The evening times., 1899-04-18
EVANGELIST NONHALL
CAUSES 4 SENSATION
Makes Startling Charges at q
Meeting of MethodiSts.
Insists That Certain Teachings In
Schools Provoke Infidelity.
Cites Cases Where Young Men Have
Wandered From the Faith Trough
..HiEher Criticism"

CteS Cases Where Young Men HAVE
Wandered From the Faith Trough
s.HiKher Criticism"
New York, April 1s.-"Higher criticism
Was bitterly attacked by the Rev. DIR. l.
W. Munhai1, an evangelist from Phiiadel-
i.hia, at the Methodist ministers meeting
at No. $50 Fifth Avenue, yesterday. He
declared the church's enemy was now in
her pulpits; he asserted that in two of the
theological schools Old Testament profess
scrs were giving the students ali the OBJ
jections to the Bibles authenticity, with
out attempting to answer the objections,
made infdels By attending Methodist edu-
cational institutions.
Although vote Of thanks was accord
ell TO DIR. Munhall for his address. 1t was
not until after sharp criticism had been
r,ade. DIR. John Rey Thompson of Brook
lyn, characterized the address as "the most
dangerous paper heard here in long
time" and thanked God the prevailing
type of Methodism was not that OF DIR.
Munhall. DIR. Buckley declared some Of
the bishops were getting too intimate with
wealthy men VINO endow colleges.
Dr. w. +. Anderson declared DR.. Mum
hall guilty of heresy n putting the text
Of the Bible higher than the living Christ.
and DIR. George p. Mains said:
Nc such vague charges az have been
made here against an institution near New
York ought to be made. They should eith-
er be withdrawn or else made specific and
followed by an official investigation
DR.. l.. W. Munhall's theme was THE
Integrity and Authority of the Bible"
Dr. Munhali conceded that many of those
who teach higher criticism" are entirely
lOnest, but he yehemently attacked their
teachings nevertheless.
No sensible person. he said. will OBJ
ject to any devout and honest effort to as
certain the dates and determine the au-
thorship-humanly speaking-of the yari-
Gus books composing the Bible, and the ex-
act text of the sacred writings, but we in
sist that the examinations and criticisms
shall be made by competent persons. and
that. before We will abandon the views and
faith held by the historic church for e:gh-
teen centuries. We must have, not eon3ec-
lures, presuppostions and bold, unprovable
assumptions, but demOnstrabie facts
Nearly every objection raised against
the integrity of the Bible by the present
day higher critics can be found in volume
VI. Didot edition of Voltaire's works. and
Paine's Age of Reason See chapter six
teen. Highest Critics VS.. Higher Critics.
The plan Of the battle has changed The en-
eny used to he outside the breastworks; he is
now inside-in our own pulpits in educa-
tinna institutions. and editorial chairs; but it is
the same battle, and the weapons used against
the Book the very same the infdels have al
WAYS used.
Higher criticism" DIR. Munhall said,
has failed to reveal single inaccuracy in
the Bible. There are still many difficulties
in explaining the text, but many such
difficulties have been cleared up in the last
ten years, and the others may be- The
speaker declared 1t TO be impossible to
preach an infallibIe Saviour from an un-
authoritative Bible. He related this in
stance:
1T is said some one asked Mr.. Ingersoll
recently. why do you not give your lee
ture against the Bible any more? He re-
piled. The professors and teachers are do
ing that work so much better than / possi-
bly, can, and their influence is SO much
greater.
Il do know he continued, That in
two of our theological schools the Old
Testament professors are giving their stu
dents all the objections against the in
tegrity of the record. and making no at
tempt whatever TO answer these objections.
and these students are going out to fill our
pulpits with little or no knowledge OF the
Bible, their minds filled with objections
to the Book the Church commissions them
to preach. Can anyone reasonably expect
spiritual results from the ministry OF such
men?
Il know of one Of these young men. who.
within four years of his graduation. left
the Methodist Episcopal Church, became
= II mol nh.,rn
pastor of a Unitarian church, and then a
blatant infidel. all in the same town.
"A wealthy member of our church, q
delegate to the last General Conference,
told me: 4 sent my eldest son to a Meth
Ddist educational institution not three hun
ired miles from New York city. Before he
left home he was considered by all who
knew him TO be model Christian young
man. While at school he came undsr the
influence of certain professor who Is a
higher critic. He came home an infidei.
and has not once been inside a church
since
What moral right has any institution
If our church to employ and support such
men in its faculty? For any one of them
low TO employ teacher who will promul-
gate iniidel and rationalistic objections to
he Bible is gross betrayal Of one of the
most sacred trusts OF the church.
There is an appalling unspiritual condi-
ion in Methodism. There is no use trying
o disguise it. The doctrine OF sanctiied
ife is in contempt among US. Worldliness
S alarmingly on the increase. Bishop Fos-
er has said: The Church Of God is today
ourting the world Bishop Fowler says:
The church has degenerated into a kind
# social club
Dr. Munhall said that the effect of the |
rev. DIR. S. p. Cadman's teaching was to |
cad straight to Unitarianism and when
lie had finished, DIR. Cadman said vehe- |
nently:
II have been misrepresented by the yell
Ow journals. but claim to be Just as 10y
i to Jesus Christ as any man here.
on't go about the country telling my
rethren that the Methodist ministers are
eserting the faith: but DIR. Buckley told |
ne to keep cool, and will sit down.
I'VE do need revival DR.. Buckley |
aid. We need ground swell that will |
hange the spirit of some of our bishops.
" late years some Of the bishops have |
een too intimately associated with men
{ wealth who endow the colleges"
This sentiment was applauded, and then
he Rev. DIR. John Rhey Thompson, of |
brooklyn. said:
Long before l ever heard of the higher /
riticism 1 became convinced, from read
ng the book Of Isaiah, that it had two
uthors. II that is heresy. prepare your
harges. think the paper read today Is
he most dangerous paper heard here in a /
ong time. l thank God the present and |
REVEALING type Of Methodism is not that |
DIR. Munhali. Heretofore Methodism mas
TODD for fresh air. do not believe the
iethodist colleges are as described"
More Gold Mt Cook InIet.
Seattle, Wash. April 18.-According to
rivals from Cook Inlet. the winters