Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-21
DR.. HEBER NEWTON
REPLIES TO SoNB OF THB CRITICISMS on Els
POSITION.
Be Fully Defines BIS Beliei-ohrisis Teachings
and Ecclssiasticism Are, hs Maintains, Dis
iincl From Each Othtr-Fathsr Iguatls
Fires Some More hot Shot.

New YORK, April 2O.-The Rev. Dr.
r. Heber Newton, Of All Souls Church,
Madison avenue and Sixty-slxth street,
preached yesterday morning to large
congregation from the text, "And other
sheep have which are not OF this fold;
them also must lead and they shall
hear my voice; and there shall be one
flock under one shepherd. John
K, l6.
DR.. Newton opened his sermon with
the following reference to the cele-
brated "open remonstrance" recently
made by many ministers and laymen OF
the Episcopal Church against the action
OF Drs. Newton, Rainsford and Stanger
in inviting ministers Of other denomIna-
tions to occupy their pulpitS during
Lent
"If any Of you, my friends, are ex
pecting some reply to the remarkable
remonstrance which appeared In the
daily papers OF last week, have only
TO say that 1t does not seem to call for
anything further now than the simple
statement which | had made through
the ChurcIImdn before this singular doc
ument was given to the public, which
may not have been noticed by some Of
you. and which therefore call to your
attention, that my action was a special
uso OF the large liberty which hold in
the Church allows, aud wisely allows,
in matters OF this kind"
DR.. Newton then preached sermon
clearly outlining his views OF denomlna-
tionalism and the tenets OF his faith. 1t
was, IN fact, an answer to the remon-
STRANGE and questioningS OF his many
critics.
Commenting on the text the Doctor
said "And to some who followed him,
ever narrowing His largeneSs to their
littleness, He seemed TO say: They also
| must bring out Of their fold, out OF
their freedom OF spirit into the one true
sheepfold of God. What he really said,
with fine discrimination, the clear
thought OF His great heart was, then
also | must lead"
The Doctors line OF argument was
that Christ said nothing Of folds, and
that His ministers who were at work
rearing stone walls between the folds OF
the Christian Church were not doing
the Masters will.
DIR. Newton then reviewed at cOnsid-
erable length the religions OF the world
having historic founders. Buddhism
itself was a protest against the idea of
r Il Hafg -
all commencing as a protest
against. st.ecclesiasticism, revolt against
a church Of forms and ceremonies.
Christ was a hereto in the eyes OF
the orthodox of His day. He lost His
life because He opposed the Church.
folds Christ said nothing,
doubtless recognizing their use for the
lambs of the flock, but their danger to
the sheep who needed the freedom OF
Gods spiritual world. There is no rec
ord Of His laying single stone in the
wall, now OF such portentious height.
In fact. Thou art Peter, and on this
rock do build My Church." and two or
three other sayings Of dubious inter
probation form the whole foundation OF
the massive structure OF eccleSiastl-
cism.
"Of the two sacraments of the church, "
DIR. Newton declared, "there is not a
hint that Christ had any hand in or
daining one. No creed shaped by the
hand OF Jesus comes down through the
ages. no definite and prescribed form
OF faith. Folds II they exist are not TO
be exclusive.
mo one particular church can claim
to be the only true fold save by an arro-
gance excusabe only as mental blind
ness. What an attitude that the under
who, looking over the vast
fields of our American Christianity, think
to promote Christian union by saying to
the learned and godly ministers OF other
churches, we cannot allow you to minis
ter in our churches under any circum-
stances unless you conform to our rules
of faith.