New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-01-21
CLEARING UP 4 MISUNDERSTANDING.
THE REV. r. HEBER NEWTON ADDRESSES HIS CON
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BELIEFS.

THE REV. r. HEBER NEWTON ADDRESSES HIS CON
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES BELIEFS.
Before announcing his text at the morning
service at All Souls Episcopal Church yesterday the
Rev r. Hcber Newton few remarks TO his cOngre-
CATION for the purpose he said, OF clearing their mil DIS
of a misunderstanding which he had noticed during the
week about the suspension Of his course OF lectures on
the booSs Of the Old Testament. he said:
"My understanding of Church is that preshyters
action is very much like that Of subordinate officer in
the army To have refused n request made
in the manner the bishop made II to would have been
insuboripation II It bad been made the ground Of
Official right principle woud have been involved which
would have called for my resistance. understood the
bishop to imply that in consequence OF the camor that
had been raised, he dremed II uicious FOR me 10 suspend
the course lectures present There was no principe
involved in such request that am not sieneed a.
TO my ordinary teaching; that will continue along the
lines upon which have been moving in the past did
not vc up idea of continuing course or lectures
but simply adjourned them at the bishops
request until the present excitement could be aayed
shall renew them when the time seems to me right
Further let me correct the misrepresentation which
observe 70 be rather widespread These Bible lectures
did not take the place of ordinary sermon quite
agree with my critics OF the clergy and OF the press who
say that even it timely to promugate the new crt
cIsm the sermon i9 not the best means OF so doing
would thought OF giving s course even before
nv own morning congregation For that try to have
always some word helpful in daily life. purposely Sc
ecied the sleepy h1u rs OF the afternoon because knew
that no one would come cut then unless he desire
such help I sought 10 give. re-
evening because that time would draw miscellaneous
audience TO those who came in the afternoon gave
what has always conceded to be the privilege and
dntv of n pastoT course of Bible exposition. Only my
exposition was made IN the light OF the new crlcisn so
far from seeking any merely destructive WORK Was earn
esy seeking aid those who had lost the tradluOnal
view of the Old Testament 10 regain conception OF IL
which would enable them To recognize the feby OF tue
su1lual revelation recorded in IL, while freely rcadlg
the literary records of that revelation have gO through
lie period when for merely destructive Work As
| view IT, for those whom. none, attempted 10
reach. my work thoroughly constructed. 1
need no further evidence of the rghtuness OF my view
OF this matter than the letters which have received ts
week. -.
right this view Of the Old Testament IN our CuuIch
would not have remained in It, II seems TO me serious
matter to appear to repress the liberty or lnVesg
ton and OF utterance in Church, and am sincerely
sorry therefore, that bishop has seen lit 10 make the
request which he did That, however IL matter Tor MIN
and not for In some way the spread OF more ra-
| tonal view Of the Old Testament must go on"
J In his sermon on 4" Is there any neces
! he said: Proverbs grow with the growth of
the In the knowledge Of truth. Such proyerb Is
now growing IN the expression IL makes difference
what man believes long ms life Is right This
creedsthe body OF systematic theology which Is taught
in the semnaries Creeds attempt accuracy thought
about the problems OF life which Is unnecessary I'm
possible. Creeds, however, not indifferent; they
shapes character. The essential beliefs
second the spiritual nature OF man. third in the lie
Without belief In God there can be no moral
characters without belief IN the spiritual nature
would ensaved 20 his lower nature aud without be-
lief the lie great inducement " goodness
would 10 taken away"