Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-01-29
A Talented Minister Startles the Church
People of st. Louis.

A Talented Minister Startles the Church
People of st. Louis.
ST. LOUIS, January 2Sth-This city is all
stirred up over religious sensation that
will become national in interest and i'm
portance, and of which mutterings have
been heard, but which did not fully develop
until to-day.
Rev. R. c. Cave is one of the most elo-
Quent, if not the very foremost, in pulpit
oratosy in this city, and for some time past
has been pastor of the Central Christian
Church. His congregation was composed
of leading St. Lousans, and the church is
situated in an aristocratic quarter of the
city.
The first startling evidence that Cave
had departed from the orthodox teachings
of Alexander Campbell, was found in a
sermon delivered by him two months since.
in which he fatty denied the inspiration of
the Old Testament, and made general at
tack upon the narrowness of creeds, his
sermon being, as usual, couched in the
most brilliant and graphic language.
Anticipating a revolt of the orthodox
following to such utterances, DR.. Caves
immediate followers in the Central Chris
tian Church held formal meeting and
strongly indorsed their brilliant pastor.
No action was taken by the orthodox
element for some time, but the ministers
addresses in the same, or rather assuming
a more pronounced vein of heterodoxy,
his course could not be ignored. Even then
the influence welded by the magnetic pas
tor was apparent, for at church meeting
held some weeks since formal report and
disapproval of his advanced teachings were
coupled with the most emphatic express
sions of appreciation of his talents.
TN1Il III, Gary =
his pastorate. His resignation was imme-
diately followed by that of large proper
ton of the Central Church members who
were faithful to him, and a hall being
rented temporarily new Christian Church
was organized under the name of the
"West End Christian Church," with DR..
Cave as pastor.
Since that time the bold minister has de-
iyered series of sermons that have been
widely reported and have attracted pro-
found attention. He denies the inspiration
of the Scriptures and the divinity of Christ,
SCOTS at the miracles and belabors the ac-
cepted dogmas of the Church numerically.
In consequence of such revolutionary
course DR.. Cave has been officially con-
demned by the organs of the Christian
Church and by other ministers as unsound
and dangerous in his doctrine.
bSltIuiJ tue ScCtcolOu SciISdtlOu Culuul-
mated when the undaunted Free thinker
arose in the pulpit, and with great emotion
announced that, in view of such official
condemnation, he felt it his duty to resign
from the pastorate of the seeding church
rather than have it and its members pro-
nounced out of communion with all other
recognized Christian churches.
The announcement was followed by last
and crowning evidence of loyalty on the
part of bis followers. 1t was virtual repeti-
ton of the scriptural scene between Ruth
and Naomi, and the declaration, Whittier
thou goest l will co. was unqualifedly
made by every member of the bold congre-
cation. 1t was agreed that if the pastor
was heretical his parishioners were also,
and all might as well be read ont BY "book,
bell or candlen together. The officers of
the church stated that the church was or
ganized under the laws of the State of Mis-
souri, and could continue its existence sepa-
rated from all other religious bodies. Upon
this basis the congregation hiss formally
decided 10 Withdraw from the orthodox
Christian Church and cling to the pastor.
The organization will continue to be known
as the West End Christian Church, but will
be severed from all connection with other
religious bodies. 1t begins its startling ex-
istence as an independent religious organi-
zation and its head and front is DR.. +. @.
Cave.