The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-07-16
As IQSIN READS /
Bible Is Not the Puzzle Some
Folks Make it
GREAT RUSSIAN THINKER
Tells What He Believes and
How He Believes 1t.
GREAT RUSSIAN THINKER

New oYrk, July 1.-THE Journal pub
fishes the following: Count Leo Tolstoi
has written his idea of how mankind
should read the Bible. In Russia the peo-
pie are forbidden to read his article, and
If the officials cap obtai copy OF 1t that
copy is promptly destroyed. Neverthe-
less, Just as forbidden news circulates,
photographed copies of TolstoPs words
are circulated from one to another Of the
people, So it is that his ideas as to the
proper Interpretation OF the scriptures are
becoming better known in Russia every
day, in spite of all that the secret police
and other officials Of the car can do.
Man does not understand the Bible. 1t
seems improbable, unintelligible. and even
contradictory. Therefore when the ma
jority of persons read the word of oGd,
what processes to be Chr1st's teaching,
they read it mechanically, for they do
Eot know the meaning of the words as
they are given. The reason that they are
ignorant Of the truth the scriptures con-
vey IS because they do not know how
to understand 1t.
ing of the gospel than another, but with
the knowledge that he gains he fails to
advance sufficiently to secure a connected
practical Interpretation which will be OF
value as a means of reaching the under
standing that is necessary to the proper
comprehension of the word of God.
Another fact is that very many people
who possess this limited understanding
have absolutely different ideas as to the
Interpretation Of the scriptures. Some say
redemption is the all-important matter.
Others say the all-fmportant thing is
grace, obtainable through the sarcaments.
Others. again, say that submission to the
church is what is really essential. But
the churches themselves disagree and in
terpfet the teachings variously.
The Roman Catholic church holds that
the Holy Ghost proceeds from the Father
to the Son; that the pope is infallihle,
and that salvation is obtained chiefly by
works. The Lutheran church does not
agree with this view, but holds that faith
Is the chief necessity for securing saliva
ton. Then the Anglican and the Episco-
pail the Presbyterian and the Methodist,
and all the other sects which throng the
world, interpret the teachings Of Christ
in their own way. Each believes his own
way is best. Thus we have a Tower of
Babel in the matter of the Interpretation
Of the scriptures.
Young men and older men of the world,
doubling the truths which the church
they have attended has taught them. have
~
of the Bible; how interpreted It. There
Is nothing to me more shocking than this,
because 1t indicates weakness of the
foundations Of Christianity, a doubt like
a thunder cloud marring the purity Of the
clear sky of peace
Christ-who the churches say was God
came to earth to reveal divine truth to
men for their guidance in life. A man,
even a plain, stupid man. who really
wishes to benefit mankind with knowledge
that will serve as guide in these great
matters of religion. will so manage that
his meaning will be expressed in simple
and incisive terms, and even the lesser
minds that go to make up the grand
total of mankinds intellect will compre-
bend.
This suggests the query, '1s It possible
that God, having come on earth especially
TO save mankind. was not able to say
that which He wished to say with suffi-
Client clearness to prevent those who
heard Him from misinterpreting His
words variously, and afterward disagree
ing about them?" Impossible. 1t ciuld
not be so II Christ was God, nor would
It be possible even though Christ was
not God, but simply a great teacher that
he should fail to express himself clearly.
For a great teacher IS great by the very
reason that he Is able TO express the
truth in such fashion that It can neither
be hidden nor obscured, but become as
plain as daylight.
In either case, therefore. the gospel
which permits Christ's teachings, must
contain truth, and indeed the truth Is
there for all who will read the gospels
with a sincere desire to know that truth
without prejudice, and, above all, without
supposing that the gospels contain some
special sort OF wisdom beyond human rea-
son.
That Is how I read the gospels: and
found in them truth plain enough for little
children to understand, as. indeed. Is said
in the gospels. So that when am asked
what my teaching consists in, and how
understand Christ's teaching. I reply:
have no teaching. but I understand
Christ's teaching as 1t Is explained in the
gospels. II 1 have written books about
Christ's teachings, have dine so only
to show the falsehess of the interpreta-
tions given BY the commentators on the
gospes.
To understand any book ore must
choose out the parts that are quite clear,
dividing them from what IS obscure or
confused. And from what Is clear We
must form our idea OF the drift and spirit
o. the whole work. Then. on the basis
o: what we have understood, We may pro- !
coed 10 make out what was confused or