The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-22
ON THE HIGHER CRITICISM.
DIR. BRTSGs LECTURES BEFORE THE
YOUNS NEWS HEBREW ASSOCIh IRON.

Modern IsvsstIsstiou 81 the Scripture. Mast
GO On, He says, Though II End In =
HoIv wnr-It Goes Forward with the
steady, InvIncibis March OF science.
About POO people we're present in Carnegie
Music Hall last night to hear a lecture by the
Rev Dr. Briggs. Most o. the audience we're
young men interested in the work ithe Young
Mems Hebrew Association. under whose au-
SPICES the lecture was delivered. The Rev. DIR.
Joseph Silverman introduced Prof Briggs.
who was received with considerable applause.
The title Of DR.. BrigRs's address was What
IL Modern Biblical Criticism 2" The address
contained about 10000 words. Early in his
discourse DR.. Briggs spoke thus OF the oppo-
nents Of the higher criticism:
1T Ia only In Canada and the United States
OF America that professional Biblical teachers
undertake to resist the science Of Biblical
criticism which has attained the mastery Of
the rest Of the Protestant world
1T is named the higher criticism because
IL IL higher in its order and in Its work than
ment Of criticism has lived and worked under
this name for more than a century. IL lie not
modste the preiudices OF the Ignorant or TO
Iustiiy the INTERPRETATIONS OF the anti
Speaking OF the higher criticism determin-
ing the authenticity OF the scriptural writings.
editorials in our newspapers and so much OF
the epistolary advice OF our sef-constituted
friends and counselorsY
Is IL pseudOnymous where the author
wlshee to disguise his hand from fear OF per-
secution. as in the Martin Marpreate tracts,
or to instruct as q prophet In the guise OF an
tiouity, as in the Apocalypse of Baruch or to
gain an unbiased hearing to unpalatable
truths. as in the Letters OF lunius. or to sneak
slanderoua words without the peril Of detec-
tion. as in the pamphlet literature Of political
and ecclesiasticai contToversies or 10 hide the
In regard TO the higher criticisms attitude
as to the crediblty Of the writings. DR.. Briggs
The spirit OF the Investigation is deter
mined ny the temper and character OF the in
vestgators not by It's nTincinIeGt ana METHODS
the Bible. The investigation must go on all
the game. It,matters little how many oppose
IL may make the in Investigation a holy war. and
the establishment OF its result a catastrophe.
normal development OF the in yestiRation il the
calm, steady. invincihle march OF science.
aets w sT the 1 IS sG
tho higher criticism. he said
Thus the higher criticism OF Holy Scrip
ture Il n study which has its well-defned
principles. its accurate methods. it's clearly
expressed questions: and its results are rs
viii give a anal decision to all tho literary
problems Of Holy, Scripture. 1t is quite true
That and Of He %
criticism. but every one OF these are opposed
70 criticism on dogmatic grounds because
party. The same set OF men have opposed
every advance OF modern science and modern
philosophy. Such men are not true Biblical
scholars. What kind OF u detective would he
make who should maintain that there was no
OF a chemist would he make who spent his
strength In opposing and ridiculing the prin-
ciples and results Of chemistry? Judge ye
what sort OF scholars those few American pro-
fessors OF Hebrew are who exhaust their en-
ergies in discrediting the principles OF the
higher criticism. and In battling against its
sure results"
Among the things proved by the higher
Criticism. Dr. Briggs said. was that sheol never
meant hell, but always, the place to which all
the dying depart at death"