Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1891-02-28
RELIGIOUS FREEDOM AND RELIC
IOus OBLIGATIONS.

bttoFe tue lNullN III hho hita i1i n'i'-R W
Rev. Howard MacQueary, Episcopal
minister OF Canton, o. The proceedings
nj Cleveland have attmcied universd at.
tentlon, more oven In tho sectilnr than Ia
the religious papers, II possible. II j. In.
tcrc-iing to note, too that llay. Mr.. Mae
Qucary desired to expound his Wow. be-
FORE the Episcopal church congress at
New York. hut Bishop Potter objected
10 -iouily that he did not do II.
It does not matter In tho least what
Mr.. MacQncary does or docs not believe.
Among other things, he holds 10 the
Darwinlan theory n evolution. and says
that the Hook Of Genesis Is the work 81
Chsldcan sagos. The dcfensu tho horcii-
cal preacher claims l. The right ofprl,aie
aud Individual Interpretation Of tho
Scripture That i to say. every man
has the right to Interpret tho Bible nc.
cording to the light of hi. own reason
aud consiicncc This, 10 II observed, IL
the original ground maintained by Luz
thor, tho founder Of Protcztsntism.
"Mr. MacQucary says he acknowledges
the authority Of the Scriptures Tho only
point he claims u that he will let no other
man interpret them for him, not even tho
trainers u tho Episcopal creed. Ills In
tcrprctaiion, In the light n modern
scholarship aud research, loads him 10
conclusions different nom thoirs. yet he
says he has today ~ much right TO his
judgment a. thoy had to thoirs whom
they Formulated the creed. The question
IL, has he
''somo VI his conclusions are ~ follows;
He rejects the supernatural birth OF the
Savior, and believes he was the son u
Joseph. lie disboliove~ tho literal doc.
trlnc OF the Trinity, and believes II origi-
mated with tho theologans. Tho iitoml
atonemcn, In bis judgment h relic of
barbarian. and the resurrection " Christ
wasa spiritual. NOD physical aud bodily
one.
"rhis then l. the real issue that was to
be decided In tho trial Of MacQucaryi
Has any man who belongs To a church,
Episcopal, baptist, Methodist or Prcsby-
terrain, right to interpret the Bible for
himself"
The foregoing appears In an eastern
exchange and asks questions that APP
pear To have agitated n good many
minds. The trial OF Mr.. MacQueary
took place some weeks ago, tut tho
principle involved In his course and
the DOCTRINES which he disputes form q
topic ofprcscnt Interest In tho religious
world, aud we offer some remarks In
relation 10 II.
The right Of every man 10 tank for
himself, we presume, will not be de-
MED by members Of any Protestant re-
iigious body. Belief must be free, and
the human mind must not bc fc,tercd.
That which seems right 10 each person
must be his guide, OF personal respon-
sibiliiy would fail aud man could not
bcJustly held accountable for his acts.
The doctrine OF rewards and punish
men,s depends on the freedom Of tho
individual. II every man Ia to be
Judged according 10 his works, -" every
man must he left 10 the exercise OF his
agency and 10 that liberty OF choice
which Ia essential 10 II.
Whom people associate rs members
Of any society, religious or otherwise,
they make some kind Of agreement
that places them under obligations
which they mus, respect, or they should
leave the association. II that agree.