Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-02-01


"You ask me-" Mr. Newton said to the
reporter, "what is to be done practically
about these so-called new views of mine, and
l answer that / don't know. Personally
there Is nothing for me to do but utter my
convictions, and when that is done turn to
other less controversial themes again. l
have not taken up any new crusade nor
plunged with malice prepense,into an sgita-
ton. These views are not new TO me. Eight
years ago / formally set them forth in
printed sermon. When the Advent Sunday
came round in December last, which called
our attention to the Bible, it was borne in on
me TO say again in clear and systematic
way what i have constantly said incident
ally"
TRUTH WILL TAKE CARE oE ITSELF.
"What is your opinion OF the criticisms
that have been passed upon you" ih9nired
the reporter.
"No one has been more surprised than
myself at the feeling these sermons have e1-
cited. Those who know me will scarcely
think, as some OF my clerical and newspaper
critics have assumed, that was seeking TO
make a sensation or TO win cheap notoriety.
l must be content 10 bear the harsh opinion
OF those who don't know my career. 1t is not
any use even 10 advertise my topics, except
when handle some subject of lecture char
acter which would interest others than my
regular congregation. Knowing the loose
notions and great publicity current concern.
ing the Bible, and knowing that there were
many friends whom / could not reach by
personal notice, / gave publicity to my SUBJ
ject in the simplest statement of them posi-
Die. l am heartily glad TO be through the
series and return TO my usual obscurity."
"You have done all that you mean 10 do
with the subject"
Mr.. Newton replied: 81 am preparing the
sermons for publication in cheap form, and
beyond that | propose to do nothing. II
there is any ruth in my position it will take
care of itself; aad il there is not it will be
knocked from under me. The world moves
slowly. Here little and there little the
seed of new thought is sown. j think it
likely that even so trifipg an incident as my
speaking on this subject may prove 10 have
opened discussion which could not long
have been postponed. 1t looks so now. II
il proves so | see nothing TO grieve about.
Deeply as | deplore any mere theological
controversies in lieu OF real religion, they
are not TO be avoided in the pathway of
progress. Much as dread the unsettling of
faith, ii seems TO me impossible TO prevent
this unsettling now in the Interests OF
6rmer resetiIipg. 1t Is a higher than man
who says: i shake all things that the
things which cannot be shaken may abide.
That is the only way to get any abiding, aud
the shaking OF the Bible will NOT shake
il out. 1t may and will winnow
the crude thoughts about the Bible
which now commingle with mems
faith in it. Bat that will in the end prove a
positive boon. But for it the Bible itself
might come TO be practically disused, or
even rejected. The real Bible, the book Of
religious Inspiration, beyond any other on
earth, through which God speaks 10 the soul
as nowhere else, is one Of the things which
cannot be shaken. II is feet OF history.
But. as ! said, have NOT taken the contract
for this very big job. ] have simply tried to
do my humble bit toward helping men to
see how to use the Bible at once reasonably
and reverently, so IS that without making
their intellects stumble hopelessly they
might let their hearts and consc .ences enjoy
the iuestimable benefits OF these Holy Scrip
lures.
WANTS REINFoRCEAENTs
"If others who think with me will join the
fray and not leave the discussion of this
important subject 10 those who are intelli-
gently set in the popular views, or 10 those
who seem incapable of forming an Intelligent
notion of the real issue, something substan-
tial may be done 10 lift the conception of the
Bible this winter. 1t is unfortunate that any
panicky feeling should whip IN even clergy
men TO such structures as have been made in
this discussion. The personal imputations
shall have TO stand as best can. But the
utter failure to recognize the real snd only
issue raised-the frantic whoop of popular
prejudice-this ought not 10 be found in ed
ucated teachers. By all means let my errors
and dangers be exposed, but reasonably and
calmly, as the mistakes of one who has only
sought TO help men to see the Bible in lis
true merits and love and use il more. That
such deeper appreciation of the Bible Issues
from such views l have reason to know. But
in helping one class other elasses may suffer
that is the pity OF it. II always has been
30 in every forward movem5 Mt. Christianity
itself unsettled the genuine, imperfect faith
OF hosts OF poor pagans, so much SO
that the Christians were called atheists.
The reformers were 'infdels' 10 good,
pious Catholics, horrifed that holy Mother
Church should be questioned. So il always
goes. The infidels OF one generation may
be simply slying faith for the next genera.
lion. AT all events, may the grseious spirit
of charity sweeten all our minds while we
reason together of what concerns US all
alike-the preservation of mems faith in a
real revelation from God to the human soul
in the light Of which We are 10 walk 'sob,rly,
and godly.'"