New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-01-11
TIE ISSUE IN THE MACQUEARY TRIAL.

TIE tSSrE IN THE MICQUFARY TRIAL.
In an article on the MacQueary hcreNy tra
1.-The Churchman' makes statement Which
norhapS deserves a few words of reply. HE
TprprvE~ il SAYS sis mistaken in SuppoNhg
that evolution and the higher criticism are IN
yolyod in the present issue. Whatever inc
vordic- or the sentence may be, there Is not
tho SLIGHTEST danger that the action Of the court
will in any respect impair the large Liberty u
opinion which the clergy of the Protestant
Episcopal Church enjoy"
Now this bubble which is unworthy o. an
intelligent paper like "Tho Churchman' II
i indeed tr1lo that the technical charge aSanN.
Nr NacOrcarv /, that he ailirms his dISbehel
m certain clause, Of tho Crcods Of the Church
I'm, /, is inst as true tint he aflirmS his diNhe-
I;of IN certain passages Of the Bible, rs we'll rs
certain traditional interpretations o. the bIp.e'
which the Episcopal Church l. supposed Z" re-
ard n genuine and essential. And he ms
tinc,lv gives rs the ground for his unneh'I on
these nointS the fact that the doctrines ann
oninionS of the Church which b" denl'S '''
moved 10 be untrue. first, by science, ana sec
ondly bv Biblical criticism. In other words 'hc
Church in its capacity of custodian ana ll'"'-
.uo.or Of Tho Scrinturcs authoritatively declares
,h,, certain documents are inspired by God. and
h+ ,bov tcacb certain doctrines. while Mt
NacOucarv contends that, as modern cr'IU,"'
nroycS some portions OF these documents 20 ''
spurions or doubtful the doctrines they tca'h
mood not therefore be believed. 1ha' Is inc
,~so in \ nutshell And vet " The Ch'lfchhl'h
IN face Of thi, solcmny declares that n'l,hP,
evolution nor the higher criticism Is Ih'"N'"
m the issue Such ecclesiastical N'lAhlNn"S -
amazing in great religious organ "hl'h d
sumo. - speak 70 intelligent people.
Rem tho assertion Of "The Churhmah is
loot, - lac ovcn more crotc~quc in view OF the
fact thai the R"y. Or Bates inc pT'''''."'
c.r tho Church in the MacQucaIy trial. iorlna'-
Is submitted in rcluttal Of Mr. NA'''u'''H >
Vows tho pas AGES in the Gospels "n'>' gen"
incno,s and authority the defendant do"'"S mus
mainly admitting that they are an issue I'D me
,aso. II is not simply question: '"'I''''''
e assent IN certain articles OF m cccI'~riNI|'.
crood but Of tho crcdihility and meaning "i
various passage, # scripture. which 'hc 'h"r''
holds 70 lie n part of the inspired record '''
,,hicb Mr.. NacQucary regards ~ not truly
,,r, ~ that insured record And for Church
oroan 70 ATTEMPT to avoid thi, issue by petty
ouibblc is a, useless rs l. is foolish
Tho tru,h Of the matter j.. Nr. MacVu'arH
r,prosontS a large number Of Investigators h""'
,pt>idc and inside the Church. who hcir'" INA.
many f. tho doctrines and traditional teachings
nr tho Church are contradictod and d'>prov"d
Lv science and historical criticism. Nn' I'D
DEALING with them the Church cannot long AVOID
do,,;no With the scientific and critical aIEu-
,oo,ts which thcv adducc. II is not only us
rob. bu, il duty. to cast oui those who deny
i,s doctrines no Church could long live which
did not exercise such authority. Bpt IN the
,ro.ont dav there is also imposed upon it the
d,,v If meeting fairly and candidly tn" great
body Of facts which have been gath'''" we
oo.hor Nv modern criticism. many OF Whch
SOON to contradict the traditional teachings OF
tho Church. The bare ip>n diNlt oi an cccI'Nl-
a.ticlI court ma, suffice 10 condemn Il hcr'u' T;
lint il will not silence the great army ol l''fh'"
and honest Investigators. who have un"arthcd.
$40 think thoy have ucarthcd. a multitude 0i
facts which must if accepted rs true mos
seriously modify the theology Of the 'hofch'
4 for fine assertion that the action oi IN"
diocesan court Of Ohio viii not impair IN any
rnspcct the large liberty of opinion when iGo
clergy of the Protestant Episcopal Church no"
enjoy. If is undoubtedly true. The Protestant
Epi.copal Church has never empowered the
1ioccSc of Ohio 10 speak for it. II Mr. Mae
Oncqry is condemned, the clergy and Unity o!
the Church will continue to think Is they do
now. And ccrgymcn in other diocc~eN who
hold the opinions for which Mr.. MacQucary was
,.,t an trial will remain undiStmhed in the en-
ioymcnt of their Offices and emoumentS.