The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-05-19
DIR. NEWTON AND HEREsY.
Nashville Banner

Rev. R. H. Newton. rector of All Souls Protestant Episcopal church. of New York city. has been formally ac- eused of heresy, and for weeks to come the newspapers will ,eem wi;h editorials and communications of various kinds re- specting the matter, which, owing to the prominence of the gentleman involved. IS attracting considerable attention on both sides of the Atlantic. For some time the stterances of Dr. Newton have been freely discussed, by reasoa of his alleged departure from the line of thought usu- ally followed by ministers of his denorni- nation. and at last they were deemed So here;icai ths, the interests of the church were imperilled, and ar investigation was necessary. The charges bear the sigma lures of Rev. Samuel Buel. president of the General Theological seminary: Rev. Randolph H. McKein, of Harlem. and Key. 5. F. DeCosta. rector of the Chcrch of St. John the Evangelist, New York city. They were lodged with Bishop Potter. and were brought by author isy of canon seventeen of the canons oi the diocese of New York. which provide. that three clergymen can bring charge, against rector. and present them 10 the bishop of the diocese. who IS empowered to either order trial, or deny the acousa- tions- Should he consider a trial neces- sary, he is authorized to appoint com nittee of twelve clergymen. five of whom may De selected by the accused, 70 judge his case If the accused refuses to selec, the quinte,te. they shall be appointed by the bishop, and shall begin the trial within thirty days after their appoint meni. Three of them are quorum. and can conduct the trial, al which the au- ihors of the charges ac, as prose eutors. The accused may be rep resented by counsel. and the same right Is accorded the prosecutors. The charges against pr. Newton are blses on a sermon on :" The Right and Wrong Use of the Bible The frs, charge is that after twice signing declaration that the holy scriptures of the Old and New Tes- lament are the word of God, he rejected
 1t, holding that the bible is not the word of God. but only contains 1t. The sec ond charge has five specifications. the first being that he has taught doctrine subversive of the supremacy of the holy scriptures as rule of reli gious faith and moral duty: the second. that he has vir- tually denied the divinity of Christ. and his incarnation by the Holy Ghos, of the Virgin Mary: the third. ,ha, he has dis credited the miracles of the Old and New Testamen,s the fourth, tha, he has erro- neous:y stated the doctrine of the Holy Ghost; and the fifth. that he has denied the second advent of Christ The third charge Is that he has committed acts which involve breach of his ordination
 
 this charge, the first being that in which, when first ordained to the deaconate. he declared his unfeigned belief in all the canonical scriptures of the Old and New Testaments second. that in which he promised to instruct the people commit ted to his charge, out of the canonical scriptures. and that in which he further promised '' always so to minister the doc Urine of Christ as this church hath re- ceived the same::" third. that in which he promised to be "ready with all faith ful diligence to banish and drive away from the church all erroneous and strange doctrines. contrary to Gods word" There are four specifications in the foerth charge. They are First. rep resentng the religion of the Jews as polythesistic and idolatrous. in fact. as a form Of nature-worship; second. false representation and teaching of the Old Testament prophets third. represent ing christianity as the outcome of nat uiai. historic evolution. and no, as di- rect revelation from God: in other words. rejecting it's supernatural character. as always held by the church :" fourth. re- lecting the productive character of proph- esy. and thus impeaching the authority and denying the testimony of our Lord Jesus Christ"