St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-02-01
RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION.
An English Clergyman Outstrips
MacQueary in Criticism of the

An English Clergyman Outstrips
MacQueary in Criticism of the
Bible.
Pail Mall Gazette.
A remarkable interview is reported in
WitandWisdom as having taken place re-
Gently withRev. A. W. Momerie, professor
at Kings college. The professors views,
if they are truly represented in this in
terview, seem, in point of heterodoxy. to
go far beyond the statements which ex-
cited so much controversy in "LuX
Mundi." We subjoin some OF the more
salient passages:
tine Bible does not make the ghost
of Vestige of claim to inspiration in
the orthodox sense. All that is good
and great III it is inspired. But the
Bible is full of contradictions and mac
curacies which are not inspired, there
fore il cannot be inspired as whole.
No educated man can honestly believe
it is inspired in history or science. Hulk
ley i'll science or Freeman in history are
far more inspired. The inspiration of
the Bible must be restricted to moral
and spiritual matters, and even then it
is as low at times as any book.
| consider that In MemOriam'
is in advance of St. Johns
gospel, but In Memoriam' would
never have existed if Christ or st. John
had not first lived. Its best part, the
power of suffering, is taken from st.
John. Both the writers Of Lux Mundr
and Gladstone in his 'Impregnable Rock
of Holy Scripture admit the bad sci
ence and history of the Bible. Take
the Bible at its best in philosophy. and
then it is only on level with German
criticism. st. Paul at times is quite up
to Hegel. 1t is mere question of de-
gree and subject. All that is highest
and best in us is inspired. Every good
and perfect gift eometh from Cod l
nave this question of inspiration very
much at heat. The false, although
strictly orthodox, view of it has done
true religion untold harm. AS Haw-
thorne truly says, THE reason why the
mass Of men fear God and at bottom
dislike him, is because they distruSt his
heart But such God is in reality no
God. He is but false Imagination of
ignorant men. If you attribute to Gcd
characteristics unworthy of man, and
incompatible with infinite and eternal
love, you are worse enemies to the cause
of real religion than the most virulent
of open and professed atheists. That
hateful phrase, God is jealous Godp
Think of Mary Cabot in Gates Ajar,'
deSpairingly crying out after her broth
er'S death, God wants all his love. He
is jealous God. l am nothing any more
to Roy But it is inspiration. We
mustn't say anything against it!
Hell is another word for punish
ment, which is matter OF experience.
/, of course. do not acknowledge the
orthodox hell. AS regards miracles,
simply say that the whole trouble is eX-
planned thus: Miracles are seen by
those who expect to see them. There
is no reason to suppose that when a
miracle occurred violation of nature
took place. Some of ChriSt's miracles
such as those with the 'unclean spirits,'
may have been akin to the modern hyp-
notism. The evangelists were honest
but ignorant. Remember, the unset
entific mind looks upon the unusual
not the usual-as the special proof of
God" saEssa
The Interviewer then asked: Don't
you believe Christ rose again?"
DIR. Momerie replied: Certainly not,
physically. Why. do you? Come, L shall
have to interview you. All great reli-
gious teachers have had an immaculate
conception, a physical resurrection,
Gautamy as well as Christ. But Christ
did not rise in his body. Flesh and
blood cannot inherit the kingdom.
LAS regards the church," continued
DR.. Momerie, in reply to further ques-
tions, Il can only say that l think the
Christianity of Christ and of ecclesiasti-
cism are as wide apart as the poles.
Christ did not wish to establish re-
ligion of creed OF of ritual, but of con-
duct. There are only two beliefs
God and immortality-which are
fundamental to goodness. Our des
tiny hereafter depends not on which
we believe. or profess to believe. but on
our conduct. l wish the church would
realize that she must go forward with
the times. Truth cannot be symbolized
by a circle, but rather by an infinite
line. The church which insists solely
upon righteousness is the only church
that will not pass away. The best
creed in the world will never save
single soul"