The sun., 1890-09-21

To THE EDITOR OF The SUN-S6; There
seems TO be something 90 peculiarly important
In the position taken by the Rov. Howard MAC
Oueary. with reference to his right to believe
As ho pleases. that It may be deemed paid
able II I say few words on the subject. at
what seems to be the right moment. to smpha-
size fact which may otherwise DO lost to sight
ride licet. that one OF the fundamental princi-
ples OF all Professionalism, as we'll ne tho destiny
OF Christian Professionalism. 10 involved In this
position or claim Of the EpiscopRlian clergyman
)ust named.
II is DtrnnEe, hut not the leas fact. that the
one principle for which. perhaps. above oil
others, his ancestors gave up the old Church.
and which history inefIaceAbly and unmls-
takably records as one OF their prime motives
for SO doing. when preached and claimed rs one
IerIor Of the doctrinos OF the reformation. is
looked upon with suspicion and DISNEY Dy ths
Il be- not finally declared by the Official tribu-
hal OF his Church an absolute hetosy.
ltis rue that ths small but ,ant inn1enta, noml anu
munty to which the reverend gentleman be-
longs, or pr9fesses to belong. has recently
.protestant" has placed about IL, and to as
sume a broader title long glatuitously accord.
Christians. But this Iact should moi invalidate
its claim to tho other title OF protestent'
Those who belong TO THIS BODY nna 81 rrotes ,he
stability OF the structure which their fore
fathers built up and and that .tor II they y,nnIr re
Church into an imitation Of the Church they re-
nounced some four centuries ago. with the DE
advantage that theirs will not have the addi
tionai claim OF antiquity 10 give lis not-to-he-
disputed dogma the dignity OF possibly npos-
;olically transmitted authority, There VIII be
ii"nably founded by human aeenGy. for the
human right If Liberty OF shoqGht EI man may
stead ol a Church prolcssedly founded
Iy Jesus Christ. assuming. to itself
course, what shRll be the Interpretation OF
Holy Scripture and whnt can DO proven
thereby" Tho assninp!iGn WI, pr9fhoEeh ha rid,,
which claims in fallibllily as God given right
II do not here insist IN the sound basis OF the
respect OF consistency: but the Church which
claims iniallibiity ~ human endowmGfnt IS IS
denied the virtual claim OF infallibility for the
Churcn is inevitable
That therSht nf private interpretation OF tne
cpe OF the Protestant Churches all must all
nit. when viewed in this light that the minute
IL is denied-ths minute the right OF the indi-
Nidual to his own Interpretation is IN any way
abridged--some other standard must be
established 4 Interpretation is to be had q. al.
So then. Protestuntism must essentially
so fsr as it departs from the liberty proclaimed
ny he Reformers. whereunder each man. IN
telliGent or mentally dull. was to decide @ for
eternal problem, Iust SO far does It take upon
itself the principle the light agalnst which
gave 1t the right TO come into existence.
Professionalism. whether called by it's right
and noblest name. its distinguishing name. or
by the name OF another Church more or less
life in cHugng tenaciously to the right which
its proper name implies that It possesses: the
nS a wholel. against any or all doctrines ad-
vanced by the Church. or any part OF 1t. or by
any Individual. or by the Bible ITSELF
My point Is. then. this: The principle claimed
by the Rev, Mr.. MactQueary ia not o new one.
ME of ali Professionalism. and it must be main
tained. for the healthy life OF Professionalism
depends upon it. but the healthy life OF Prot.
cstantism is the multiplication Of scots. dd
iJuinitunl. GEORGE PORTER BoULDEE.
BATH BEACH. n. Y. Sept. 16.