Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-04-19
UnorthodoX David Swing Discourses
the Tendency of the Day.
A WAR OF REASON AND DOGMA.
Departures From Church Doctrines That
Have Been Beneficial.
THE REV. MIR. MACQUEARY'S BELIEF


| reacneu In opposition to the 1ormuIateu
ideas of his school. In this secondary form
of meaning it is now passing along from
one generation to another.
In order for heresy to be possible it is
necessary for some great body of scholars or
churchmen to exist and to fix upon some
definite system Of doctrines. In order to
fill all the Office of hereto the candidate for
such Office must reside inside of the limits
of orthodoxy. Luther was a hereto, but
Thomas Paine was not. He was simply an
unbeiever.
Our century, so potent in all the many
| kinds of production, has made its own
quality and supply OF this type of individ-
| ual opinion. 1t might have been surmised
that, If the former generations were unable
to write out a science or an art, or q polit-
ical philosophy for this new period, they
would meet with no better success in their
effort to prepare for this age the major and
minor tenets of a Christian faith. But,
whether anticipated or not, along came per-
sonal dissent in not only great variety, but
also in abundance
The Heresy of DIR. Beecher.
Heresy was timid two generations ago.
Young and difident, it ventured only to
deny that the absolute earth was made out of
nothing in the days of q common week.
And when from the physical things the in
quiring mind turned toward spiritual
things with something Of dissent, the de-
partures from the adopted formula were so
gentle as to be quite invisible to the public.
But the theologians saw them, and ar
raigned Lyman Beecher Tor heresy in deny.
ing the notion of limited atonement, the
doctrine of total inability and the CONNER
cial nature OF Christs meditation.
The next great picture in the history of
dissent is that of Bishop Colenso denying the
literal truth Of the Old Testament story. The
religious lessons of those sacred documents
were divine, but the statements about the
Red Sea, the parting of the Jordan, OF Sam
som and Goliath were true or false without
prejudice to the cause of religion. Nothing
depended upon their liberalism. His bold
and rather brilliant lectures and essays re-
suited In his arraignment for trial before the
Church of England, but after his trial the
same war upon the literalness OF the old
story went forward until the new views Of
Clenso expanded and formed the broad
church. F. D. Maurice, Rowland Williams,
Dean Stanley, Canon Farrar, Stopford
Brooke and Professor Jowett soon became
tremendous supplements to the thoughts of
Bishop Colenso.
Heresies of Half Century.
The reformed Episcopalians sprang from
the heretieal notion that an infant Is not re-
generated by the right Of baptism or in the
time Of that rite; while the Cumberland
Presbyterians sprang from the heresv which
declared that Presbyterianism proper pos
sessed more catechism than gospel. 1t would
not be ascribing too great fertility to ortho-
doxy to affirm that for the last half century
it has yielded one heresy per annum
Many or few, great or small, they have all
come from one source-the tendency of a
rational age to be reasonable When revela-
ton aids or attends reason all is well, but
the moment revelation contradicts reason
man becomes dissatisfied, because he has
more confidence in his reasoning powers
than he has in the evidence that certain
dogma was revealed. 1t, therefore, became
i'm possible for revelation to make men be-
lieve that on account of Adams sin infants
are still sent to perdition. The proofs of
divine equity are greater than the proofs
that the doctrine of reprobate infants is an
inspired teaching. Out of this confidence in
reason came the recent and general revolt
against the dogma of an eternal fire for any
persons and the Andover revolt against the
doctrine that he'll awaits all the heathen
world. The days are not far off when the
Catholics and Protestants both asked what
does the Church or Bible say, but the new
uaYS nave come III WHICH Tie TTOleSLdnIS at
least ask, What does reason say?
The Miracles With Morals.
Many years ago the orthodox philosophers
entered the plea that a miracle might be be-
lieved in if its purpose was to found q re.
ligion, and thus save human souls. For
reasons so tremendous the Creator might set
aside natural law and exhibit supernatural
scenes and deeds. This generally calmed
the theoiogians for time, but they soon
began to feel that such wonders as that con-
tanned in the story of Jonah and Joshua
and Lots wife did not hear upon religion
directly enough to justify their performance.
The miraculous power of Christ might be
pertinent, but the ability of Samson to
smite dead army OF Philistines with
such an humble weapon as the jawbone OF
an ass seemed a miracle with the great
motive omitted.
Thus, little BY little, the wonders OF the
Old Testament have been assaied destruct-
lively; and step by step the broader order Of
Christian thinkers have taken their new
stand ut the most essential miracles of the
New Testament. Should they hold firm to this |
position. reached by such long criticism and |
for the most part so just, they would save IN
deed all that Is valuable in Christianity. But |
there are many minds which cannot pause |
here, They must worship naturalism TO the |
end
Ethics of the McQueary Case.
The most recent actor in this herasy play |
emerges from the Episcopal Church and brings |
his reason to bear against the miraculous birth |
of Christ and the resurrection OF his body. |
Whatever of Christianity may survive such
dogma, nothing of revelation can remain. and
nothing of any other than natural religion.
All books are alike, and all religions are only
so many human efforts to find rhe best way to
truth and life. Christ surpasses other religious
guides only as Washington was nobler than
or Cesar.
This heresy III the Episcopal Church has lit
tie TO commend it, since it does not attack dog
mas miracles which support all immortality.
Mr. Huxley objected to the miracle of the devil
and the swine because 1t would. il true. cause
Christ to destroy 1000 head of stock which be-
louged 10 some prOperty-holders It has also
been objected that miracles should not have
been wrought TO uphold such cruel soldiers as
Joshua and David, nor TO make divine slavery /
aud a plurality OF wives. Here a destructive
works In the interest of ethics.
Of such merit heresy as to the birth and
resurrection OF Christ's body is quite empty.
The one holding such hereSy need not figure
as a reformer dscUyerer. He has uniy the
fame of curious mind, not great one. While
each man has a right to become Il DeiSi the
is one worthy OF being made quiet
Iy. Luther might say, II have found it," Wash
ngton and Lincoln might say, I'VE have found
lt;' John Wesley might repeat rhe same words,
but when Il mind has DESTROYED for himself two
beautiful wonders of his own religion the best
utterances he can make over his deed would
be: Il have found nothing Of any value to any
person age" DAVID SWING.
The Prince of Monaco's Scheme.
Monte Carlo has never had so brilliant
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