The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1882-02-22
LIBERALISM.

How far those who call themselves
liberal Christians" will tolerate divers
and strange doctrines, we have yet to
learn. Canon Farrar and Robertson
Smith must be let alone. Their culture
and learning will quite atone for the
strange teachings which trouble the
churches in England and Scotland
What is the use, it is said, Of contending
about modes of faith and doctrine, so
long as there is honesty of purpose and
purity of life? Liberal Christians can
not bear to see man called to account
for any matter of belief, even when he is
striving to subvert the faith of many. We
know how sympathy was expressed by
these people for DR.. Swing, when the
Presbytery of Chicago called him to &C
count for his heresies. The Methodists
were unspairingly censured for disown-
ing DIR. Thomas, after he had openly re-
Jected some of the fundamental teachings
of his Church. When the Baptists re-
fused to send out as missionaries to the
heather two men who questioned the in
spiration of the Scriptures, they in turn
were characterised as prosecuting the
brethren for an honest difference of opin-
ion. The filings at orthodoxy and creeds
are inoessant. 1t is said that good
man should never be molested for his
opinions. He may only be little in
advance Of his sect, and it is an outrage
to turn him out We have an illustra-
ton of the absurdity of all this naiscalled
Iberality, in the case of Rev. Mr.. Min,
pastor of Unitarian society in Chicago
known as Unity church. Mr.. Minis ex-
IRENE liberalism has gone quite too far
even for the tolerance of his Unitarian
hearers, who have been so ready to man
ifest their dislike of orthodox bigotry.
Mr.. Min has declared that his evolu-
ton of thought has been very rapid dur
ing the last five years, and especially
during the last twelve months" He is
still progressing. He has not, perhaps,
yet attained religion of scientific ex-
actness," but he has the conception of an
ideal Church of the Future" which will
be marked by an absence Of specula-
tive beliefs" To be particular, his new
Church is not to believe in the inspira-
ton of the Scriptures, in the existence of
a personal God, in the Immortality of the
soul. 1t will not, however, refuse to re-
ceive as members those who do believe in
the existence Of a God, and it will thus ex-
hibit its "liberality." Mr.. Min does not
OF course believe in prayer, as addressed
to living personal God, and declares
that he was never happier than since he
has rejected his old beliefs. His creed
was very short one even before he got
80 far in advance of other Unitarians in
Chicago. He now seems to believe in
nothing, so far as future state is con-
cerned--no God, no prayer, no immor-
tally, no heaven, no hell.
This advance of Mr.. Min, which is
nothing more than following his liberal
principles to their logical conclusion,
lands him in dreary waste of skepti-
oisn, where his friends cannot follow him.
The members Of Unity church have had
meeting and pronounced against the
views Of their pastor. They have been
quite shocked at his atheistical declara-
lions, and by an almost unanimous vote
have, in effect, invited him to resign.
We can understand we'll enough how an
orthodox church could cast out such a
man, but with what consistency can Glib
erals, who scorn creeds, initiate the per-
scouting spirit which they have been 50
ready to condemn? He still claims to be
religious, and does not seem to think him
self disqualified for preaching some sort
of a gospel Prof Adler, Of New York,
"a kindred spirit has declared that there
are those who will give him a hearty well
come in his new position. We cannot
imagine in what the services Of q Church
which rejects the inspiration Of the Scrip
cures, the belief in God, the use Of prayer
or praise, will consist To all this alb
surdity does liberalism or the boosted
freedom from the trammels Of creed
faod