The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-07-24
Tho Prevalence of Heresy.

The committee having in charge the ar
rangements for the next Church Congress OF
EpiscopalIans have Withdrawn their invita-
ton to the Rev. Mr.. MACQUEARY Of Ohio to
be one OF the speakers on the occasion. They
have done this, they explain, not because OF
Bishop PoTTER's description OF him as
hereto, but because Bishop LEONARD Of
Ohio his own Bishop, In the proper execu-
ton of episcopal authority, has now brought
Mr.. MAoQUEARYs canonical standing into
question by taking steps toward the ecclesi-
astical trial to which he Is entitled before
such condemnation is passed upon him.
As we have explained already, Mr.. MAC
OURARY's doctrinal divergence Is proclaimed
In a book recently published by him, In
which he rejects 1.-The doctrine OF gross
material resurrection" and casts aside
1.-THE story Of the Virgln-Born. as 1t
stands in tho Gospel" on the ground
that 1.-THE evidence concering 1t Is 80 uncer-
tain that criticism could not accept it,"
He cites ISAIAH as authority for Interpreting
the word virgin" to mean young wo-
man." and to sustain his denial OF the ma
terial resurrection of the body, he refers to
declaration by st. PETER.
QUEARY thus fatty rejects the orthodox
faith Of Christianity; and, more particularly
in his assault upon the doctrine OF the mi
raculous birth Of JESUS from a virgin, he
seeks to undermine Its very cor
ner stone. His method OF attack
Ia also distinctively irreligious, for he sub
mits faith to the test OF reason. He destroys
the miracle, for 1t would not be miracle II
1t was explainable by science. and faith
would not be necessary for it's acceptance
Yet in so doing he Is following the exam
pie Of very many OF the theologians OF this
period. Tho objection to the Westminster
Confession on the part Of the great majority
OF Presbyterian ministers Is that its funda-
mental doctrines do not commend themselves
to human reason and mans sense OF Justice.
The whole drift Of the present theological
controversy over the ancient standards OF
faith ID in that direction, and 1t extends
throughout Professionalism. The intellect
rebels against faith and dogma. If Mr.. MAC
QUEARY Is q hereto. the Rev. HEBER NEW
TON, Prof. CHARLES A, BRIGds, the Rev.
LYMAN ABBOTT, and the Rev. CHARLES
H. PARKHURsT are heretics !also. Their
method OF criticism Is the same, though
the particular application 10 different.
The Andover school Of Congregationallsts
Join with Prof. BRIGGS, the great Presby-
terrain teacher. in demanding the con-
struction OF theory Of future probation in
order to reconcile GODS justice with mans
conceptions of what justice ought to
be. The German Biblical critics pursue
parallel course In their criticism
of the Scriptures after modern scientific
methods. Finally. the ChurGhman asks, How
many unknown MACQUEARYs are there
in tho ranks of the clergy OF the Church ?"
thereby suggesting that even his particular
scientific criticisms are not confined to him.
except in their open expression.
The ecclesiastical trial OF Mr.. MAoQUEARY,
II 1t shall take place. will therefore be Of
very great interest, for he Is likely to mako
q defence which will manifestly embody
theories OF Biblical Interpretation which are
now adopted and followed extensively
among the clergy.