The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-23
DE. ABBOTT EXCLUDED,

IT has just cropped out that because OF
his recent utterances on certain Biblical
questions, Or. Lyman Abbott, Of Brook
Ign, was not permitted to deliver in the
Young Mems Christian Association, or
Philadelphia, his lecture on "Why L Be
live in the Bible" Instead, he gave the
lecture at horticultural Han, and had a
large and appreciative audience. The OBJ
lection on the part Of the Young Mems
Christian Association was that DR.. Alb
far the association was justified. we quote
the following extract from the lecture DC
liycred at Horticultural Hall:
Or. Abbott set out with the assertion
that the Bible is the growth Of centuries
OF religious thought.
at Is a library Of sixty-six books" he
said, but there Is a unity not dependent
upon the bOOkbinder's board. The thread
which binds all together is the thread OF
promise. The Bible is the Literature OF
promise. The Old Testament IS filled with
promises by a Father 10 his children.
The prophets spoke not Of the past, but
they talked OF the golden age OF the
future. When Christ came lie came as
fulhlment of many Of the old promises
but lie brought with Him also many
new ones. TO believe IN the Bible IS 10
believe in these promises. 1t IS not TO
believe that certain books were written
by q certain man, that a certain battle
was fought on certain DAY, or that
Jonah was swallowed by big fish.
Il believe the Bible because 1 see those
promises being fulfllod In the first book
o. the Bible we are told that man IS TO
be superior to the beasts, birds and fishes.
and have dominion over them. When
Genesis was written men worshiDped ami
mails and bowed down before them as
gods. To-day, see the change. Nature
was feared: the lightning supposed to be
the darts Of fiery Jupiter. Now man has
tanned It 10 do his bidding.
IN Isaiah we are told that the rule
OF the sword will some day be ended, and
that men will learn 10 war no more. Note
the advance Of civilization from family
10 tribe, tribe TO nation once all power
rested upon the strong arm Of var Now
II IS fast coming 10 rest upon t1c princi-
pie of right and justice. In the United
States what f. our safeguard2 II is the
respect for the rights Of others; the con-
science OF the great American people, the
Church and the school-house.
at the time when the Old Testament
prophecy was written, He will swallow
up death In victory and tho Lord God
shall wipe away tears from all faces
there were two ways Of taking grief The
first was the method of the epicurean,
who tried to forget his SORROWS in tho
Indulgence OF his passions. The second
was that Of the stole who ground his teeth
and made tho best OF &C. Then Christ
came. and a new philosophy was intro
duced. > Grief through Him was con-
querod."
IN conclusion Or. Abbott said'
eft IS my firm belief that the mon who
are saying you cannot holieve the Bible
unless you believe that Moses wrote the
Pentateuch or that Jonah was swallowed
by big fish. are sowing the seeds Of IN
fidelity. Tho Bible IS a living book. col
loctcd during fourteen centuries. struck
through with the spirit Of faith. OF hope.
and Of love"
We do not see how any liberal-minded
Christian man can object 10 such teach
ing. It IS after all tho principles and
premises OF the Bible that men need TO
believe in order to make them better and
to inspire them TO good works.
But n men are constantly confronted
with non-essentials. which interpose
themselves as stumbling blocks. It seems
TO us that it is good philosophy and good
religion 10 eliminate the non-essenuals,
and TO establish faith on living principles.
Religion gains nothing by intolerance,
and the Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton of Philadelphia has done the cause Of
religion no good by excluding a learned
preacher OF high character because he
teaches principles rather than incidents