St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1891-06-14
SHOULD NOT GO OuT.

The opinion is no doubt warranted
that there is widespread eagerness to
magnify the strength Of the movement
for the displacement of the ancient
creeds in the churches. The coDserva-
tive sentiment is perhaps less loosened
than has been assumed. The general
izations from a few divergent incidents
may have been too broad. The accre-
tons to primitive faith have been the
work OF centuries, and there Will be no
theological bosom put on large duty at
once. In the meantime the question
presents itself as to the path of duty
and honor, to those inside the denom-
national lines who are pulling
down the structures of the fathers.
The view is plausible and frequent
that il teacher in religious
school becomes convinced that much of
the structure presented is the work of
misrepresentation and unwise, he should
at once move out and not remain TO
labor for the rectifcation of the adulter-
ated system. In the majority of cases,
the preachers who have become liable
to the imputationS of heresy have
stepped down voluntarily or been
thrown out. AS the number to whom
the question will be practical one is
likely to greatly multiply in the future,
the query will grow in Importance as
to the course to be pursued. A prom
inent Baptist clergyman of Boston, P.
S. MoXoM, throws some light on
the subject in a recent discourse
upon the question, "Shall dissent
ers stay or go?" His line of
thought had its inception in the passage
in Mark speaking of the entrance of the
Master into the temple, where He
taught doctrine that astonished, as it
was not that of the scribes. In the
Briggs case the theological questions
concern nearly every preacher and
member of the church. Incidentally
and suggestively, it was noted that the
religious press habitually stands for the
reactionary and conservative. thereby
imposing upon the more courageous and
progressive secular journal a sympa-
thetic province. Its benignant hand
was upholding that of the seeker for
truth Invested of retarding weights.
1t was believed that a high duty
rested upon those who hand down
the oracleS or interpret them,
to speak boldly in the light of
present facts. Many are making blum
ers, and doing themselves and the
cause of truth damage by wrong steps
and the timidity of supposed Christian
amenity. In his discussion of the prob
lem Mr.. MoXoM goes to the primitive
era and the elementary principles of
Christianity. He finds the church older
than creeds and dogmas; and, while it
had passed many eras of human over
laying and inlaying, it had a vital con-
tinuity. Its spirit was definite aud en-
during, while the enfoldments were
variable and temporary. The highest
duty of the Christian teacher was low
atty to Christ.
IF he finds that his church believes one
thing and he believes another, shall he turn
his back. No: that would be an unfaithfuI
and cowardly course. Let him be true to
truth and to God If they put him out let him
not complain, but accept his lot remem :
bering the treatment which was accorde d
Jesus of Nazareth
The Boston gentleman is still stand-
ing in the pulpit of his denomination.
bnt lie is venturing On dangerous
ground. His immediate aim may be
only to Indicate the right of indiyid-
ual thought inside the lines, and not to
earn any OF the blazonry of martyrdom:
but he is on the perilous edge and
likely to fall outside the breastworks,
as the figure sometimes is in secular
warfare. He would have the church
put Christ above those who have built
so much upon Him as the foundation
that the edifce has Swallowed its base.
The point that Christ taught inside the
church of His time seems to be forcible
as precedent for those who hold with
the Boston preacher.