The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-04-01
PROPHETIC CONVENTION.
The Meetings Begun Yesterday at the
Friends Church.

A(ASCtiSSAOAA
Matters of Prophecy-Address by Mr..
johnson.
Yesterday morning general prophetic
convention began at the Friends church,
Oak street, which will continue through
today at that church, and on Thursday
and Friday at Pine street church.
About fifty ladies and gentlemen
gathered at the church in the morning
Baptist church, Rev. Mr.. Purdy of
Friends church, Rev. Mr.. Woodward of
the Second Advent church, Rev. D. 7.
Call of the Second Advent church, Bi1de-
ford, Rev. H. H. Tucker, Bridgton, Rev.
Stephen Taylor of Rumford Falls, Rev.
". G. Mann of Westbrook, Rev. MIR.
Paulson of the Scandinavian church.
From 8 a. IN. to 9. 80 a. m. there was a
praise meeting. led by Rev. d. I. Call.
The convention opened at 9.30 a. m. with
the Bible study, "The Principles which
underlie the Interpretation of Biblical
Prophecy" Rev. MIR. Woodward pre-
sided. The study took the form of ques-
lions and answers as q rule, the questions
being put by those in the congregation
md answered by Mr.. Woodward. Rev.
MIR. Samson asked what prophecy meant;
whether it referred technically to the
meaning given in the Old Testament.
Mr.. Tucker said it is understood by many
the prophecy came not from God but
man. He asked if there was any rule in
the Bible to govern us In the interpreta-
tion of prophecy.
Mr.. Woodward said he hadn't found
any code of rules. but there are rules or
principles, we may find if we search for
them. He did not think all, SO called.
were absolute prophesies. They were ex-
hortations rather, urging men to Godli-
ness and righteous acts. But he thought
there were certain prophecies in Jeremiah
and Ezekiel that referred to events to
come
Mr.. Samson asked Mr.. Woodward if he
thought all that Jesus is supposed to have
said in the synagogue WAS reported. =
Mr.. Woodward said it is possible, but
Ii is significant fact that the things left
out IN tho one place were linked on alter
wards elsewhere. He said the mistake
the Jews made in regard to the coming
of the Messiah was in supposing that he
realize that the simple carpenter among
them was Jesus.
Mr.. Samson asked if it wasn't the tenn
poral rather than the spiritual Messiah
The Jews were thinking of.
Mr.. Woodward said that opened up the
whole question.
Mr.. Call thought that a man might
give life study to the question of
prophecy as he had done, and then find
ont he didn't know as munh as he
thought he did. To consider the matter
of prophecy one must be well posted in
Biblical and historical matters. He
thought Daniel was book of symbolism
a5.d lts principle was shown in gDaniel's
description of the statue.
Mr.. Samson agreed with Mr.. Call.
Mr. Woodward thought the great mis-
take made by most people was in accept
ing the researches of others without
searching and thinking for ourselves.
One expositor says one thing and
another another. A line of
thought was brought to his at
tention and by consulting the Bible and
history and reading all he could on the
subject light flashed upon him he could
have gained from another source. He
believed an hour a days study for a year
would best fit one to understand the
claimed that things that were apparently
dark in the Old Testament were made
light by the writings of the Apostles in
the New Testament. No man can pay
claim, however, to the knowledge that
some prophecies are fulfilled and others
are not. When, said he, man tells me
he can explain Revelations from the first
to the last chapter l am afraid Of him.
think he has made a mistake.
Mr.. Samson asked the question that if
in one place III the Scriptures the state
ment was made that the thing should be
made so plain that the wayfarer might
read, why are tie prophecies written in
so mysterious way. This led to long
discussion of the meaning of the passage,
participated in by Messrs. Samson, Wood
ward, Call and Tucker. Mr. Woodward
thought that in interpreting symbols the
spirit of God must be combined with
common sense. He thought details
should not be examined too closely. A
man is not man when dead, but a
corpse, and he thought there were too
many corpses of prophecy.
Mr.. Mann said he wasn't satisfied at
all in the explanation of the principles
by which to interpret prophecy. He
thought some set of principles could be
applied to general prophecies that would
give a clue to a proper understa nding Of
them. AS the matter now stood he
should go out knowing no more than
when he came in.
Mr.. Call thought the question answered
in Matthew "a, 20, aud that the principle
was the analogy of the word of Cod
Mr.. Samson thought if There were
principles at the bottom of prophecy there
must be way of getting at them.
MIR. Woodward knew of no book giving
a complete SET of principles. DR.. Buck