New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-03-10
NO POWER IN FORM ULARIES.
AN EPISCOPAL CLERGYMAN TAKES ISSUE
WITH THE BISHOPS PASTORAL
MORE COURAGEOUS AID AUTHENTIC FAITH
NEEDED RATHER THAN ASSENT TO DOC
TElNES-WIsHEs TO DIsSIPATE WIN

MORE COURAGEOUS And AUTHENTIC FAITH
NEEDED RATHER THAN ASSENT TO Doc
TRlNEs-wIsHEs TO DIssIPATE VAIN
AND PEDANTIC PRETENsIoNs.
To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: | have received copy Of the current pastoral
;ettcr II urges upon me a conception OF religion
which seems to untrue admonshes me 10 'each
things that in conscience | cannot teach, and con-
strues the obligation of my ordination vows IN a
manner contrary to my understanding OF them
The conception of religion set forth in the pas
toral letter seems to me untrue-and dahetrouSs
so-because It seems to make religion consist III !"
merely Intellectual assent TO credal Statements
The historic creeds are to august ana g'or'ou'
e.,,ho,e and ,ountersigns OF the Christian faith.
h, they do not think contain the faitn or III any
effectual way express ii TO pam ihe"' ~ '" " "
perfectly possible, and by no ''e' -, e., a
r NOW 70 accen, every article of the creeds IN d
mos, literal and historical sense, without h"'''e
-. ilo.oh,o consciousness of the meaning OF
l.A.,.,ort,,.. and on the other hand. cquaiy pos-
slhla and no less common for men 10 olS9'"' ''
euch = construction OF the creeds ana YET s" III
their lives those fruits by "hc" o'' W ~ "
,rdge of the reality OF faith
For my own part accept the creeds IN the way
,co3 nv, the pastoral letter. but | must refuse
~ 80, ,ha man who comes TO with honest doubts
.ba. the safety OF his soul depends upon MS dong
60 too | am bound to tell him that the test OF
,,,.b ls much NOR difficult and strenuous; that II
C. necessary for him to have high courage and 10
take real risks: necessary for him TO i've day by
dav from the hand Of the Father to believe in good
ness against all appearance of evil 10 suffer will
nclv loss OF possessions. the chilling OF lriend-
ships contempt, hunger. anything everything
I must tell the man that consents TO listen to my
teaching that II is relatively of the very slightest
conse luence that he hold approved opinions con
corning the circumstances Of our Lords BIRTH but
that It is Of the highest importance that he enter
into HIS life and share its love. its hope ana ialth
IFS humiliation and It's passion.
The pastoral letter tells me that our civilization
is SNOWY. but not strong that 1t abounds In seduc-
tons to lawessness and that, therefore. the Church
must take firm stand and not permit her forinn-
laries to be marred OF their integrity.
Now | cannot believe that there is any power In
formula c,eslascal politica-to prop up "A
tottering civilization.
believe on thd contrary. that civilization in
America is grievously threatened just because men
have been taught 20 trust in formularies. ! think
that what need in America is not more forinu-
lar!es or tougher ones, but more humanity and a
more coura geous and authentic faith. When the
mob breaks in the doors it does not stop at the
manning Of formuaries
/ cannot in conscience teach that the doctrine OF
the virgin birth Of Lord is absolute essential
Of the Christian faith. | am confident that man
may be faithful without receiving that doctrine
Nor is it possible for me to say that the holy
Scriptures inspired OF God in peculiar and
miraculous manner distinguishing them from all
other writings. The doctrine that the Bible alone
inspired IS. think. full Of dishonor TO the power
OF the Holy Spirit full Of encouragement to the
spirits Of living men And the teaching that II IL
miracuousy and infallibly inspired has been. as
historical fact. the spring OF endless sectarian
discord and the source of the most deadly Kind OF
intellectual pridethe pride which. exulting In its
superior insight. MASKS under the guise of humble
obedience TO the Word
cannot but regard vain and illusory the no
eral council furnished Us with an infallbe standard
OF truth outside OF the still and humble heart OF
man and the everlasting realities Of the world
around us The steady urgency and pressure OF
these realities is authority sufficient infallihe and
ultimately irresistible. cannot SUPPOSE that the
truth touching the eternal relations OF man TO man
and OF man to God needs to have guard Of learned
men set over II for protection.
Truth is fact and the thing to do with fact 10
to protect II. but 10 respect it-conforIn one
Faithful churchmcn will. think. best preserve
ana increase he worlds iath IN the ne
facts and showing by visible demonstration that II
truths of our ancient faith out today not for
masters to interpret them from OF old but for mar
As to the ordination vows l hold It to be immoral
and unmanly for one to make oath as TO how ne
in character easily distinguished from tina; OF
Herod in the Scripture story. and - likely to lead
killing OF prophets The ordination VOWS OF a
minister OF the church take 10 De not Intellectual
bonds TO bind him down 10 formu.aries. but spirit
.
to lift him up and bind him body and soul TO christ
make plea FOR what - called freedom OF
thought. do not for a moment. think that men
can think out way TO right living. ] hold, on me
contrary that Il Is necessary through humility AMI
sclf-devOtion live out way right thinking
Il contend simply for the faith Of the Apostolic
Church-the faith that is most ancient and most
modern
have high hopes that God will make this Church
OF ours deep and wide enough Of heart to hold the
heart Of the Nation-to answer tho mute longing Of
the shepherdless multitude 20 take mp the cry OF the
oppressed. to stir strong souls to voluntary s"rvi
tUde, to fUlfl the spiritual meeting d"Tnocracy
and 20 build here the City OF Faith. per
II rest in faith documentary. traditional and
reminiscent.
II Is with poignant regret that ] am constrained
TO put myseT thus I'm n Kind OF nsurrection against
II ha ppens that / have stood in a near relation to
three Of sign"rs of this pastoral letter and
of them has been To me for "A long time preceptor
and counsellor in very special sense. Yet a
wrong thing IS no less wrong because good men
espouse IL.
And this pastoral letter gracious and engaging in
It's form to me 10 be the eliminating
sion Of ng thing at this moment dominant IN
the lie OF the Church. 10 It's great derirn'nf and
danger IL Is because IL is thus truly representa-
position 10 il. ! intend. at whatever risk Of seem
Ing prcsumptuOus and self-Wlcd from this dag
do everything that one man can do In the pulpit.
in public prints, in private ana by every to
uervades IT, dissipate It's vain and pcdantic pre-
tension, to disturb its Supplying calm and smooth
content and to recall 1t to humility and real
faith
l pray to be set right II am wrong ,.....
CHARLES FERGI' son.
Cohasset. Mass. March I. 1925.