The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-05-28
The Bantists Interested.

The hunt for heretics having been begun
in earnest it is probable that the pulpit ut
terances Of leading ministers of nearly all
OF the principal denominations will De sub
| jected TO examination for something upon
which charges Of heresy can be based. The
question has been raised whether Prof.
William R. Harper, the president-elect Of
the new Baptist university of Chicago, the
| institution which the oil king, John ID.
Rockefeller, has endowed 80 magni1cently.
can retain his position. IL is known that
he holds views respecting the Bible
very much like those of DR.. Briggs Before
being elected president Of the university he
| filed position at Yale College, and was
drawing a large salary from the endow-
ment fund of that institution. II was well
known to the faculty and trustees of Yale
that he believed that there were mistakes
and contradictions in the Bible. When he
was asked to take the presidency of the
projected big Baptist university he hesi-
tated to do SO, because he as not sure
that his teachings with respect to the Bible
would be acceptable. He stated frankly to
Mr.. Rockefeller the cause of his hesitation,
and was much relieved to find that Mr..
Rockefeller approved Of his views. He
then had talk with DIR. Briggs, at whose
suggestion he accepted the position.
When the war on DR.. Briggs began con-
sentative ministers of the Baptist denomi-
nation advised Prof Harper to keep out of
the fight. They were afraid that if he took
the part Of DIR. Briggs he would be over
whelmed by the conservative sentiment of his
denomination.
But it is not probable that he will remain
quiet. 1t is not his nature to do SO. He
believes in making known the truth as he
understands it. and it may be expected,
therefore, that his voice will be raised in lie
Tense of DR.. Briggs il the fight on the doc
tor continues There is one thing greatly
in his favor, and that is he
did not accept the presidency of
the university without Informing
the trustees of the institution frankly that
he didn't regard the Bible as an inspired
book. And there is no doubt that he will
be sustained by them. But what course
will the ministers of the Baptist denomina-
ton takel That is an important question,
because they can make it too uncomforta-
BILE for him to remain at the head of an
institution which is to educate young men
for the Baptist ministry.
In his sermon last Sunday Rev. DR.. Park
hurst of the Madison Square Presbyterian
church of New York, said: "Show the
church poor hereto to sniff at and run
down and it is delighted. There is one mo-
ment of supreme felicity in the church
when enthusiasm unites in one compact
flame and that is when there is a chance of
getting hereto out of the church. The
| church never admits the facts of science
until it has to. In the frontier between the
known and the unknown it acts as if it were
scared There is not a 1.-THE of the interest
in the redemption of the world as there is
over the question what the church is TO do
with prominent doctrinal suspect"
Assuming that these views of DR.. Park
hurst are correct, it is difficult to see how
Prof. Harper is going to escape an inquiry
into his beliefs. The Union Theological
Seminary, in which DR.. Briggs is professor,
stands by him, but it is doubtful if he will
be permitted to retain his professorship.
The trustees and faculty of the projected
Baptist university may approve the teach
ings Of Prof. Harper, but if the leading
clergymen Of his denomination say that he
| is hereto will he not have to retire from
the presidency of the university?