The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-10-15
Renouncing Crthordoxy.


Of the Spring Garden Presby tesian Church,
Philadelphia, renouneed his connection
with that denomination last Sunday, in a
prepared sermon. and also expressed his
opposition to all church creeds. He stated
that he renowned the doctrine Of ortho-
dox Presbyterianisn, and that he should
have no creed save the words of Christ
that his sympathies we're with all sects
having liberal Views.
My future, he said. shall be a church
governed by the people peoples church,
congregational church essentially--where
no authority comes between the minister
and his flock. BY my act subscribe my
self to the Congregational doctrine. |
endorse the new creed Of that church in
place Of the Presbyterian Catachism,
[ was bound to teach. Ministers in Bos-
ton and other cities have sent me letters
promising to help me in this strike for
candor in the pulpit. | do not disfellow-
ship the Presbyterian Church Pres
byterian Church disfelloWships me. Your
creed says that mankind is born and lives
under the curse Of God that in Adams
sin all mankind fell, and for his transgres-
sion God sentenced his children to unend-
ing sorrow. Your creed shows me a
heaven thinly settled, he'll peopled-feW
saints, many sinners. Your creed tells
me that under the eternal law Of predesti-
nation nothing can change the number of
souls ransoned. This is fatalism. What
need, then, of preaching the Gospel? II
a father decides to save three Of bis six
children and consign the other three to
an eternal hell, what can we do ? What
power can Gospel preaching possess The
Episcopal Church tenets are broader, In
that church there is room for Archdeacon
Farrar, who refuses to accept the doctrine
Of eternal punishment there was room
for Dean Stanley, who denied the resur-
rection Of Christ ; Bishop Colenzo, who
disputed the Mosaic authorship OF the
pentateuch Heber Newton, a hereto to
Presbyterianism, There was 10 room for
such men in the Presbyterian Church. |
will preach purity Of heart, personal integ-
rity and righteousness, instead of dogmas
and creed. / will try to give my church
right views, but above all will preach
character andprinciple. The brotherhood
of men and the fatlerhood Of God shall be
my dogmas and my doctrines. God, the
father of all men loves all men. His I'M
conquerable love will conquer all evils. He
is not God Of anger and jealous hatred.
I Tidicule the idea OF a personal devil, alb
solute and forever existing. God alone is
absolute. How, then, can there be an alb
solute devil? Heaven will swallow up all
he'll and there VIII he no more devil to
tempt us. Evil influence is the devil
Temptation, drink, gold and love Of show
are devils roaring about seeking whom
they may deyour.n Man takes his heaven
Or he'll with him to the grave. There is no
escaping the punishment for violation Of
God s laws, but the purpose of that Pun
ishment is the reformation Of the suf-
ferer.
'sGod delights not in the writings of a
punished soul. Heaven and hell are states,
and not localities they are conditions into
which we enter. / want men to know that
God is amicable and loving. Heaven s
joys will not be increased By the sight of
souls in hell. We must have individual
thought, for without it there is no intel
lectual growth. Ministers must give
people new thoughts, and wander outside
the limits Of their dogmas. They are too
much fenced in by creed. Let the people
go out upon the high seas to search for
men, continents and islands. Science
does it. Religion should. My church shall
be bread enough to include ali good men.
independent Of theirbelief. Men read the
Bible with theological! eye glasses.
"The doctrine Of total deprayity is
Matchmaking Of human natdre. Sooner
would I nurse an asp il my bosom, or a
viper in my arms, than believe the horri
bic dogma that my dear God exposes to
unbending wrath all His children for the
sins of one Adam. Call you this good
news, glad tidings, Gospel? There was
religion before the Bible was. Moses had
religion in his heart when lie prayed Re-
ligion makes the Bible. The Bible-is the
child Of religion, and not its mother"