The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-15
Twenty Third Meeting Of
the Club Last Night.
Value to Church of Biblical
Criticism Discussed.
Infallibility Declared Disease In
Blood of Theology.


closely associated with the weighty con-
Germs Of the supreme court, discuss a
topic upon which theologians so comfort
ably disagree. Judge Stiness presided ct
the twenty-third dinner of the Church
mems Club at the Trocsdero In the alb
sence' because of illness, Of President ID.
l.. ID. Granger. The topic was "Tbe
Value to the Church of Modern Biblical
criticism" There were four speakers. from
out of town. Before introd ucing them
however the Judge stated the case and
the keynote Of that statement was judi
cial impartia!ity. 1t was like the ideal
charge to a jury. The large company
OF distinguished members and guests
however was. not suggestive of the jury.
The speakers were Rev. Charles w. Il.
BODY, ID. d., ID. G. L., OF the General
Theological Seminary, New York; Rev.
Samuel Hart, a. d., Of Trinity College,
Rev. A. q. Mortimer. ID. d., OF St.
Marks Church. Philadelphia; and Rev.
Henry s. Nash D. ID. Of the Episcopal
Theological School Cam bridge.
DR.. Nash was introduced first and was
by all means The most interesting speaker
OF the evening.
As the first essential he said that this
matter of Biblical criticism must be
taken largely and seriously and q failure
on the part OF many to so take it is one of
the most deplorabie things that must be
contended with. 1t seems to be the thing
now, said the doctor, for every fellow
in Germany running after mis- Phi. to
attack the Bible, his only purpose being,
apparently, say something more severe
than some other fellow has said before
MIN. While condemning such hippancy
the Cambridge scholar warmly advocated
serious criticism undertaken in the spirit
OF reverence and with tie ultimate aim
of better understanding Gods word.
There is q loss undou btedly, he said; the
scholar of today who Is we'll informed in
this matter cannot read his Bible with
the same calm serenity with which his
grandfathe: rea d it. But this In inevi-
table, God has brought us to it from
necessity and necessity Is Gods school
master. We should say ST. Necessity.
The principle OF Gresham's law holds
good for spiritual as we'll as for financial
affairs and unless we are jealous In find
ing and keeping prominent the best
there is in scripture, the chucrh will pay
it's debt to Deity and humanity In the
baser coin.
Scripture is primarily q story,a history,
not q book of dogmar, nor an encyclopedia
OF divinity. This story must be taken az
a fact and allowed to tell itself in its
own way. Up to 300 years ago it was
used as O pump into which men put
any Interpretation they wished for the
purpose of pumping 1t out again in vindi-
cation Of their own theories. In our time
scripture is getting it's full rights and set
ting itself free from the great supera bund-
ant mass of dogma.
Criticism means the attempt ny every
reasoua BILE and honest means to find out
what scripture means. This is not vim
1t is a reverent necessity to be taken
earnestly and we must patiently put up
with the losses.
Let Gods word define itself and re-
mem ber that nowhere does IL claim for
itself to be infaliible. The book 10 not
infsllible, 1t is book Of witness, and
the same with the church which ia COM
monwealth Of redeemed men and free men
who believe 1t their duty to think straight
and clearly as much as il Is to keep the ten
commandments. And the church, to hold
the esteem of the great lay world, must
not be afraid TO thing.
We can trust the Bible to take care of
force and truth and splendor.
Infallibility is q disease in the blood
of theology.
DIR. Charles W. j.. Body of New York,
emphasized the fact that criticism is
judgment and that no man Is exempt
from the duty Of judgment. Further
mors 1t can never be absolute, but is
always relative to the amount Of know
ledge for any given time.
DIR. Samuel Hart treated the subject
from the pedagogical point OF view, and
brought out the real significapce OF the
word criticism" to show that IL was to
be taken ss a synomym for investigation
upt W COHNcy tHv lSoo VI hhu-
ing. 10 illustrate, he referred to several
of the Psalms and outlined the different
interpretations of scholars OF different
periods. As two OF the important re-
suits Of modern criticism the speaker re-
ferred to greater belief in historic
accuracy Of tho old testament and firner
faith in the Word Of God as being
quick ana powerful.
DIR. Mortimer said that this Is an age
OF investigation and that any criticism
which Is honest and fair 10 not to be
criticised.
The attacks, however, which are not
fair have had their value as Q chsllonge
to the moro earnest support OF what Is
good and true and better appreciation
OF Scripture.
la the end only that which is untrue
will be demolished. The walls built up
PEOPLE out OF their own conceptions
of what this Bible QUE ht to be, will no -
uifhstand tho attacks tut affcy ali