The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-10-07
THE DEFENSE OF Mr.. LANIER.
ST. PAUL'S FORMER RECTOR At
Tackled BY NORTH CARO-
LIMA JUDGE.

Rev. MIR. Strong Replies to the At
tack He Charactcrfzes Such
Thrusts at the Faith of Men as
Hateful TO Christ and Not in Ac-
cord With True Christian Spirit.
Mr.. Lanier WINS Charged with ViO-
Inting the Articles of Faith.
In his sermon at St. Johns church yes
terday morning Rev. Charles II. Strong
took occasion incidentally to defend Rev.
]. J. Lanier, formerly of St. PauIs church
of this city, against an attack made upon
him and his views as expressed in one
of his Savannah sermons delivered about
the middle of August by Judge D. SchencK
of Greensboro, n c., who is a member or
st. Barnabas' church. where Mr.. Lanier
has been temporarily stationed.
The attack is made through a printed
circular headed, "Can a Man Reject Christ
and Yet Be Saved?" Mr. Lanier's text
in that sermon was from Act x, 1875: II
perceive that God is no respector of per-
sons; but in every nation he that feareth
God and worketh righteousness is &C
cepted of him."
The circular states that Mr.. Lanier was
urging union of religions and iayinS
down as basis on which all religions
might unite, the modern dogma of the
fatherhood Of God and the brotherhood of
man.
Judge Schenck took especial exception
to the fact that Mr. Lanier deprecated too
much theology and urged more religion.
He set down as decided
heresy the statement that white
the Mohammedans Jews and
Christians have different theologies, their
religion is one and the same judge
Schenck referred several times to the ar
ucles OF taith of the church, which he
said the sermon violated AS Rev Mir
strong says, however, the minister of 10
uay IS not required to subscribe to those
ttnlIly-hine articles, as was the case in
former days. In fact, their Importance
mas decreased to that extent that thew
are now bound way over next To the
cover, ana he says it is expected with the
be found outside ~
Mr.. Strong spoke of the bewildering
a ,u Intensely fascinating conditions OF
the religious world of to-day. showing
now they were different from those Of
LWShty-nVe years ago. The pastor of that
period ana not have to meet all classes
ds ne does to-day. He mentioned several
OF these classes, the Christians who are
secure in their faith, those who try 10
I'VE right but are in doubt about their
idill, ana those whose intellectual faith
Is al right, but it does not affect their
character and conduct. A genuine faith
anu trust IN Christ he sad, was me
power which would save from sin. and
make men morally and spiritually pure.
lie spoke then of the personal relation
snip between Christ and man. giving sew
eral powerful and striking Instances.
II was here that he referred TO the at
TACK made on Rev. Mr.. Lanier Spirit
ually that sort of thing. he said is ut
terly hateful to Christ. He defined a
true get Of faith as an act of trust and
not simply intellectual faith To attack
and antagonize the spiritual condition
and the faith of men who do not agree
with you, he said, is hateful to Christ
and not in accordance with true Chris
tian spirit.
1t WIN be gratifying to Mr.. Lanier's
many friends in Savannah to know thai
the vestry of st. Barnabas church, before
winch this attack was TAKEN entirely
upheld Mr.. Lanier, and that the peopie
OF Greensboro gave little attention to
Judge Schenck's statements. MIR Lanier
mas been, located at Greensboro only
temporarily, and will within a few
weeks go to New York state, where he
has received a call.