The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-15
Tell tho People AL.

Beginning with tonight series Of twelve
Sunday evening lectures on Tho Bible
and Modern Thought" will be delivered in
the Presbyterian Church Of the Covenant in
Park avenue. The most important Of the
lecturers are to be DR.. BRIGGS. DR.. BROWN.
and DR.. VINCENT. professors In the Union
Theological Seminary. and all conspicuous
as representatives and defenders Of the
new school OF Biblical criticism.
II these three distinguished men will ex-
plain to the religious public simply and ex-
actly what has been accomplished by that
criticism. they will render them an impor-
tant service. The people have only very
vague and confused notion Of the subject.
and for that reason the best defence Of
themselves which these critics can present
will DO clear and precise statement
Of the results Of applying the laws
OF philology to the exegesis Of the
Scriptures. Hitherto such scholars have
been indisposed to take the mass Of
the public into their full confidence
as to the matter. When. therefore. DR..
BRIGGS referred to some OF these conclu-
sions In his famous inaugural address. he
surprised and startled the run OF Christian
believers. though he exposed nothing which
was not well known to every one at all IA
miliar with the subject and which had not
been published often before In volumes
intended more especially for theological
students.
Transformation he gave was already before
that limited circle. but 1t had not been put
forth from the pulpit and in Sunday schools
for the general enlightenment. Ninety-nine
out Of a hundred Protestant Church men,
bers had not heard Of 1t. but chung to their
old belief that the Bible. as It Is and In its
entirety. is absolutely true. perfect. and
infallible. the Word Of GOD transcribed
by the very inspired men whose names
appear as the authors Of its books. Hence.
when DR.. BRIGGS declared that 1t Is marked
by human imperfections. and that much Of
its authorship Is Understandable. many of
them looked upon him as an intidel peculiar
In his infidelity. Nor have they now. after
all the discussion Of the subject. any In
tellgent conception OF what the new Biblical
criticism means and what 1t has done.
Let DR.. BRIaas and his two colleagues set
cut to dissipate this ignorance. talking as
freely and frankly to the public as they
would converse together on the subject.
They can tell the whole in simple language
which will make 1t clear to everybody.
and they need keep nothing back
from fear OF the consequences to the
faith. The danger for themselves and
for the Church lies in the ignorance
which will be dlspelled some day. with re-
suits that will be all the graver because of
its longer continuance. The questions with
which they deal. they can explain. are
questions Of fact. Of demonstration. and
hence not of faith: and they can show that
their case rests on proof which they them
selves deem sufficient and not on mere sur
mise or speculation.
They say that MOSES did not write the
Pentateuch. What ia the reason for the al
legation They say that the Old Testament
is record Of religious development and
evolution from comparative crudlty. Let
them show why 1t Is 80. They say that the
Psalms Of DAVID are really collection Of
the poems Of many singers. Let them pre-
sent the proofs that such Is the fact. 80
let them deal with the subject Of prophecy.
whose predictive character they assail.
Tell the people the whole story. fearing
rather their ignorance than their COM
plete enlightenment