The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-19


belief
For the benefit OF Mr.. Bryan and others who
seem to have wrong i'm preston OF the funda-
mental principles OF Unitnrianism. I will give
the following. taken from small card. oircu-
lated in Unitarian Sunday schools which
seems to me to sum up the entire Unitarian
belief: The Fatberhood Of God the Brother
hood OF Man; the Leadership Of Jesus: Saliva
tion by Character; the Progress OF Mank ind
onward and upward forever"
NEw YORK. Nov Is. II. NATHAN
Tho Discrepancies OF the Bible.
To THE EDITOR or THE sus-Sir; In THE
Sun OF Oct. 20 "One Who Does Believe" tells
"One Who Wishes to Believe" that the way to
believe Ia ito begin solemnly and honestly to
read the Bible. especially the Gospels" In
giving this advice he was apparently kinder
than the late DIR. A. A. Hodge OF Princeton.
who once declared in my presence that he had
no patience with those who say they would
like to believe II they only could believe.
"Humphl" exclaimed the little doctor. with n
shake OF tho head. I'D help 'em. with knife
in their bread basket" / am inclined to be-
licye that the sword would. In the main, prove
more effcacious rs an aid to faith than all
honest stu iy OF the Bible. Certainly tho latter
method, In my own case. failed utterly.
twice on sunday. and was generally present ut
the Wednesday evening prayer-meeting, for
quite thirty years Of my life. united with
the church on confession OF faith at the age OF
II. l began at sunday school in the infant
class, passed through the classes OF the larger
ROOM and after an interval as librarian. when
l distributed looks OF remarkably even tenn
permanent to helpless children. 1 did duty as a
teacher. / had committed the Shorter Gate
chism to memory at the mature age OF land re-
ceyrd a box OF tin soldiers as my reward. An
additional company OF tin soldiers. remem-
Der, came to me shortly inter upon tho extrac-
ton Of my ilrst back tooth.
After having boon a mem Der OF the church
for more than thirty years. without a doubt
disturbing my mind as to the truth OF my re-
liR.on. in some way. know not how. doubt
came aud grew Urged by dear and never
to- be- iorgotten friend. underworld to regain
my old unquestioning faith by a careful study
Of the Bible. particularly OF ths four Gospels.
To me 1t seemed that the Christian relig on
was founded upon the fall OF man. the need OF
u Kedeomer. the divine parentage Of Jesus. his
death. resurrection and ascension. and II these
could not be proved true. there was nothing
left OF the Bible but It's ethcn! teachings.
Pau confirms this when he says. 1T Christ DO
not risen lhen Is our preaching vain"
Now. OF these cardinal points OF Christianity
the divine par-ntage OF Jesus. his resurrection
and ascension. are. to my mind. quito impro
able by human testimony. The only possible
human evidence OF the parentaae OF a child
must be the declaration ot the mother. and |
am sure hat tho purest woman 1 know could
not retain my faith. however dear she might
De to me. II she claimed that the father OF her
child was spirlt. l hardly think | rou.d bring
myself To believe so startling a fact even II
4 AL ha NJ OHM NOT
could convince.
We're my own wsl-beloysd father. whom |
saw dead years ago. to wax into my room to-
night and lay his nand upou me and speak to
ne. could not bel.eve in the reality OF the
VISION. i would either think the intruder an
!npos;er alter gain or that / myself mad be-
come incapable Of rational thought. that my
train was ar fault. and that did not actually
see, fes or hear that which l thought | saw.
felt anu heart.
Probably since man appeared on this earth
Two hundred thousand millions OF men have
Ueen besot'en. all in the same natural way.
save one. Two hundred tho usand millions have
died and all have rema ned dead to this day.
save one. VI this. l MAINTAIN. only the evi-
..cnce ol Omnlpotence could convince. Tho
testimony OF man woull Ue but idle.
Now. 10 me. ths single question was this.
nas Ohm ipotencs 50 tsstIasdf lhs n-w school
OF tneo.oglans toll us. II / understand them
aTigh!. that there are errors IN the Scriptures.
uut tuat they are VI minor importance and that
he essentials remain mistaken. ls this truei
IL you once acknowledge the existence OF
rontrad lctions AMI errors OF fact in your uivine
witness you attack HIS cretlb.lity anu thereby
prove Him not u be divine. and II He DO not
dlviue YOU have no competent evidence to aus
AIN an Incredible story
Is Therefore the story OF the life and death OF
Jrsus US told in the Gospels and elsewhere IN
lns New Testament the work OF Omniscieucel
Ii II Is. then We must Ind It to De exact
,nerrant AMI accurate. neither contrsd cory
nor Illogical. Examine the witness TO the
resurrection. According to Matthew there we're
Two lniracu,ou, Appearances:
/. aiary Maxdasn ant the other Mary at
Jerusalem.
=. 10 the eleven on q mountain In daIilse,
where some doubted"
According u Mark. there we're no miraculous
appearances al AL the end OF this gospel being
forgery practically Acknowledged by the
revIser. OF the New Testament.
According to Luxe there were two appear
ances:
/. To tho two disc pes waking to Emmaeus.
who do not lor some time recognize hun.
=. 10 the eleven when no alo the brued Ash
gong with them alterwarI TO bethany.
According 70 Jonn there were four appear
ances:
/. To Mary MaRdalen alone. who at nrst took
Him Tor the gardener.
z. To the discIp Us sitting In the room wi tn
closed doors.
8. 10 the disciples again for the bsnent OF
doubling Thomas"
!. by tho sea Of Galilse. when the seven
dsciptos caught tho miraculous draught Of
fishes, and where at hrst none ot them recog-
MOD HIM.
According To Paul. In the Epistle to tho
Corinthians. there were Dix appearances:
l. 10 Peter.
2. 10 the twelve,
8. 10 above i've hundred brethren at once.
l. To James.
3. To ali inc apostles,
u, To Paul himself.
Matthew must have been present at tho
Recond appearances mentioned by Luke. the I'd,
ID ana ith Of John. and the "a. ID and 9th OF
Paul. 10 It poss bic that he could have known
oil those vitality important events und yet
allied to note themI