The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-11-02
THE HIGHER CRITICISM.
Rev. FIR. Shepherds Second Sermon in His
Course.

THE second discourse on the Higher
Criticism was given by Rev. ]. B.
Shepherd on Sunday evening at st.
Paul's church.
The preacher called attention to the
question, What has the Higher
Criticism accomplished. Not every man
can explain the law governing the course
of hurricane Or the upheaval of an
earthquake. But any man with vision
can look upon the havoc they have made.
Not every man can give the why and
wherefore of Higher Criticism, but any
man can see it's effect on morals and
faith. Last Sunday We traced the source
of rationalism to Germany. To Germany
we must go to look upon the vide spread
ruin it has wrought.
How comes it that it has fourished
on German soilP 1t is all explained when
the.fact is recalled that the people drifted
away from the teachings of Luther.
Luther recognized the Importance of in
struoting even the children in matters of
religion. Luther believed in the prophet
us we'll as the priest. The pulpit in every
age has been sure index of the state of
the church. The preaching of the higher
critics was utterly devoid of life and
power. The revival of what has be1n
called Pietism attem pied to turn the
tide. 1t began is work upon the principle
that the church was corrupt, that the
ministry was guilty of gross neglect and
that the people were cursed with spiritual
death. But it did not save Germany. 1t
lacked the aggressive spirit OF
Christianity. In spite of all Pietism could
do the condition of the church was de-
ploratle.
The pulpit was simply means of
amusement to the people. They heard
more Of Schiller and Goethe than OF
Moses, st. Paul, and even of Christ
Then it was that rationalism began
It's deadly work. When think you did it
beginp Not with the Bible, but with The
hymns The ancient German hymns are
the finest lyrics in any language. They
had inspired the people to defy even
as to be deprived of all spiritual vigor
and life. After this work was completed
then began the attack OH the Holy Scrip
ture. There seemed to be but little sys-
tenn or unity In the attack But 1t served
its purpose. The people we're confused.
The whole Bible WAS discounted. People
lost faith simply because their teachers
not only oontradioted each other, but also
because they seemed uncertain concern
ing the truth they taught. The people
began to look upon the Bible rs they
would on any other book. There came a
time In the land of Luther when the
people ceased TO sing the grand old
hymns of their fathers. ceased to read the
Bible Luther translated into the German
tongue, and deserted the churches for the
concert halls, beer gardens and theatres,
even on the Lords day.
That was the effect of the Higher
Criticism on Germany. There never was
an age when there were SO many Bibles
as now. There never was a time when
there is SO much danger Of losing the
Bible as now. The enemy 60 he feared
is not the sceptic like Gibbsn, or the
infldsl like Tom Payne or the agnostic
like Ingersoll, but the man who protested
great love and reverence for the Bible
and yet tears 1t to tatters leaf by leaf
before your very eyes. That is the man
to be feared, whether you find him in
Germany or America, whether he occupy
professors chair In New York, OF
stands In fashionable pulpit in the city
of Portland