Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-01-07
mr. nex1on I.,.rxisuea.

Newton At his Temporary residence in Garden
city, Long Island on wednesday, when ne sac
now as following in the wake OF the con-
troyersy raised by Dr.. Ellis's paper on the
Bible read about a month ago before the Un1ta-
rian Club, of Boston. In that paper DE- Ellis took
the ground that the Bible read in the oldfashioned
way was an orthodox book, aud supports the
evangelical system of doctrine. The conservative
Unitarians naturally resented this as giving up
their case and admitting that sne gfes' w 1IG
Dr. Worcester, and that they had been on
the wrong track through their oenoman a.
as naturally rejoiced over this admission,
and have pat in the usual retort, We told
you So Orthodoxy stands w the re ns pspers
have been ringing with this contest. Upon 4tnet
and larger grounds the agitation OF the suoieciI
seems 10 be timely. Perhaps the most lnnuenual
gentleman in my congregation said to me-, The
time has come for these things TO pc oeclaIe1.
Among my many New Years callers houm ut OILY
one man who deprecated my action; the rest were
heartily with me, and most OF them SAID we've
felt this for years. l hope the Herald proposes
this question, and / also hope it will succeed
in drawing out an honest and frank expression;
The old fashioned orthodox, OF course, VIII
that many of the liberal men will much prefer
not TO speak out in meeting Many reasons com.
bine to create this hesitaucy VI me ess 1a:yv
the clergy apt to be timid from ihe very ssIi
business and momentousuess OF the Interests tney
are charged with conserving. Religion mes pc
meath morality as its basis. To sap IL IS 10 endan
Ger morality and that i society. To question the
traditional beliefs seems Ike opehtng TSs p,St
urally gives them pause. should sea- my lbs III
silence did not feel persuaded mat me olo Of no,
dox view OF the Bible is already thing OF tne
mast and that the present concern of religion is 70
get another view OF this blessed book as quickly
as possible which will enable men to READ IL Wlin
the same spiritual Inspiration their fathers drew
fromIit and to read It to the children as II was
read BY their dear dead to US years ago."
MUST TAKE ALL OR NOTHING.
Nl.an ia Ia il
no longer used by our young men, because they
have the alternative Of taking Il as their iatheis
took it or not taking 1t at all. They can no longer
their shelyes-the least read book in their pos
session. Ingersolls whole power is given MIN by
the tid silence OF the pulpit For years most co.
which his ramming is powerless But the people
have not known these views, and SO our young
best book of religion-the book in which God has
spoken to the souls Of men as in no otner pook
known on earthly the eloquent Eldemie d o. 0
if 1t forces this subject upon the ehurcnsss,
II our liberal men will only speak out they VIII
utterances are old enough to them. The
first thing our renaissance must DO Is 70 ciear
away the old view of the Bible upon when tne
whole superstructure or orthodoxy-an utterly
dead thing intellectually-is reared. Every al
vance Of knowledge, every reconstruction OF be
and by ID put down. To beat new notion OF any
great doctrine into the heads Of people is a wea1
some job, just because of this; But don't the
Bible saw so and so?' To teach them the value OF
the ipse dirt of the biblical books, the relative
weight of the different authors ete--that is, 10
train them to use the Bible as a human books
the first condition for any successful Revision OF
the creeds., such as the North American ReV'eo Is
discussing"
DR. NEwToN's OWN EXPERIENCE.
How long have you held the conviction eI;
pressed in you sermon two weeks ago, that the old
view of the Bible was fading on the vision of this
age?'
ton through dozen years past was brought
up by of the noblest and best of fathers In the
old orthodox though, in which his dear soul rests
fore began to question the old view. This cues
tianing proceeded nit by bit until was driven 70
q careful and thorough working over OF the whole
field of Biblical criticism, and such process
landed me, where 1t seems TO me 1t must land any
man VINO is open to light In the new view. IsWeaT
think there is a vast deal of conjecture in all their
theories. 1t will take time to settle these
points But the substantial conclusion of the
entire process of the new, criticism is to leave
nothing of the supernatural books. Tney are as
thoroughly human writings ss any the earth
holds. That does not deny that men were IN
spired nor that the peoples history was the record
OF q real revelation. But the inspiration came IN
natural ways, Is OF the same aiIa tnousn 81
revelation was in the discovery Of new ethical and
pertinent truths.
REVELATION AND DISCOVERY.
Revelation and discovery are the two opposite
ways of designating one mystery-man's getting
new light and mans having the veil taken away
from his mind. The organic oaco ming Of ethical
the real revelation of God. And the Hebrews led
the ancient world in this development, led II
up to Christ the highest Light earth has had shed
any book comes from God. Ny utterance now is
no rash impulse, but a lons-delayed purpose;
spsLe.' 1t was precipitated by a remark Of one Of
the brightest women in my congregation, VINO
said: Ny children don't know anything of the
7 n them When tley ask
me these lines true, do not know " hat 70 say
to them. was shocked by the thought that our
take whose place az q manual of religion there is
no other book yet out. and said, must clear NJ y
peoples thoughts Hence these tears ears. ...
we'll out In the ministry before YOU began 70 ques-
ton. Do yop mean that yonr reason. which nov
rejects the orthodox view OF the Bible Old rot re-
bel against it then, when you were studying for
mo; / did not seriously question this old view
passive. Whatever doubts came TO me pat away
as suggestions Of the evil one. 1 was brought up
goodness wherein the whole atmospheric nodded
my mind unconsciously. Ny reverence for my
father, unusually strong. laid the spell OF TINS be
lief upon me- 1 took IN the whole of his belief as
a sponge soaks up the water in which it lies
went into q seminary where there was no serious
critical study of the Scriptures, and so the din
broke down after years study, and LEFT the
seminary never TO return 10 II -eiiing Gown ~
road threw myself into practical WORE ADD oic
not trouble myself with doctrines or eriticfrm
amid the practical duties which claimed my con
slant care. so vent along seEersl years graonal;
dropping the dogmatic preaching by instinct
rather than by ratocinau0n- SUCH course
favored in our church by the wholly undogmsiis
character of our only ofncin utterence on tns
Rible srsie az Of sae al ing
to salvation, that whatsoever Is not T Al tneren
nor may be proved thereby; is not 70 be required
tlo~ ff shr.Trl hRl1GVQd n
article of the faith or be thought requisite OF nee
es-ary t. salvation"
nations, which force the issue on young men Iht
chief reason for the oontentedness OF most OF oul
Clergy in the old view Is that being very harc
for study, and waive issues they are not ready q
able to face thoroughly. suppose my mind grew
perisnce Ffederic Robertson. the best known 0
English preachers, never fairly entered the cr1tcs
stage until midliie in the ministry. his spirit1a
DEVELOPMENT preceded his Intellectual develop
nent have taken my menta measles late, AnC
90 they have gone hard and struck in
NO VIOLATION OF MINISTERIAL CREED.
DO the ministers of your denomination sub
scribe to any creed With which your present opin
ions are incoRpanbleE
written vow: OF conformity TO any statement 0
faith ID demanded of u.s. And the verbal vow
asked of Ms sre of the simplest and most u adog
culiarity of the Protestant Episcopal Church. !
bases itself on Institutions. 1t snsarines Worsnil
in rich liturgy. II directs the energies Of II
members toward personal character and prActiea
philanthropy As was shown lAteiy IN me sIetls
All Protestant denominations in philanthropy
work in New York. Its ideal in thought i
comprehensive. For this end rs formula
OF ordinaton are simple. The thirty
nine articles have no binding obligation o.
any one as authoritative opinions. 1hs
were put forth by The Church Of Engl4n
| - ne tine Of The ferment OF spscuizt.o
attending tie Esforns<1pn. Staciy.he Carlisle