The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-01-31
MEANING OF RELIGION.
Rev. ORB. .. Hiden's Strong Pr"c"
cal Discourse sunday.

Al the Sunday morning services ut.
Wifberspoon and Dr. Hiden eAcnanseu
pulDlts Dr. Hidden preached a sermon OF
nrl,-ral mower from ]. Cor. 1, 3 8, we
nr.sch Christ cruciued.' In part the
Doctor sold.
There are certain forms OF speech
which I'm brief phrase sum mp whole sya-
TENS of thought-pOlitical, philosophical
religious. If two men are DISCUSSING
government and / hear one say, The
best government is that which governs
least If DE is not mouihing, but knows
what he Is talking about. ] know "here
10 place him as a politician. tie is
straieht-out. old-fashioncd, State-rights
Democrat
III TWO men are discussing philosophy.
and hear one of them utter solemnly
.he words. Know myself" he nm
Aerstands himself historically. l know
where To place him. lie is follower OF
an ancient Greek.
And so. when man. In talking about
religion utters reverently the phrase.
Christ crucined."I know that Dee holds
the doctrines OF evangelical religion.
Continuing. the Doctor explained what
kind of "a religion it is "It Is. Dee said.
Cd historical religion II is quite the
fashion 90 speak of Christ as merely "a
moral teacher. Co say that BE- makes
u0 difference whether Christ was born 0t
yirsiu OF OF "a matron. and that IL is
lmmaterM whether the four eyangelists
give fact on legend.
Don't bell-N, them. n We can't trust
the eyuugeiists about what they saw and
related as miracles. then We may not
believe what they heard and representa-
as Christs teachings
THE Gospels are plain histories. The
writer's do not argue. They say nothing
10 make you weep. All is instruction
from beginning to end.
ut does not make any difference what
theory OF inspiration one may have
Sweep away ail inspiration. believe the
Gospels. and our religion stands on solid
rock.
we are not absolutely dependent upon
the eyangeiists Tor our history. The
great historian. Tacitus. tells about the
spread of Christianity which he called
pest Piny also speaks % the sect
and cells how they We're accustomed t0
meet and sing hymns OF praise to Christ
rs God What Will you do with this
testimony 7 once heard professor Of
Greek-recenuy imported-speak contemp-
wously of the slipshCd Greek Of the
New Testament" What Is 10 be done
then with the classic Latin Of Tacitus
and Plnv?
1T is also rational religion. am "a
nationalist won't leave that noble
name tO the iud1ols. 7 can't believe an
unlnteligible proposition. When the inf
del charges me with beliefs what I DO
not understand 7 fatty deny the charge.
But" says he don't YOU believe in me
Trinity Yes, and | understand IL. I
believe that the Father. the Creator OF
the Universe. IS God That Is plain
statement 1 understand IL. Then l be-
lieye that the son. Jesus Christ. Is Cod
again. I believe that the Holy Spirit
the sanctifer and Comforter. is God-an
plain statements | have no difficulty
with the meaning Of any one OF these
propositions.
As to how three persons can .e one
have no belief. | do not understand
anything about IT, therefore have no
belief about g.
But says the skeptic can YOU explain
how Christ cured the blind pan? Ger
tainly no'. and don't believe anything
a bout the how ~ knew how It was done