New-York tribune., 1897-12-20
old CREEDS AND THE OLDER "


or THE DISCIPLES
The Rcv. Or Il. h Tyler. former pastor OF the
church Of the Disciples. after an absence Of fifteen
months. preached In that church at the services
yesterday morning on the subjcc: OF "Old Creeds
and the Older"
DR. Ty.er made n brief reference TO the prolonged
vacation he had enjoyed. and said that upon his re-
cent return to Ncw-York he had been pleased at
the Interest manifested on the subject OF historic
"r"eds. He desired. he said. TO indorss the state
ment recently made that a creed OF some sort was
essential TO the existence OF any successful or
ganizaton, aud that a really creedless church was
an impossihlty This he said. might be taken as
his text. one OF the most hopeful signs OF the
times the speaker said the fact that the great
journals In all parts Of the country manifest
ing lively interest in religious problems For
merly such topics we're considered unworthy OF
notice. Now religious news was considered a sub
feet OF interest TO everybody.
Dr. Tyler argued that tho man who said that he
had creed speaking rccklcssy with
tempt OF human thought Every thinking person
subscribed to some creed. II don't care what you
belong to-" said the preacher. whether II Is one
church or another. or an institution subscribing TO
the latest and most advanced phase OF thought. II
you belong TO any religious organization you sub
scribe a creed. Your creed may be written or
unwrittcn. our Republic has its credible liberty
and the pursuit Of happiness You may be Re
publican. Democrat, a thrd party man, PopuIlSt
a Middic-of-the- Road man, but you must have a
creed IL Is so In the Church or Christ even In the
midst Of ecclesiastical srifes. Back OF all Is
creed 10 which all heartily subscribe II we are
worthy Of the name OF Christians"
Dr Tyler then referred TO the three ancient
crceds, the Apostles, the Nicene and tho Athen-
asian. They came he SAID. the creation OF hui
man thought. as divergence OF thought. No one
knew who wrote the Apostles Greed. Scholars had
divided the writing of the Apostles between the
Apostles. but 1t Is now known that the Apostles
did not write IL. II was certain that no Apostle
said what Is now cited as the Apostles Creed II
was merely a statement Of the great facts in the
llfe OF Jesus.
The Nicene Creed appeared TO have been devised
with an aim to unite and not divide. Then followed
the Athanasian creed. The Protestant Episcopal
Church in the United States. Dr. Tyler said, did
not subscribe 10 the Athanasian Creed because Of
the damnatory clauses. ~
The Westminster Confession OF Faith Dr. Tyler
said was the most logical OF all the philosophical
statements made. 1t compelled men to think. The
most cultured thinking people had been reared
under It's creed. Above all. superior 10 an the
nr,acher said was the Apostles Greed. Upon no
strongcr foundation could the Church or Christ
rcst than upon Jesus Christ. IL was not doc
,rin,l creed but a personal creed. II was founded
unon the personality OF Christ. II tended TO form
Character and. above ALL the doctrine OF faith In
JesIIs Christ. A man might be metaphysical or
not, educated or uneducated. or ne might under
stand or not understand theology. but II he be-
eved I'm Jesus Christ and His ability TO save, that
was the creed that made him "A Christian.