The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-12-20

The secular preas has wondered how
IL is that Methodiam appears to be in
no way affected By the so-called higher
criticism OF the Scriptures. especially
when certain other churches have bean
raoked by internaldiesensions and con-
troversies. Accordingly when the
bishops Of our church held their re-
cent seml-annual meeting in Milwau-
kee reporter OF the Chicago Inter
Ocean was sent out to inq uire OF them
personally as to their views of ''the
effect of the new theology upon Metho-
dlDm." From few OF them he elected
no important responses, they being
quite occupied Just at that moment
with other matters, but the majority
delivered themselves pointedly and
clearly. Bishop Bowman declared
that he hadn't hentd OF the new the
ology. He had heard OF and knew
something about akeptlcism and inf
deity. but never before had heard OF
a new theology.
He read his church periodicals, in
which, the interviewer suggested, the
new theology had frequently been re-
ferred to. but he had not seen the
name OF heard it. He had heard OF
the higher criticism, so called. which
presented some things he could not
agree with DocHuse they were not
logical. But these were having no
effect upon Methodlsm. The theology
OF Methodism has not changed since
il was established.
HAS not the esdhatology of Metho-
dism changedT was asked.
No" said Bishop Bowman. Not
that know OF. Wesleys sermons are
to-day part OF our theological course
OF study"
Bishop Vincent Affirmed that we as
never have any trouble On
doctrlnal points. Occasionally some
Clergyman, thinking more Of the dec
trinal and controversial side of his
work than OF the ethical, breaches his
doubts rather than his faith and pro.
duces local diesenBlons. and 1t IL only
at such times that we hear OF doctrineE.
Oh, no!' said he, the new theology
cannot hurt us. Nethodism encour-
ages the most critical examination Of
The Scriptures and halls with gladness
everything that throws additional
light OH the Bible.r
Bishop Fowler a llowed that some of
our views and interpretations of Scrip
lure might be gradually modified, but
no serious results are to be apprehend.
I'd. Our church said he. Is broad and
liberal. ami welcomes new light from
any source.
Bishop Hurst unmarked that these
current speoulatlbns will have no
noticeable effect upon us. Ours is a
very liberal church to begin wlth--the
M ost liberal OF allthe evangelical de-
We believe In the in
splration Of the Scriptures; we believe
in the miracles-in the fundamentals
In short; but none of these are affected
by the new theology. We have never
had a schism In our denomination
upon dontrlnal grounds. hethodism
is very elastic and allows wide lati.
tude to all. We do have contro.
versies over questions OF policy. but
not over doctrines. Wesley was
very liberal man, and mnde enemies
because of Ills SO called liberalism,
Bishop Goodsell said: "Tbe new the
ology will have worry little effect on |
influence upon educated men in Meth
ldism. This arises from the fact that
he new theology Is a protest against
lalvinism; one OF the refugees from the
errors OF that scheme. | vii! not say
that there are not men amo Dug us who
ook In that direct on. but the number
8 very small, SO far as I know. and /
ave been In n position to know some.
hing about 1t. Alethodism has never ,,
in God who would punish q ,
man for what Is nbt his fault; conse- {
luently it Is not believed that ii any
unjust probation were possible God !
could hold man accountable for 1t.
This Methodism that | have known
las held that n man became responsi-
lie for his evil inheritance only when =
le adopted it, yelled TO 1t aud made 1t
dominant in his nature. 1t mas taught :
10 nj nj 1
men, SO that no human being comes !
nto the world without sufficient i
llvtne forco present with him to snve !
lin If he would follow the divine, :
light. We have. therefore no use for,
! second probation. nor any OF tho al. .
led doctrines that arise out of moral
,rotest OF humanity against Angus.
in!an theology"
Bishops Mallalleu, Newman, Ntnda,
Walden, Andrews and Fitzgerald eX-
Iressed ideas similar to tho above
zone of them have any fears Metho.
ism Is secure IN lis doctrinai views"
As Bishop Nallhlieu observed: We
ave a theology SO simple yet so grand
hat 1t commends tself to the comon-
ense of every intelligent man. 1t is
he grandesL theology ever formed by
nan. IL gives every man a fair
hance In this world" There is no;
Ise OF crossing d bridge until you
ONE to it, nor qf feeling troubled
yer dangers that may never threaten I
Is. These prevalent doetrlnal ugita.
ions do not touch us, nor our creed I
We arc out OF their reach, beyond 4
heir domain, ard, in measure, 7
bove their INFLUENCE. Our supreme +,
i'm as Methodists is to get the people
aved and permit human speculationsI
o take care OF themselves. Michigan
'hrlstian Advocate.