The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-16
METROPOLITAN MATTERS.
interesting happenings in and About New
York YESTERDAY.


The last of the course of Sunday-evening
lectures at the Presbyterian Church of the
Covenant Thirty -f.th street and Park ave.
nue.. which began last fall, was delivered last
night by Professor Char es A. Briggs his sub
ject beng The Bible and the Higher Chit
cism.'
DIR. Briggs said that 1t was necessary 10
know whether the Bible is the word Of God.
This could not be taken on the authority Of
the Church alone. Tor the Church has made
so many errors IN the past that II "a neces.
sary 20 see whether the Church * IN oITOr
about the Bible. This. the speaker said,
could only be accomplished by criticism.
The criticism Of the literature OF the Scrip
lures is called the higher criticism
10 distinguish il from simple textual
criticism. A number of obstacles which are
urged as orthodox confront the critics. Ira
ditiCnal theories have given names of authors
TO the various books of the Bible without rea-
son or discrimination. DR.. Briggs asserted
that no creed, catechism or CONCESSION had
given sanction TO these traditions. An official
decision would be respected, although It could
not be considered by PrOtestants as lnialhble
When tradition, however perades III the ly-
erv of orthodoxy it must be brushed aside and
the study of the Word Of Coo entered upon
DIR. Briggs SAID that the opponents of the
higher crticis m used as one OF tner argu-
ments for the authenticity OF tie Fentateuch
statement
author. II was by no means certain, SAID DR..
Irigos. that Christ meant that Moses wrote
the Pentateuch And again. those who un-
derstand the doctrine of humiliation hnd no
more difficulty in believing that Christ did
not know whether Moses wrote the Pen
tateuch than they do IN believing his own
abatement that he did not know the time Of
his advent. There was no indication that
Christ transcribed the science OF history of
his own time.
II shall not deny that the methods of the
higher criticism are revolutionary. They des-
troy the scholastic dOgmas Of lnerrancy and
verbal inspiration. These are not even an
cient traditions. but all growths OF compare
lively recent times. IL will be an enormous
gain when they are blotted from the land If
the living Criticism and dogma are wrest-
ling In life and death struggle. II IS the
reformation over again with the lible IN the
hands of critics and tradition ia the hands OF
the ecclesastics. Biblical criticism cannot
destroy anything but error.
Criticism IS nothing but an exhaustive
study OF the Bible aud il has resulted N
making the Bible more real. In the time
whom dogma was supreme tho Bible was
simply "a treasury to furnish texts TO establish
the dOgmas which were built up entirely on
deductiSo logic. but now 1t Is studied from
cover 10 cover. Think not that the crltcs
are destroying the Bible; they are exalting 1t
10 higher position than ever oeiOre.
TAIMAGE or MS CREED.
My Creed" was the subject of the Rev
DIR. 4. De Witt Iamages discourse in the
Brooklyn Tabernacle sterday morning. tie
spoke from the text IKE Vi. H. And lie
came down with them andsl0Od IN the plain"
What the world wants to-day more than
anything else" said the Ney. Dr. Iaimaoe
is Christ on the level easy TO get at. no
ascending. no descending, approachable from
al sides-Chrst on the plain
Dr 1alnage added that the reason Chris
tIanity had not made more rapid advance was
because the people We're asked TO believe too
many things. SAID he.
"One-hAf the tniugs a man is expected 10
believe In order 20 enter the Church and
reach heaven have no more 10 do with his
salvation than the question. How many vol
canoes are there IN tac noon OF. How lar
saturn" or how many teeth there were IA the
lswbone with which Sampson smote the
PAlistines."
MR. DIXON ON fSGIIsR CRITICS.
Some remarks on the English critics Of
America formed the prelude To the Rev
Thomas Dixon. jas sermon at Association
Hall yesterday. Nr. Dixon said that the chief
characteristics OF these criticisms have been
falsehoods. malgnity and stupidity
The destiny of the English speaking race
Is common one. said Dir. Dixon. Tho
DAY IS swiftly coming when this race will be
one IN spirit and in institutions in spite of
inc international liars on both sides OF the
Atlantic"
To- fear Of this final outcome the speaker
at'IiCuted the misrepresentation of America by
cS'"'n CLASSES OF the English. In the recent