The morning news., 1897-02-18
TOOK A VOTE ON THE BIBLE.
METHODIST MINISTER'S AGREE
THAT NOT ALL Is GODS WORD.

| THAT NOT ALL Is GODS WOhD'
Human Errors In the King james
VersiOn-Taxed With 'UnanimoHs-
~ Denying the InfaIIibility of the
Bible" They Tell what They Did
Vote in Secret Meeting.
From the New York Sun.
At the meeting of the Methodist clergy
men Of the Metropolitan district yesterday
morning the Rev. NJ. J. Cramer, Dr.
/ Buckley editor of the Christian Advo-
! cate the venerable DR. J. N. Shaffer OF
/ Newburgh. and DR. = b. Leonard, secre-
/ tary of the Methodist missions, became in
/ volved in a theological and parliamentary
! discussion that was highly enjoyed by
| those present until a sensational evening
| paper came out and said that the meeting
/ had by a practically unanimous vote, de-
| MED the infalibility of the Bible. Since
| then the ministers have been in embar-
RAISING indecison between the desire to
set themselves right before the public and
fear of violating the pledge of secrecy to
which persons attending the meetings are
committed.
Prof. Curtis of the Drew Theological
| Seminary at Madison. N. j., read paper
entitled, How Christian Men May sat
isfy Themselves That the Bible is a Dl-
rect Revelation from God" The paper,
it said, was fOrcibly written, ana IL
aroused the interest of the preachers. MT
! Cramer discussed it, making a deliberate
! and careful criticism He hardly thought
| that Prof. Curtis had gone far enough
! in asserting the inspiration and lnialll-
bility Of the Bible as direct revelation
from God.
Then Dr.. Buckley took the floor. He
advocated more freedom in constituting the
Bible. He pointed out the possibility OF
human error in the setting down OF the
l
translation. There were some even IN
these days. he said, who belieyed In the
verbal infallibiity of the King James YER
sion. But" he added, II do not believe
that there are four men in this room VINO
SO believe. IL there are four such men,
and they are looking for fifth, they need
not count on me.
DR. Shamer was sitting just in front of
DR. Buckley He is So years old, and Las
a fun white beard, but his wit is as nim-
bic as it was half century ago. When
DR. Buckley asserted that he might not
verbal infalliblity of the Bible, DIR. Shat
fer threw up his arms deprecaungly, and
said with a teasing grin: ,..,,..
"Nel, doctor, II you don't believe, we
can 20 without you"
The gathering broke into roar, and DIR.
| Buckley laughed, too.
"iust how many of the brethren here be-
lieve, with Brother Shaffer, that every
is verbally inspired"
DIR. Shaffer was on his feet in moment.
Brother he said, Il did not say that"
Pardon me- brother said DR.. Buckley,
thrsting for revenge upon his venerable
interrupter, but what did you say2"
Il said that we could get along without
you, said Dr. Shaffer, grinning again,
whereupon the brethren were moved anew
to laughter. Dr. Buckley rallied quickly.
you believe, don't you" he said that
the English Bible is in every word the
direct and unaltered inspiration of God?'
Il do not" said DIR. Shaffer. Il believe
that there are words and phrases in the
b1 no a : work
of human minds"
well, then" said Dr. Buckley, waxing
warm, ION the other hand, you believe
that there are words, phrases and clauses
in the Bible that are the direct revelation
and literally the words Of God?"
Perhaps" said DR.. Shaffer, but not
exactly; substantially so, though, sub
stantially so"
And again the brethren were moved to
veteran eVaded DIR. Buckley's effort to pin
him down DR.. Buckley gave up the at
tempt here, and addressed the meeting:
Il would like to know" he said, how
many of the brethren present believe, with
DIR. Shaffer that the Bible is verbally in
spired. l will ask those who do to stand
II object" said DR.. Leonard, jumping
up and appealing to the presiding officer,
DR.. Smith. Il rise to a question of privi-
lege. The brother has no right to call for
such vote. There has been no motion or
| resolution laid before this body. No vote
is in order. / decline TO commit myself
TO permit myself to be committed by
such a vague anu unsatisfactory test"
Il rise to a point OF order, said DIR.
Buckley. Il have the floor, and the ques-
tion is not privileged
The discussion between DR.. Buckley and
DR. Leonard was quick and hot. Both, in
theological parlance, are strong men,"
The meeting was as wrought up the gal
| lery audience at a Bowery melodrama. Dr.
Smith finally ruled that DR.. Leonard $
question was privileged, and the mission
| secretary continued the explanation of his
objection to DR.. Buckley's test question
A man who declined to say that his opin-
ion was the same as DR.. Shaffer's he said
put himself in the position of rejecting the
Bible altogether, which no one present of
could not conscientiously say, he said, that
he exactly agreed with DR.. Shaffer
Dr. Smith decided that DR.. Buckley
might ask for the vote and let the meeting
do as ii pleased in responding.
What men here believe as DR. Shaffer
does?" asked DR.. Buckley They will
| please rise
Dr. Shaffer was the only one who rose
| Dr. Buckley sat down, well satisfied, but
| all the preachers who were present who
could be reached by Sun reporter last
| night agreed in saying that their failure
| to rise in support of DR. Shaffer meant no
/ more than that they did not take exactly
\ his view of the inspiration of the King
| James version. 1t did not at al. mean,
! they said that they deny the infallibiity
! of the Bible as a whole
EASTERN CIRCUIT CASES.