The record-union., 1891-10-17
In RELIGIONS REALM.
Expressions from the Various
Religious Newspapers.
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

The Hebreao Journal says: 1.-THE acces-
sion to the cause of Sabbath observance
of the Temple BETHEL and its rabbi, DIR.
kohler, both of whom have been aggres-
Slvely identified with Sunday services,
is most inspiring and valuable acquiSi-
ton, which will do much to give impetus
to the movement.
1t would be of inestimable advantage
70 the movement if Temple Emanu-E El
would discontinue its Sunday services,
winch must inevitably be stumbling
DIock IN its way, as sign OF difference
OF opinion as to the inyiolable validity
OF the ordinance relating to the Sabbath.
"Of good omen for the success OF the
movement would it be If all the congre-
cations, regardless of ritual differences,
would unite earnestly, cordially and fra
ternally in this effort to restore the jew
ish Sabbath to the honor that is its due,
as the distinguishing characteristic of the
Israelite.
cit is not possible that Temple Emanu-
FL can enter heartily in the struggle,
while still maintaining the Sunday serv-
lces which, in the minds of most people,
represent a substitute for the Sabbath.
Its influence should be placed with fer
vent zeal on the side of historic Judaism,
in this effort to establish the Sabbath on
firm foundation"
The Wotcimdm (Bapt.) says: "If the
Scriptures are in any special sense in
Splred, If the writer's were given any eX-
ceptional assistance in their composition,
what is the most natural inference? Is it
not that this assistance would be et1ectual
to preserve the writers from error as well
as to reveal to them truth? If holy men
OF old spake as they were moved by the
Holy Ghost is it probable that they
spoke falsehoCd? This is question that
most Christians win answer with an en-
phatic no. They will consider that the
burden of proof lies on those who affirm
the existence OF errors in the original au-
tographs. And the great majority of
Christian scholars of the highest rank
maintain that no errors have been proved
to exist in our present Scriptures that
may not have deem due TO interpretations,
to omissions or to clerical errors. What
are sometimes charged as errors may be
shown by reasonable exegesis to be no
errors.
''If, therefore, there is to be assumption
of any kind regarding the original auto
graphs, it is the assumption of their er-
rancy that is really unwarranted. The
assumption that they were in inerrant is
most consonant with any iDteliigible
theory of the inspiration of their writer's,
II by inspiration one means any special
and exceptional divine influence; the as
sumption that the Scriptures, apart from
errors of transmission, contain errors, is
quite gratuitous and is supported by no
positive proof. AS to that, the verdict
OF Biblical scholarship, up TO the present,
has been not proven"
The Christian Leader Univ.) says:
Professor Foster of Oberlin contends
that the means of aScertaining the Word
of God is Independent Of historical
criticism; 1t IS in the Illuminated spirit of
the converted man or woman. In con-
version new spiritual sense is deYel-
oped which qualities the Christian to de-
tect the Word of God in the Bible. He
knows the Divine Word when he comes
upon 1t by intuition. And it is Professor
Fosters position that the Bible as
whole is thus affirmed to be the Word
of God by the consensus of the converted.
Tins doctrine differs from that of DR..
Martineau, enunciated in his work on
The Seat of Authority in Religion in
TINS: DIR. Marlneau eDdOWS the soul
with the power of detecting the Divine
Word. whether in the Bible or elsewhere
lie would probably admit that it depends
good deal on what kind of a soul it is
that conducts the search; and so would
would have 10 provide for an illumina-
ton similar 10 that denOminated by Pro-
tessor Foster conversion The advan-
tage which Professor Foster claims for
his view is, that it becomes matter of
Indifference what the higher criticism
determines as TO the genuineness of the
documents. The authenticity of any of
converts spiritual intuition; or not
affirmed, as the case may be.
There is something in this, without
doubt. But it is delusion to fancy that
what has been discredited and discarded
by criticism can be brought back and re-
instated by divination. The intuition
which is not supported by historical facts
will scarcely be distinguished from vain
imaginings. ON the other hand the his
toric foundation cannot support religion
alone; it requires the verifying report of
the Christian consciousness. The later
apologists have staked too much on the
historical argument; Professor Foster
makes too little of it. The spirit of re-
ligion cannot long be retained after its
factS are exploded; contrariwise, the facts
are lnnutrltious without the spirit. The
twain are one"
The Independent says: professor
Briggs has returned to his duties in Union
Theological Seminary, notwithstanding
the refusal OF the Presbyterian General
Assembly to express its approval of his
appointment. OF course we are not sur
prised that he should do this, since the
directors of the seminary voted, almost
Immediately after the General Assembly
by an overwhelming majority had exer-
clsed It's right of veto, TO disregard the
General Assembly's wishes. and stand
by the Professor. The directors being
satisfied and the faculty warmly es-
pousing his cause, he had no reason, ex-
cept that of loyalty, for suspending
his PROFESSIONAL work. And yet we
cannot help thinking his case would
have been much stronger if in obe-
dience TO the expression Of the chief
ecclesiastical court, he had refrained from
meeting his classes in the seminary, at
least until the Assembly's committee
could have conference with the directors
and pending the actual progress of his
trial before the New York Presbytery. 1t
would have placed him in far better DO
sition in the regard of judicial minds AS
It IS he is in an attitude of defiance to-
wards the highest and most representa-
tive body of his church-the body that
speaks authoritatively for the church At
the same time he practically suspends his
work in the seminary in order to be able
to attend his trial in the Presbytery. An
other Professor is to take his classes while
he is busy defending himself. If he is
confident, as he is reported TO be- that his
doctrinal views are such as the church
must and will approve, he would have
lost nothing but gained much if, in a
spirit of loyal submission, he had recop-
nized the voice of his church, and waited
patiently for his vindication. But he has
not chosen TO do this. He has chosen to
retain the chair which the General As
sembly has emphatically refused him
permission to occupy. He must, there
lore, expect that the church will regard
him not simply as an offender but as
defiant offender"
OF the Congregational International
Council, the 41HdOUef ReUie1C says: "a
more important if not more interesting
question than, What the council accom-
plished? is the question, What it repre-
sented? 1t is not enough to say that it
afssl 4s1Nr.,,