New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-31
ONE MORE HERETO.

On the platform of the memorable gathering
~ Detroit az n nepetual reminder and warn
inc there sbould have stood picture of that
dreadful scene at Geneva when Servetus, q man
perhaps not less sincere or pure than any OF
those who condemned him, was burned at the
stake after prosecution by Calvin. Not one OF
the millions who accept Cavin's teachings would
now hesitate to admit that he placed by that
act a lasting stain upon his name and upon
the Greed no loved One might have hopeo
that the memory Of an event so painful IN con,
nection with the history of any form or Creed
of Professionalism, would have helped men 70
broader, more charitable and also more humble
spirit in all later theological controversies. bu'
it seems to be inevitable that when men olner
about tho teachings of Christ they must do so
in a spirit which is not exactly the spirit OF
Christ; that when men differ about the Infinite
they must forget that they are finite.
If the gentlemen of civilized country ana
time engage in discussion about any problem OF
business or of daily affairs they are able 10 dlifer
with consideration for each others peculiarties,
with some modesty respecting their own liability
to error, and with large courtesy and charity.
But when they attempt to touch questions OF
religious belief an entirely different spirit comes
over them. They would readily admit that
their minds are finite and therefore cannot COM
prehend the nature or the plans of The Infinite
without possibility of error But on this one
topic of all others they seem impelled to such
fierce assertion of their own infallibility that
each is ready to burn the hereto who differs
from him.
The decision against DR.. Briggs was not I'M
expected Indeed, it has at no time seemed
quite possible for the Assembly to decide other
wise without approaching the whole subject in
an entirely different spirit, and with breadth
and liberality of opinion wel-nigh unknown in
theological discussions. Starting with the idea
that particular Creed must be upheld, start
ing with the notion that It's defence and mainte-
nance against all opposition whatever is the one
sacred duty to which all others must give place,
men could not well help deciding that DIR. Briggs
did not interpret nor teach the Greed as they
understood 1t, and therefore was hereto and
not proper man to teach theology. Every
thing depends on the point of view. II men
had started on the other hand, with the idea
that the one, absorbing and controlling aim Of
every Christian Church must be to bring men
to Christ, to help them to reach the higher life
which comes through belief in Him and trust
in Him, and that Creeds of all sorts and Of
every sort are of use only when and so far as
they help Church to perform that one duty
for which it exists, then assuredly the Presby-
terian Assembly might have hestated.
What will be the effect OF it's decision upon
the minds Of men? Is 1t not exceedingly liable
to turn many away in offence from Church
which prohibits and Furnishes every step Of
advance from Creeds formulated centuries ago?
The world, at all events, has moved during that
time, il any Church has not 1t has different
conceptions OF everything created, and cannot
escape different conceptions Of the Creator, from
any that were possible in the bygone centuries.
Are men TO be told that they have no place in
Christian Church unless they are able to con-
fine their thinking TO the Greed of the distant
centuries? Or if permitted to sit in the pews,
are they to be told that nobody shall be per-
mitted to speak from the pulpit to them whose
mind has travelled beyond the forms of CEN
turies ago? Shall they be foredoomed to listen
only to the thoughts and the teachings of those
whose minds have been incapable of stepping
beyond the ancient limitations, or who have
scrupulotlsly confined all their thinking within
those limitations? II any clergymen do not
know it, multitudes OF those who sit in the pews
and listen to their teaching could inform them
that 1t is not the Greed, nor adherence to the
Creed, that brings men to the Church or helps
men in their lives. 1t is something else. The
moro the Church gets of that something else
and the less it gets of Creeds and controversy
about Creeds the more potent will be its infu
ence for good.