New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-19

fenesis with Introduction 10 the Sni' Protes-
r. HEsS i.o SS" Church. New-YOrk City. svo PIP
xy. sit. O. p Putnams Sons
Itis evident that modern Biblical CRITICISM ne'
Acme much to modify the views which were ior-
nerly entertained concerning the Bioie bu' IL nae
cot done so without great opposition. ialee' oio
"a conscientious minority of Christian scholars
rd teachers has attempted though thus far In VAIN,
N stem the oncoming tide. They have tried 10 hoiu
En-, Church not only to the traditional ecclesiastical
INTERPRETATION of the Scriptures. but also 10 many "a
tbs nonular interpretations OF the English version
The views of these tradtionalists were eIoel'eh'y
and precisely expressed by Bishop Gregory il, 50"
Bedell of Ohio, few days ago. whom ne sa,u' Nv
word of the present English translation OF 'ie D,o.
(which is indeed the Bible for us-cSh 10 'UuC"e"
,ither nv criticism or by scepticsm without dlsoy'
-. 60 an. Cnprcb danger to the truth. and harm
40 sons The creation of doubt is the beginning OF
in6delity." 81,
But. whether rightly or wrongly. the CHRISTIAN
world seems rapidly drifting away from TINS e&-
treme view of the Bible 1t is not even the UNIFORM
teaching of the Church of which DIR. Bedel Is an &C
complshed bishop. The Christian scholarsn'p Vi
the world has decided that the Bible is legitimate
object of honest and reverent criticism anu UhaV INC
ssuse of truth cannot be mperllled by correcting
the errors and misconceptions of the past
DIR. Newton has attempted in the book before us
toprovide A plain and simple handbook embody-
ing his peculiar ideas the Book of Genesis for the
general reader The nucleus of the book consists OF
the Lectures on the Bible which he delivered In his
church last winter and which were then discontln-
uedat the request Of Assistant Bishop Henry "
Potter To the lectures which were delivered Dr.
Newton has added an elaborate introduction on the
Pentateuch and has also appended number OF ex-
planatory notes. Concerning the Pentateuch Dr'
Nevtons theory is startlingly radical He says that
ha rNrnxrA 4.
simply on tradition, and is confirmed by no testl-
y,onv of the book itself of the other Old Testa-
ment writings aud finds no real support in the IAN
ruage the New Testament He considers that there
arc in the Pentateuch itself many touches OF a
handwriting of much later date than the period
of the Exodus and that moreover, the whole history
of the nation from the Exodus to the Exile denies
the operation and even the existence of such book
rs the Pentateuch Judging therefore from external
and internal evidences, the inference appears TO
him TO be plain that the Pentateuch is composite
work, and that at best Moses merely the third
Of an author or an editor of other mems compost
tons.
This theory In q modified form is familiar
10 Biblical scholars. The composite character
of the five Mosaic books has been generally
explained by orthodox commentators by say
ing that Moses under divine inspiration, made
use of two or more traditions whlch had
been handed down from remote antiquity namely
those of the so-called Elohst and Jehovist. But
they were careful not to allow this theory to stand
IN the way of the other theory of the Mosaic au
thorship of the Fentateuch, and their position is
well stated by Horne in his Introduction to the
Old Testament" when he says; Nothing is more
certain than that this book was written by Moses
But while it is thus admitted thatthe Pentatepch is
composite work, there is no general agreement as
to how far it is composite work or who were its
author OF authors. There is great difference be
tween the theory that Moses, under divine inspira
ton revoked old materials into one narrative and
the theory that the Penateuch such was entirely
unknown until the period of the Exile. Dr. New
toms followers would of course say that his theory
Is no more baseless than that of the Mosaic author
ship aud that he brings to its support internal evil
dences which are entitled to consideration. The
Exihan authorship may never be proved; DR.. New
Ton certainly has not proved it. But it is an inter-
esting theory. and explains to some minds facts
which arc TO them otherwise unaccOuntable.
Ii is pleasant to note that DR.. Newton is not con-
cerned simply IN tearing down old theores-a charge
which was frequently made against him during the
delivery Of his lectures, possibly !at that time with
Justice He tears down in order that he may build
on the old foundation. something whichhe considers
better and more enduring. His brethren may not
agree with him in his results, but they will doubt
less be willing to acknowledge the excellence and
purity of his motives.
Dr. Newton in speaking of the Pentateuch says
We have here most thoroughly human books.
compositions elaborated slowly and painfully
through the processes of history -making found
among all early peoples Book of Mormon may
be discovered whole aud complete, where, as its
worshippers clai m. an angel left it for the prophet
The Pentateuch grew under Providence, IN the
growth of a people, by accumulations which we can
peel OFF and assign, approximately, TO their several
ages. 1t was fashioned by host of panstah king
writer's each of whom wrote his leaf and left it in
the literature of people, TO be, by later authors,
extracted and inserted IN the history OF the Hebrew
origins. It was not dictated TO Moses on the
mount. during the forty days spent there-acc0rd-
ing TO the quaint theory of the Jewish rabbin; 1t
was composed bit by bit, " in sundry times and in
In tbs view of the Pentateuchal history we
have the clew to the interpretation OF the passages
which offend the moral sense One might well be
puzzled in reading many of these passages IN the
light of the traditional theory of the nature OF tins
book. In such a composition as we have seen IL 10
b.. their presence is quite readily expaInable:
Tho traditions of the people naturally preserved
memories of cruel and brutal actions OF dark and
dreadful passions, from the times when man was
still very much of a savage. These would have to
later historian, value in pctuTng the actual
social state of antiquity which would warrant ther
admission on hs pages
To those who believe in DR.. NewtOn's theory of
the Pentateuch his method of interpreting Genesis
will present no difficulties. "The Revelation" he
SAYS which came through Israel came in the
human consciousness of God, which slowly
wakened into cearness. 1t was an historic growth
In man of man. The beginnings of this historic
process of learning the true knowledge of God are
set before us in Genesis All writing profitable
for instruction in righteousness is God-breathed."
q There is no doubt that while Dr. Newton
has. in the opinion of many conservative
scholars gene dangerous lengths in Biblical criti-
csm, he has only gone few steps further in the
way which these same scholars have opened out,
and along which they slowly travelling. 1t IS
not 50 long since belief in the literal days of
Creation in Genesis was regarded as essential to
salvation. Now the most orthodox Biblical schOl-
ars interpret the Creative days to mean countless