The sun., 1893-03-12

A correspondent in the interior OF this
State writes to us that rs result OF eight
years study Of science and OF theology he
has got himself into o snarl. from which he
asks us to extricate him. Here ~ his case.
and, as he seems to be conscientious man.
We will do the best We can for him:
-ons cannot fail to see the great difference between
the Bible story Of the creation Tor rather stories be
there two) and the scientific theory. have
read and rsresd the nebuar hypothesis and have res
soned 1t out In my mind and found no conflicting
thought. How. then. accept the Bible story and
" do which one the that ends with man, or the
one that begins with mani
"smiiar difficulties present them selves whom try to
compare tho Bible and modern astronomy. Then
compare tho evidences have Of primitive man with
the chronology of Bible and again grops In dark
ness and mystery. | will not speak Of chronological
problems, but they will present themselves to the
thoughtful mind. Then. the other hand. when
the New Testament and read and reflect on the
teachings OF Jxsus am compelled to sxcaim with the
writer; Never spake man as this"
"Now to sum up; Science appeals to my reason. re-
iigon to my anectiona II cannot make tho two har-
monize, which shall control' Shall give up my
science. or shall give up my religion"
Ten or fifteen years ago Wa should have
been ut loss how to advise this skeptical
young man with o strong religious senti-
ment warning with his religious doubts. We
should have been obliged to tell him that.
until ono or tho other had conquered. it
would DO impossible for him to find place
in which to get rest for his soul. He is
simply going through the old battle be-
tween faith and infidelity. and, according
to the orthodoxy OF tho past. while that is
proceeding the man cannot obtain the shell
ter of its fold. 1t demanded that he should
conquer his doubts to make him eligible for
admission into the Church. Nobody who
quest inned the absolute truth and divine
perfection of the Bible was allowed to come
in. He had to remain outside in the ranks
q! tho infidels.
Now however, the situation has changed
radically. Our skcptical correspondents
state OF mind Is no bar to his admission into
tho most orthodox OF Churches. the Presby-
tcrian, for instance. II we continue the dcs-
ignation formerly applied. If he be other
wise qualified. his criticisms Of the Billie
constitute no obstacle to his ordination as
n Presbyterian minister. in the New York
Presbytery at least, or to his subsequent
appointment as professor In Presby-
terian theological seminary. He has NO
reason to be troubledin soul because OF his
doubts. for DR.. VAN DYKE describes such
belief as he Graves, to be q matter OF nom
essential opinion merely.
DIR. BRIGGS went through the same proc
ess OF questioning tho Bible. and reached
the conclusion Of rejecting everything
which did not commend itself to his reason !:
yet he has been adjudged by the New York
Presbytery a good enough Presbyterian for
these days. Our correspondent and he stand
on substantially the same ground so for as
concerns science and religion. When the
Bible conflicts with science. the Bible is
wrong in the estimation Of DR.. BRIGGS. and
he does not vex himself more over the mat
ter. Tho Biblical story or stories Of crea-
ton he explains to be a compilation Of an
cient records and traditions made centuries
after the time OF MOSES: and the contradic-
tion OF which our friend speaks. he ascribes
to the carelessness Of the unknown editors.
Under the teaching Of DR.. BRIGGS. justified
by the New York Presbytery. this young
man Is needlessly alarming himself and un-
dertaking an impossible task in trying to
reconcile tho Bible with modern astrono.
my. geology. and ethnology.
Hence. In reply to his final question.
whether he shall give up science or relig-
ion, we advise him to keep both and be-
come q PRESBYTERIAN.