Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-10-03
TEARING THE BIBLE TO PIECES.
The Rev. w. II. III. Murray Gives the
Result of His Investigations.


4 Rain was falling, and only about go
/ persons went to Chickering Hall last
/ evening to hear the Rev w. II. II. Muir
! ray speak on the subject of "ChriStianlty
! VS., Theology" Mr.. Murray came unon
! the stage wearing a long black coat.
/ 9lack trousers, black neck tie and white
| collar. Ills ir0n-gray hair was parted ON
the side and brushed up high. His nous
tache was heavy and plentifully sprinkled
with gray. His face was ruddy. one but
ton OF his coat, the middle one Of the three,
was left free. INTO this opening in the
breast of his coat he thrust his
right hand, upon which were the three
fingers that were mutilated while ginning
ON Long Island some years ago. The de-
feet was scarcely noticeable. His pres
ence was commanding, and the audience,
although small, applauded him vigorous
ly. lie placed his book Of notes on the
reading-desk, under a bright light, and
without word of Introduction started
out. His tones were loud, and as clear
as a bell. There was peculiaritv about
the pronunciation of some words. as
though he were partially tongue-tied but
1t did not detract from his speech which
was pleasant to listen to.
The question thrust itself on him at his
study door, he sald, whether what was put
forth as the Word of God was right or
wrong. The opportunity came five years
ago when he left the ministry to consider
1t. lie found that the thoughts of Jesus.
taught so sweetly on the Mount. were
written years before the birth of the found
ling boy Moses. He knew that races lived
on the earth 100000 years before Moses.
They lived under equitable governments.
were civilized, possessed arts now un-
known, and built cities, beside which
modern ones appeared plain. Jewish
books contained no knowledge of the past
except traditions that were picked up and
were mythical-traditions almost totally
swallowed up by deepening ages. Moses
was adopted by a Princess and educated
as the son of Princess. The speaker
had no doubt Moses wrote out the history
OF creation as he was taught it by priests
who were SO jealous of their knowledge
that they did not trust it to writing
There was not single book in the Old
Testament that could lie satisfactorily ac-
counted for.
Mr.. Murray enumerated a few things
which Christian theology asked him to
believe. First, that it was only 5000
years since the world was created. He
found that for more than 10000 times
5000 years human beings had existed on
the earth. Second, that man was created
out OF clay and woman out of rib. This
was no better nor worse than dozen
other myths 1000 years older. Third,
that in the earlier ages men lived for from
500 to 1000 years. This was so opposed
to the laws of structure and decay as to
be incredible. Fourth, that 1000 Years
ago the world was inundated. and that
two of every kind were put aboard a YES
sci no larger than ordinary ocean ships
This was absolutely beyond belief. Fifth,
that at the bidding of a mortal man the
sun and the whole solar system stood
still. This, too, was incredible. The Old
Testament was the work of a few pains
taking Jews who wanted to preserve the
history OF their country and gathered to-
gether the scraps and traditions. One
of them confessed that he bOr-
roWed from the pagans, and thus
pagan fables became Christian doc
trine. The doctrine @of inspiration
was not known to the primitive church,
but was progressively worked up As
taught to-day it was not taught by Jesus
to the disciples nor by them to the peo-
pie. AS it stood to-day it was bold and
gigantic fraud against the prosperity of
the church, the growth of thought, and
the disposition of the soul. 1t was made
up by church councils composed of ambi-
tiOus scheming POpes and priests, who
packed the cOnvOcatiOns as the political
primaries were now, and often to spite the
minority. Progressive thought objected
to the whole body known as dogmatic
theology. Men were no longer tortured by
theology. The Iaity were taking the place
of priests and letting in rays of light. Ii
the t0g was swept away the sea was left.
If the clouds were swept away the sky
was left. Sweep away the fogs and clouds
from the dome of Christianity and God
was left. Him men would obey, trust,
and love and meet what was called death
as the birds greeted the sunlight. Then
tradition would be first a curiosity of
religion, and afterward a horrid relic of
barbarism.