New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-05-23
DIR. WOODROW DEFENDING HIS THEORY.
HIS APPEAL HEARD BY THE SOUTHERN PREsBY-



Baltimore, May % (specian.-The Rev. DR.. James
Woodrow stirred up the General Southern Presbyterian
Assembly to-day when be warned them Tot to con-
found science with the Bible He spoke for two hours
to-day, and his defence Of his evolution theory
mastery effort. When he rebuked the Assembly for
the progressveness Of this Church. several Of tho
DID, orthodox churchmen could hardly contain them
selves, so anxious they to reply TO him. In
Guiding his address he said:
1 believe the Bible declarations, as the evidence
shows, that the Lord God formed Of the dust Of
the ground believe every word contained in the
am charged with teaching that which Is in conflict with
the sacred scriptures interpreted in the standards
Mhat Is the oasis OF this charged IL is not anything
that found in the Bible or in the standards nothing
that have taught is in conflict with them The basis
to the Bible and to the siandsris-thst the Lord God
directly, immediately instsntsneously, formed Of
IS without the least authority either tho Bible in
me standards II am pronounced guilty, 1t will be
refuse to believe In this unauthorized human
addition to Gods Word, because bo-
is to be added because dread lest God should add
unto me the plaques written In His book, II should
Are YOU absolutely certain that you are right, and
that all who think 10 NAV possibly be otherwise are
wrong that you feel prepared declare that they
wrongl This is not q case where you are deciding
which is the most probable Interpretation; but
whether or not another Interpretation may not true
You may all think that the Interpretation Of the
spondent IS preferable to mns that alone would
not justify you in refusing to sustain nv complaint
For this you must not merely regard theirs as prefer
able even very decidedly preferable, but as the only
Interpretation which by any possibility expresses the
intended teaching Of the Holy Spirit. . .
Would you have been willing few years ago 10
Drand one as hereto who believed that the earth is
more than 5000 years old; because the Church uni
Word Of God that It Is notl Would you have been
willing little earlier to brand heretcs those who
taught contrary TO the universal understanding OF
the church that. God guides the stars In their
courses, not by direct immediate acts OF His powor
but through the law Of gravitation, which he or
dalned2 Would you have been willing little earlier
still to have united with all Christendom In condemn
ing those who refused to believe with the dusky Rich
mond pastor OF to-day that the sun does move
But why should 60 on with this dismal catalogue Of
the Chuhs errors Nrespect science, and thus show
as Is true, that the Church, whenever IL has under
taken to decide scientific question spiritual
grounds: has never failed TO decide II wrongf Tho
reason for this uniform and disastrous failure is not
far 70 seek 1t IS because In all such cases the
Church has assumed the false principle that the Bible
wonder that tho house built upon 1t should fslli
implore you not TO add another instance to this sad
list. shall we learn nothing from the dark past
Can we not see by rightly looking at tho Scripture
then, shall We continue to understand them to make
declarations respecting matters concerning which they
invariably slentf The scientific mistakes II
themselves OF little moment, but consider that every
barrier, often insurmounable IN the wxy Of accept
Of the Gospel OF salvation through Christ Jesus
which you have been commissioned to preach Il
every creature.
After brief recess the Rev william Adams, o.
Georgia. chief prosecutor in the case, replied IN be
half of the Synod Of Georgia He repealed the I'm
putatiOn upon his motives cast by tha complainant
and sustained with ability the action taken In thu
Presbyery of Augusta and the synod Of Georgia con
demnlng the doctrines preached by DR.. Woodrow.