maintain the truth and dignity of his man.
hood.