New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-14

all similar controversies, deserves word or
comment Whenever n man like DR.. Briggs
arises In the Church to PROFOUND some view
contrary TO the traditional opinion I'm the
Church the champions OF orthodoxy mt once de-
clare that the truth or falsity Of his teaching
cannot be allowed TO enter into the discussion.
What they say. In substance, IL this "The
views of DR.. So-and-so may be altogether true,
"and the views of the Church, handed down by
tradition. may be altogether wrong; but that is
mot the question at issue. SO long as he re-
"maIns In the Church the only question we VIII
CONSIDER Is Does he accept the Churchs view,
"wbether IL Is true or false? II he cannot ac-
cent the Churchs view the thing for him 70 90
"Is IN get out OF the Church" This In the favor
tie method Of treating all such questions and IL
is always hailed as final and unanswerable by
the unthlnklng within and without the Church.
Like n great many other short and easy
methods of settling intricate questions, how
ever. this procedure is open to serious Ob)ec-
tons For first of all. the Church owes Its pri-
mary allegiance TO truth: and, therefore, for any
ecclesiastical organization TO exalt its traditions
or It's polity above the truth Is act Of treason
apainst the spirit Of Christianity. Traditions
rise flourish and die. Even the theological shell
in which Christianity is enshrlned Is subject to
constant change through the powerful influence
of environment and time. The one thing to
which the Church must always be Obedient Is
the truth aye shall know the truth, and the
truth shall make you free" said Jesus, and He
plainly told the rulers Of the Church Of His day
that they sought to kill Him solely because He
told them the truth. which was contrary 10 their
traditions. How, then can any follower OF
Christ to-day take the ground that the truth OF
n doctrine cannot DE considered without array
ing himself against the whole spirit OF the Mas
tcr's teaching!
Still further: Where, according to this view
OF the matter, Is the ultimate truth Of such
teachings as those OF DR.. Briggs to be passed
upon? We are told TINT the Church is estopped
from any investigation by the assumed fact
that It has condemned such teachings. We are
also told that no member of the Church can
lawfully examine the evidence for such teach
ings. on the ground that the Church has once
for all settled the question for them. or course,
1t il not TO be supposed that the Church VIII nc-
cept the conclusions OF some outside unDeliever.
So that. according TO this theory. there Is no
where on earth any tribunal by which the
Church. whose supreme authority Is the truth,
can revise any OK its traditional views In order
10 bring them into closer harmony with ascer-
tanned truth We must not be understood as
assuming that DR.. Briggs's views OF the Bible
arp true. That Is "a it may be. But we do say
that their truth or falsity Is OF vastly more I'M
portance to the Church than the purely eccle-
siastlcal question whether they are In harmony
with the traditional teaching OF the Church, and
If the Church refuses honestly TO investigate
the questions of truth and fact raised by him
and other great scholars 1t will be false to the
teachings Of It's Founder.