New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-07-21
DIR. HARPER AND THE BIBLE
THE HIGHER CRITICISM DEFENDED BY DR.
LYMAN ABBOTT.
CONSIDERING THE Old TESTAMENT AS LITER
AZURE, NOT AS SINGLE BooK-THE
SCHOOL OF THE ENGLISH BIBLE
AT CHAUrAUQUA.
IBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE. !

lBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TkIBUNE.l
Chautauqua, July 20.-Great interest has been ex-
cited among Bible scholars by the controversy be-
tween the advocates of the limitation of scrptural
criticism TO questions of verbal Interpretation aud those
who favor It's extension TO matters OF origin,
authorship and history. Chief among the latter is
DIR. William II. Harper, OF Yale, the Hebrew scholar
and teacher, principal of the Chautauqua school OF
the English Bible, who has recently been made the OBJ
tcct Of violent assault for his attitude with regard TO
the higher criticism. DR.. Lyman Abbott, tho pastor
of Plymouth Church. Is known to have given much
attention to the matter When asked this afternoon
for an expression Of HIS views, he said:
Although / have not taken any active part In
the discussion am heartily in sympathy with the
advocates Of the higher criticism. Professor Harper
Is one OF the best Iiebraic scholars In tho country
and one of the best teachers, thoroughly evangelical
In spirit and wisely conservative in his methods He
was among the first TO cut loose from the old
system OF treating the Bible ; book, thinking
is unscholariy and not CONDUCIVE to It's highest
and bost use, and in insisting that II must be analyzed
and investigated Just as should analyze and in
vestigate any othor piece of literature consider him
entirely in the right
who are the chief opponents of the higher crit
icsml" the Doctor was asked.
DR.. Mendenhall, a well-known Methodist, has been
most active in his opposition. But probably the
abest representative of what would be called the dis
tnctly conservative Wow is DIR. Green. of Princeton,
who is also a very able scholar and fine Hebraist.
The UNCONVENTIONAL lines and the lines of progress
and conservatism not by any means identical. In
general way I should say that the stronghold OF
conserv would be found IN the various branches Of
the Presbyterian Church. In the Congregational,
Methodist and Baptist Churches there is considerable
division Of sentmcrt AS TO the School of tho Eng
fish Bible, have not examined into its workings at
all but from what know of DR.. Harper / should
expect him 10 conduct IL on conservative but pro-
gressive line. Although everybody may not agree
with all OF his conclusions, believe him to enjoy the
confidence and respect of the entire body Of Christian
scholars
"Do your own researches tend to the same con-
clusons!p
"wen. my Biblical study has been chiefly In the
New Testament, and as TO the Old Testament ac-
ccpt the conclusions of others. For instance. look
upon the Book of Genesis as composite made up OF
pre- existing material either traditional or written ana
prepared as an introduction to Exodus, probably Oh
about the Mosaic date
doesn't that tend to disturb our faith in the story
of the Creationl"
THAT depends upon what our faith Is. 1t DIS
turbs the idea that the first chapter of Genesis was
a revelation OF the way the world was created. But
read that chspter It Is poetry II Is really tssn
poem of Browning of Tenny son. inc great Ilhua
mental spiritual truth stated in that chapter n aa
the material things which the Hebrews in ESy pt nsu
been taught to worship as gods were themselves Inc
creation of their God, that 10 is man ana not NATURE
which is made in the image Of God and that 10 is
into human experience and not into nature t ~ o we
are to look deepest and best revelation OF
That | believe, was also the view of Mr.: Beecher;
The origin Of The Pentateuch think Is TO Dc a N tSa
Iomerc ballads and II Is precisely that sort OF IN
tellgent study Of the Bible which will lead " i;
intelligent appreciation. In my early days me uio
Testament was about as real to me as foonson
Cr,lsoe or the Arabian Nights. 1t seemed to belong
to another world. DIR. Harper and men Ike MN nay
made it a human book. They have done for the
Old Testament what Dean Stanley did for the New and
60 far as / understand their position they have my
full sympathy" ., .,a ~
DR. Abbott breaches here tomorrow at II, ana eS,
meets TO leave on Tuesday morning nor Niagara, the
Tbcnsand Islands and Montreal. lie gave proof OF
the broadness of his by attending the oasena
match this afternoon.