The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-05-09
Is Ii HeresN.

A remarkable religious controversy y
on at New Orleans It portends a con-
siderable shaking up in orthodox church
circles: Indeed. it involves the question,
what is orthodoxy? For the clergyman
who has stirred up the ecclesiastical hor-
nets nest is the Episcopal bishop of Louis
lana, and he is accused not only Of heter-
! odoxy. but of pantheism.
On April q Bishop David Sessums
preached the Lenten sermon in Trinity
church. New Orleans. Reports of the SER
mon appeared in the newspapers the fol*'
lowing morning. According to these re-
ports, the correctness of which has not
been denied, the bishop preached what
other ministers declare to be a new rehg-
ion, "a compound of the old heresies
which have afflicted the church of God
in past ages" The sermon, 1t is said,
ignored the doctrines of Christianity and
the Bible, and substituted for them
broad humanita rianlsm, recognizing the
universe as God, and the final pardon of
all sinners whether repentant or not"
This sermon attracted Immediately the
attention of the other ministers in New
Orleans, and the bishop was asked by
them, in a note, to affirm or deny the
correctness of the newspaper reports. He
paid no attention to the request. Follow
ing this formal protest was drawn up
and signed by forty-three clergymen-
practically the entire protestant clergy of
the city, with the exception of the Episco-
Notwithstanding the bishops het-
erodoxy. The protest is signed
-.rst of all by the venerable
and beloved DR.. B. M. Palmer, probably
the most noted Presbyterian preacher in
the south, whose name is followed by
those of clergymen of the Methodist, Bap-
list, Presbyterian and Lutheran denomi-
nations The protest is as follows:
1--WE unite in public protest against the
exposition of Christianity given by Bishop
Sessums, as published in the press. 1t is,
in our judgment. complete surrender Of
the whole system of grace revealed in the
Holy Scriptures. So far from being, as
he claims, the old religion in the new
language it is another religion. 1t is a
compend of the old heresies which have
afflicted the Church of God in ages past
The old religion Is swept out of the
Scriptures so completely that not trace
is left of that grace of God which brlngeth
salvation This will appear from the fol-
lowing specifications of its numerous err
rors:
1. Its undisguised pantheism in deny
ing the personality of the divine being
reduces him to mere fetch.
g. The explicit denial of the fall of
man from state of primitive holiness,
with the derivation of corrupt nature
consequent thereupon
g. In the express denial that Christ
hath redeemed us by His Blood being
not sacrhcial Offering for sin, but con
sisting merely in the influence Of a good
example retaining man from the error
of his ways.
a. In the open disavowal of belief in
any judicial process against the sinner,
and the absolute denial of the future pun
ishment of the wicked in the world to
come.
- s. In the assertion of the final restora-
ton of all men to the favor of God in a
state of probation after death.
s. The signing of religion into mere
humanitarianism, bounded only by the
second table of the law. and in which God
has no rights, through the practical abol-
ton of the first table.
T. The significant omission, in a
scheme processing to define the Gospel of
Christ, of the necessity of faith in the Re
deemer and of repentance for sin, of love
to God or any of the graces of the Holy
Spirit
We purposely omit the mention Of
others clearly implied in the language of
the bishop, confining ourselves to those
which are explicitly avowed and which
spring of necessity from the seed plot of
pantheism.' "
The antagonlsm to the bishops views
among the Episcopal people is led by Rev
Mr.. Waters. rector of st. Paurs church,
who has protested in both his pulpit and
the newspapers The majority of the
Episcopal clergy, however, are not dis
posed to take any action whatever in the
premises. holding that there is a certain
latitude of belief allowed on matters not
fundamental to religion. 1t cannot be pre-
dicted what the outcome of the matter
will be. 1t seems that the clergymen
who signed the protest have gone as far
as they can go, since they have no voice
in the government of the Episcopal
church. Whether the Episcopal church
will take any steps remains to be seen.
Bishop Sessums is a young man; the
youngest ever elected to the bishoprlc of
Louisiana. He is said to be a brilliant
speaker, and very broad in his views, re-
jecting the doctrine of hell and eternal
punishment. and other odd beliefs"