The weekly democratic statesman. [volume] (Austin, Tex.) 1871-1883, 1883-01-25
VOL. XII.
LET US CLING TO THE OLD.

A New York letter says, "the so
called BROAD Church" school among
the Episcopalian brethren is making
rapid strides in its pupils here, and
the controversies that are growing
out of it already promise to throw
quite into the background all the old
contention about ritualism, candles,
yestments and other comparative
trifles." The present issue touches the
inspiration of the Old Testament.
Revs. Newton, Shipman and Rylance,
all of them eminent men and welding
great power with strong congrega-
tions, have lately taken very advanced
ground on this subject, so advanced,
indeed, as to quite shock the senslblll-
ties of those who have all along held
to the belief that the Old Testament
was of Divine inspiration in all It's
parts. DIR. Newton says the creeds
arc the true embodiment of what the
church believes, and that there is
nothing in them to prove such inspi-
ration. DIR. Shipman is willing to ac-
cept the declarations of the
New Testament as affording
proof us to the inspiration
of some of the books of the Old
Testament. He consequently takes
Moses and the Prophets as able to pass
muster, and rejects the rest. DR..
Rylance is still more cautious, but his
declarations have been such as to place
men in antagonism to old church doc
trines, and shows that he is hunting
after new ones more in conformity
with the necessities arising from the
light ofnew dispensations in the world
of science and thought. There has been
some pressure brought to induce the
bishop of the diocese, who is still con-
servative, to take notice of the de-
partures of these reverend gentlemen,
but so far nothing has been done. 1t
is evident any way that great revo-
luton is about to take place
in church affairs. These dissen-
sions are numerous and strong,
and will make themselves felt. If
the heads of the church rise up against
them, and even eXcommunicate them.
they will then be stronger still. Such
is the result in all cases where these
liberalists present themselves. They
have caused stir in all portions of
the country, and, since it pays, others
may be continuously expected to fol-
low. Congregations begin to languish
and a sensational preacher is necessary
to infuse new life and fresh activity in
to the membership. Usually the con-
gregation follows the minister, and
he takes them along without their
knowing it into fascinating but prob
ably dangerous paths. The cause
of christianity is not benefited there
by, for the sacred opinions and doc
trines of centuries are shaken and the
all-conflding become skeptics, and skep-
tics infidels, and infidels become deists,
and deists atheists, and the world
drifts away instead of toward Christ.
Religions are necessary to control
elements in society. The dread of
eternal punishment keeps many from
evil excesses, while the hope of eter-
nal glory induces others to be good.
1t must not be expected that con-
science will control multitudes,
and hence the stronger the re-
ligion, the less the liberality
of religious laws, the better for those
governed thereby. Our penal codes
may be used rs forcible demonstra-
tion. Were it not that they fix pen
alties for one man getting away with
another's OK, as well as his wife or
maid-servant, we might expect,
especially in Texas, for no
man to know his OK, and many to
lose sight altogether of the female
members of their families. 1t may
be considered wise on the part of
these liberalists to accept Moses and
the Prophets, to reject Solomon and
David, with their ugly precedents
for latter day saints; but from
worldly standpoint we are
prepared to appeal for the
perpetuation of the old and time.hon-
or ID beliefs. Break down sections of
the wall that Christianity has built
up for itself, and speedily all will fall.
Preserve it in its ancient purity. Some
call it blind belief, but it must be
borne in mind that in faith there
must be implicit acceptance
Latitude is destructive of faith, and
until the new Messiah come it were
best to cling to the old, through which
it is believed by millions that untold
billions have been saved.