The Washington times., 1895-01-31
is the BIBLE A FINALITY
Theme Discussed by Rev. DR.. Hamliu at
Foundry Church.

Theme Discussed by Rev. DR.. Hamliu at
Foundry Church.
Dr. Teunis S. Hamlin. pastor of the Church
of the Covenant, delivered last night the first
of a course of lectures that has been arranged
for by the American Society of Historical
Education, his theme being the "Finality of
the Bible''
The lecture was read before a large audi
ence at Foundry NJ. E. Church. the president
of the society. Gen. Eaton, presiding.
BY invitation, the Hon. W. L. Wilson,
chairman OF the Ways and Means Committee
OF the House of Representatives, introduced
Dr. Hamlin to the audience. He referred, in
his Introductory remarks, to the Importance
of the subjects selected for the course, each
being highly instructive and each closely
identified with the advanced thought OF the
day.
DIR. Hamlin said in part:
is the Bible a fnality?" We have all
asked this question, and all feel an interest
in the response.
FIFTY years ago the project of an ocean
cable would have been regarded as a vision
ary scheme. We have all been more or less
familiar with balloon ascenslons, but have
looked upon them more az risk of human
life than anything else, while the idea of trav-
cling safely in an airship is at present a
dream OF the future.
'.Fifty years ago the suggestion that q man
could be enabled to speak to friend and be
heard 100 miles away would have been con-
sidered equally dream.
is THERE ANYTHING FINAL?
1--WE are now almost ready to say that
nothing is impossible to human ingenuity,
= oF; 10
Of discovery.
SIS there anything that is final-that we
may be sure shall stay in fashion? This is an
important question. Fashions change every
year. Is there anything We possess to-day
that will last through tomorrow? The Bible
is permanent. 1t has stood through the ages
unmoyed. and not one jot or title of its truth
shall pass away. This is said of the Bible
itself, not of creeds nor theories nor modes OF
exegesis. The book itself stands like rock
''We cannot hand out any mans theology
and say there is the absolute truth, but no
one who carries this gospel to a SHINING
world need be afraid that ten years hence
some one else will have to follow him with
another Bible. Our attitude should be to
know the Bible; not to read it, simply, but
to study it with a view to understand it.
81 hope our schools will never be so secu-
ldTlZ0u as uOt 10 Dc pernealeu WIFI the IN
fiuence of our English Bible. I do not mean
that we should teach UNCONVENTIONAL creeds.
With our 142 sects wo cannot teach It in our
schools without teaching denomination.
BIBLE IN POLITICS.
''We should put the Bible in our colleges.
We need the finality In our government to
meet and conquer political heresy, anar-
chlsm and socialism.
''Some say the Bible has no place in poll
ties, but these are its enemies. There are
those who condemn it because it teaches that
a self-confessed adulterer shall not sit IN the
halls of legislation. This truth is just as
patent on the plains of Kansas as it is in the
blue grass regions of Kentucky.
I'VE have the same right to interrogate the
Bible as We have to interrogate the soil and
the sun. We should approach it, not with
preconceiyed ideas Of what sort of Bible God
should furnish, but should read 1t for the
purpose of understanding it,
''The Bible can only be treated fairly when