New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-08-05
PRINCETON ON BIBLICAL CRITICISM.
PROFESSOR W. II. GREEN'S VIEWS OF THE
MFpJTc on HIGHER AMI LOWER CRITICISM.

MERITS OF HIGHER AND LOWER CRITICISM.
Lake Placid. N Y, Aug. (speciaD-one Of the
most learned and yet Of the most conservative
Biblical scholars in America is the Rev. DR.. w. H.
Green, professor of Hebrew at Princeton Theological
Seminary When the General Assembly enter
tanned Princeton last May he spoke I'm behalf Of the
Seminary, and said that if the General Assembly
should be cajoed into revising Calvnism out of the
Confession of Faith, Princeton will remain true TO
the principles of the Church as contained in the
Standards Dr. Green IS the author of a Hebrew
grammar; he was chairman Of the Old Testament
Company of the Revision Committee. and he writes
critical notes on the Sunday school lessons. for Tho
Sunday school Times" when Old Testament books
studied. To Tribune correspondent who sought his
opinion Of the Higher Criticism of the Scriptures, IN
view of the recent discussion between DR.. Menden-
han and DR.. Harper OF Yale. Professor Green said
"what is known Biblical criticism IS the careful
scrutiny OF all available sources of information r.
spectng the form and contents Of the sacred volume
II Is currently divided into the lower and the higher
criticism. The lower criticism interogaes all exist
ing and accessible testimonials to the text Of Scripture
with the view of asceraiDing with the greatest pos
sibe exactness the precise words of the inspired pen
mon. Ancient manuscripts, versions and quotations
in early writer's are diligently collated, all their
variations noted and the authority for every word and
clause carefully tsbulated Many alarmed at the
outset by the astounding number Of emergencies dis
covered and apprehended that the certainty Of the
sacred text was being undermined 1t is Just the
reverse The labors OF New Testament critics have
sifted and dgested the immense amount Of material
at their command and as the result the text Of the
New Testament has been settled with minuteDess
and accuracy and a wealth Of demonstration which
no other production of antiquity can even remotely
spprpach and which leaves little more 10 be expected
or desired
What about the Old Testament"
Tho lower criticism Of the Old Testament has not
vet been brought 10 a similarly definite result The
problem is here complicated with new and peculiar
conditions and the precise outcome Of the whole
matter stlI hangs In doubt What authority is To be
conceded 10 the MassOretic textl What weight is to
he attributed to ancient versiOnsl What liberty 10
be allowed cOnJectIrcl These questions are stil
warmly debated, and widely divergent answers are
returned The material that must be worked over In
order to resolve these inquiries with certainty Is enoF-
nous But elaborate investigations are in progress,
which must ultimately lead 10 some settled conclusion
Meanwhile there is no occasion for anxiety, as though
anything serious in jeopardy. The matier III
volved literary exactness, rather than OF re-
lgious faith doctrine. The faith Of Christendom
will not be disturbed by much hairs breadth,
whatever relative authority Shall be finally accorded
the Palestine the Alexandrian recensiOn Of the
text"
Wherein does the Higher Criticism differ from the
LOwer?'
The Higher Criticism advances from this prelimi-
nary settlement by external authority Of the very