The Big Stone post. (Big Stone Gap, Va.) 1890-1892, 1891-06-26
DIR. HARPER AGAIN.
He Furnishes an Authorized Abstract OF
His Views about the Bible.
NOTED BAPTIsTS PRES EMIT
NY. SUM-

u. Y. Sum-
The Baptist Ministerial Conference OF
this city yesterday listened to an clabo-
rate exposition of the theory that the
Bible, while being the inspired Word OF
God, contains errors. Prof William X.
Harper. OF Yale, and President-elect OF
the great Baptist University just founded
at Chicago bv John D. Rockefeller, made
the exposition in the form of an address
at the Baptist Tabernacle yesterday
morning. The address was called out by
the interview with Prof. Harper publish
ed in the World June 3. This interview
was revised by Prof. Harper and It's pub
LEGATION in the World was authorized by
him. Abstracts of this interview con-
tanning disconnected sentences, divorced
from their context, were copied III the
papers of the country and these sentences
have caused the Baptists great uneasiness.
Dr.. Harper therefore wished to present in
an official manner his views on these sub
jects.
The address delivered yesterday empha-
sizes and indorscs the positions taken IN
the interview. 1t held that the inductive
method, which is the method of higher
criticism, is the proper way to study the
Bible; that this method Of study develops
the fact that there are many errors on
points of science and history in the
Bible, and that these errors may be adj
mtted and allowed without surrenderlng
the belief in the inspiration and intalli-
bility Of the Bible in matters OF faith
and practice.
There were present the leading Baptist
preachers of New York City, md visiting
pastors from Brooklyn, Boston and Phila-
delphia During the delivery of the ad-
dress DR.. Harper was frequently interrupt
cd by enthusiastic applause. at its con-
cluson the Conference passed unanimous
" a resolution of thanks The subject OF
Prof. Harper's address was "Thc Divine
and the Human in Prophecy 1t drew a
parallel between the development OF the
Jewish people as a nation and their liter
allure. Here is an abstract Of the address.
''1hcrc arc three possible methods OF
procedure in the ztudy of the Old Tesla
mcnt. They are:
"First-The traditional method. Ger
tain views have been held by our fathers
for many generations. These have been
instilcd into our minds from the days OF
infancy. 1t is our privilegc-somc think
it our duty-to accept them. They have
answered for the past they are good
enough for the present. The acceptance
of them will preclude the necessity of in
vestigation.
",Secopd-Thc pliori method. Know
ing what God is, we may determine the
character of the revelation which He will
make. 1t matters not what may have
been the state Of knowledge on the sub
iect at the time of the original uttcrance.
Coming from God it must have been a
final statcmcn!--a statement at least III
outline which the growth Of human
knowledge might fill out, but which in no
particular such growth might really
change. knowing beforehand what
ought to he, we may be reasonably allow
ed to find that which accords with our
expectations. Facts which cannot be cx-
must remember that this is the Word OF
God and that we poor mortals ought not
to suppose that we can understand every
thing. A great feature of the Bible is its
mysterious character.
"Ihrd-The inductivc method. This
includes critical and painstaking exam
nation of the material classification of
do " m
investigation has disclosed, and the
statement of conclusions based upon
these facts. There should be recogni-
ton of the testimony furnished by tradi-
ton and the acknowledge of the in
nuencc Of our conception Of God; but we
must decide these and all similar qucs-
lions on Tic basis of facts
"'The material on the basis OF which we
reach conclusions is abundant Every
portion of the old testament may be
used, and every portion must be used in
order to reach conclusions that will he
fairly representative.
''1'he prophets convey to men the true
conception OF Gods will, but they we're
limited in their work by the character of
the language employed, by the ignorance
and wilfulncss of the people whom they
addressed, and by the Weaknesses inner
emf in their own humanity, and lnscPara-
Bile from thc situation i'll which their
work was done. The prophets chief work
was that of it rcformcr; he laborcd to i'm
prove the religious condition Of his peo-
pie. No prophetic uttcrancc was ever
made that was not intended to influence
the lives and thoughts of those who first
heard it. The utterancc was divine
means used to affect the peculiar and UNI
ique history of which it was part.
"The time Of uttcrance of given
prophecy was always determined by the
time of the occurrence OF the event or
experience which gave origin to the
prophecy. In case of postponement of
an event the time of revealing the truth
must also have been postponed. Each
truth is appropriately made known at a
particular moment in the history which is
being carried on to furnish basis fox the
further revelation of truth. Every great
crisis was employed rs means Tor con-
veyng some great truth.
'sThe connection OF prophecy and histo-
ry is close; tire first is q part of the Sec
ond; the second the background Of the
first. Prophecy was built on history; his
tory was the foundation of prophecy. The
history determines the time, form and
substance of prophecy; prophecy moulds
the history. The times produce the
prophet; the prophet produced certain
historical conditions. The history was
unique, supernatural; prophecy was, con-
sequently, Of divine origin; both human,
both divine, to the same extent.
"Israeltish history, peculiar as was
Gods relation to it, includes on the part
of its greatest leaders actions of the
most sinful character. and on the part Of