Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-05
BELCHER's RIVAL.
Another New Work Clergyman
g with Advanced Ideas.


New York Special 70 Cincinnati Tinss,Sta
Mr.. Beocher is DO bigger the only
orthodox pastor n this vicinity who
prefers 70 eonstrue the Hbie for him
self. The3onowiDe abstracts from a
sermon by Rev r Heber Newton, Of
All SOULS church. protestant Epis-
copa). will make the hair Of many An
orthodox Christian stand on end.
Whether right OF wrong, Mr.. Newton
mas confidently expect to become the
most industriously abused man in the
church.
1t is a wrong use of the Bible, said
the preacher, 70 90 TO tas an authority
in any sphere except that of religion
aud theology. The Bible was appealed
TO ia the olden times to answer such
questions rs bow the world came into
being, how it was peopled with life,
how it was 10 be ultimately destroyed,
and many other problems Of like
nature. In those days the people
we're seeking answers to questions of
the kind, aud the Bible gave the
answers in some Of the finest pieces Of
poetry on record.
The story Of the creation and the
beautiful legend OF the Garden OF
Eden, however, were but variations
of the same story which had been told
before, but they were related in q
grander style than ever. As the hui
man race las advanced and human
knowledge increased, mankind has
learned that these old stories of the
creation we're written to satisfy the
longings Of a thirsting curiosity, which
could not be thoroughly satisfied in
the condition of man at the time they
were written. TO pretend to use the
Bible in these days as an answer to
the questions regarding creation and
the progress Of the human race is
wrong. The growing knowledge oil
man concerning himself and God is
the real revelation Of God, and the
Bible 10 the olden times was but the
performance Ofthat revelation. 1t is
the pleasure Of God that man shall
learn something Of himself, and alter
centuries OF study the dawn is Just
breaking upon 1s. Had itpleased the
Omnipotent Creator to give us the
knowledge which We are now Just be.
ginning to acquire, three thousand
years ago, tOreveal to us the whole
truth, lie would have robbed US OF the
discipline Of mind, which is the result
Of our constant study of ourselves anC
our discoveries in the realm Of sci
eGce.
t'Hos could II he possible. Mr.
Newton asked. that a book coulC
have been written three THOUSAND
years AGO which would help men ther
IN their search after truth in regard L
the creation, and which would con
tinus level 70 the progress Of this age
Such 9 book, ii written, would havI
been inoomprehenable 10 those Il
whom II was addressed. Turning t,
the story OF the creation. we find sub
s~tzntlally a story that vas though
out by the ablest minds oeuturie
before Moses was born. When ".
analyze the tradition philosophical
we ind It 10 be profound rs poetry
We had It altogether lovely.
When our children ask for a phil
Osophical view OF the creation, sal
the preacher, turn TO these oil
stories and recount them Thesl
traditions embrace q crude theoiOgl
which was all sufficient for the age il
Which they were PROMULGATED, but il
tins country we should make no at
tempt 70 reconcile Genesis with tn
theory Of the origin Of species. lie
Us discard at ones al ideas of thi,
kind If Moses was mistaken in hi
history Of ihe creation his nistakeI
were the mistakes 81 his aRe. Tn,
grand truths which Moses penneC
have not died. :.
in the beginning God created th,
heaTens and the eaTth,is truth which
can never die. Its q wrong use o,
the Bible TO contradict from it 4
Biblical system Of religion and theol.
ogJ, and insist that unless the system
Is adapted as the guide Of life a man
cannot be saved. One Of the greatest
monstrosities OF the Christian world
is the Christian catechism which IS
put into the hands of Sunday school
scholars. Ia this catechism proof
texts are found which have been
torn bodily from the living truth of
which they formed a part in the
Scriptures and placed in a t~heological
cabinet, All are iumbled together In
q Mosaic mass without regard 10
their connection with the text from
which they are tgken. The unknown
poet who wrote the Fifty. first Psalm
SAID "ln sin did my mother conceive
me"
10 the catechism these words arc
used as proof text TO snow that mar
IS totally %deprayed. In Eclesiastics h
IS said that it a tree fall to the norti
or south there 1t shall lie, and this il
used IN theology to the idea that aftel
death there is do recovery. Til,
author OF these words had no knowl
edge OF the life to come, but now tn,
most obnoxious which Christianity hal
given to the world is based on Mi
words, which are used az a proof tex.
In the catechism, aud arc construed Al
no same man would construe the wor,
man. You cannot construct one sys
TEN Of theology out of the Bible unles
you take Christ himself as your exam
pie He has a whole system Of theol
9gy in himself. The image Of tn
Father restored in humanity. | wan
no more, and | am content with IN
authority Of Jesus Christ in which t
base my theology.
Plus and Perjury.
London Spectator.