Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-16
MODERN HEREsY.

So long as churches are bound by
creeds, so long will the inadequacy OF
language to express the same thoughts of
diverse minds result in charges of heresy.
In joining a denomination of which each
congregation is under the authority of
central government, minister, as it were,
makes a contract to act in accordance
with the dogmas set forth in its confession
of faith or other documents recognized as
authoritative. But, as years go by, while
language undergoes notifications the
meanings of words change and thoughts
on theology progress with progression in
the arts and sciences, differences of opin-
ion inevitably arise between individual
ministers and the governing body of their
denomination as to the breadth peri miss
bic in an Interpretation of the documents
aforementioned.
Where such differences arise, careful
discussion in the form of trial before the
aforesaid central government is necessary
to decide whether minister has commit
ted breach of contract. In earlier days
the convection of a minister for practices
contrary TO the dogmas of the church un-
der the auspices of which he preached was
punishable with torture in the hope of
changing his mind, burning at the stake
that his pernlciouS practices might find no
imitators, or an communication that
amounted to boycott in most of the tenn
poral aft Mrs of life as well as his coIdem-
nation to eternal punishment. All these
things being done to persuade erring men
to mend their evil ways and return to the
only path available for salvation. Nova
days when a preacher is convicted Of
heresy be my or may not be excommuni-
Gated, but he will certainly undergo no
physical death penalty or torture, though
be is certain to be more or less forcibly
driven from the fold which he has out
grown.
After the severance of ties of associa-
ton due to an honest conviction on his
Ear5 at variance with the no less honest
convection Of his former associates, his
usual course is to continue his preaching
either without affilIation with any denomi-
nation-.n which case he not unfrequent-
ly starts a new sect or suE-sect-or within
the pale of some religious body that he
can conscientiouSly adhere to. His use
fulnesS may CT may not be impaired by
his enforced severance from his quondam
church. The greater loss sometimes his
and sometimes the church's. But in a
progressive age and by reason of the elias
ticity of language, such discussions and
decisions are unavoidable while creeds are
literally interpreted and dogmas rigldly
insisted upon.
The world loses somewhat and gains
somewhat by having such things brought
to its notice. On the one hand scoffers
find an opportunity for railing that tn ere
is more pracacaf work for the church
than the enforcem snt Of what may be
called its theoretical principle. On the
other hand interest is aroused in and at
tention attracted to matters that are too
apt to pass unnouced in the rush and
tumble Of modern life. Again some
thoughtful folk are sent adrift by the
wonder who shall decide where doctors
disagree, while others gain new light for
the solution of long troublesome doubts
and journey On in renewed confidence
On the whole, however, less and less
acrimony attends such trials as time goes
on, and the general public is seldom in
clined to look seriously askance at one
who has simply demonstrated the exist
ence of a difference of opinion between
himself and his fellows In matters of
religion indiYidualism is on the increase,
and the most useful church is generally
considered to bethat which devotes too
much time and energy to the preaching OF
the gospel and the practice of charity to
be able to spare much of either to the in
vestigation of its representatives pub.
lished opinions as to the technicalities OF
| its beliefs