New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-19
CHURCHES AND HERETICS.

II Is neither the intention nor the desIe vi
THE TRIBUNE to take the part of heretics
against the particular Church as to whose doc
trines they are heretical. TO every human or
eanization must be granted the right to deter
mine what its fundamental principles are, and
to cut off from membership those who deny
| those principles. Without such right, in
deed no organization, either social, political or
religious, could exist. But for the churches to
cut of from membership men who are judicialy
proved to be heretics Is one thing and ftl- in
dividuals in the churches DANGEROUSLY to assail
men whom they suspect OF heresy is quite an
| other thing
The present clamor over the alleged he
retical views OF Professor Briggs in regard
to the Bible is a case in point Possibly the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
may investigate these views and possibly it
may decide that they are contrary to the
teachings of the Presbyterian Church. If so
the distinguished Professor will be the first to
recognize the duty Of withdrawing from a
Church with whose teachings he is not in har-
mony. But at present the questions at issue
are not adjudcated. Professor Briggs views
have not been condemned. A large number Of
Presbyterian clergymen and laymen, some Of
them among the most eminent in the Church,
believe that his views are within the tolerated
limits of the Churchs teachings. Yet he
is constantly assaled as a hereto and an I'M
believer, who is doing all he can to destroy the
bible and the Church. And multitudes of hot
headed defenders of the faith ask why he does
not get out of the Church when he finds himself
no longer able to believe its doctrines, thus
calmly assuming the very point at issue.
Now this sort of snap judgment is grossly un
fair 1t is simply ecclesiastical mob law, as one
religious journal happily expresses it; and in
stead of harmng Professor Briggs will do in
calcuable harm to the Church. Moreover, to.
say that clergyman is morally bound to with
draw from his Church the moment he finds
himself modifying some of his old views of its
doctrines is to take a superficial view OF the
case. Were such principle to be inexorably
enforced the churches would soon find them
selves with no members but q few who refuse to
think. For in this age even the most c0nserva-
tive of Churchmen are continually modifying
their views of the creeds and dogmas of the
Church On this point it is pertinent to quote
an admirably expressed utterance of John Stuart
MILL whom no one will accuse OF the slightest
sympathy Wlun any SOfu Oh ulsnOHcSly OF cldSlO
In his inaugural address Rector of the Uni
versity of ST. Andrew, in 1867, he sad
hold entirely with those clergymen who elect to
remain in the National Church long they able
TO accept its articles and confessions in any or
with any Interpretation consistent with common hon
esty whether be the generally received Interpretation
not. If all to desert the Church who put large
and liberal construction its terms Of communion
would wish to see those terms widened, the National
provision for religious teaching and worship would be
left utterly to those who take the narrowest the most
literal tho purely textua view Of the fOrmulares who
though by no means necessarily bIgots under the
great disadvantage Of having bigots for their allies and
who however great their merits may be-and they
often very great-yet If the Church Is mprovabe,
the most likely persons to improve it, Therefore,
It were not impegtinence in to tender advice in
such matter should say, let all who c0nsclentously
can remain in the Church. church Is far easily
improved from within than from without. Almost all
the illustrous reformers Of religion began by being
clergymen but they did not think their profession
clergymen was inconsistent with being reformers.
What is here said Of National Church APP
plies with equal force to all churches. There
is, of course always a point beyond which
church members cannot go in their thinking.
But until that point is reached, the churches,
especially in this age of inquiry and recon-
struction, should allow their members the wild
est liberty in the Interpretation of the standards
of belief. In that way only can they retain the
allegiance of thinking men.