The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-10-22
BROAD CHURCH INFIDELITY |
so "CHURCH OFFENCE" THE NIGH
CHUh'H PAPER, CALLS 1T

Holds De Costa Wrong, Though, in Laying
to tho Church the Errors of Unruly Mem
bers"--why Should Not Any Man Have
Four Wives II tho Bible IL Errant?
The Rev DR. Frank NJ Clcndenin's High Church
periodical tho Church Defence is devoted this
month chiefly TO the cletgy's attitude toward
divorce and the authenticity of the Scriptures
rs the Word Of God and to the attitude OF Bishop
Potter, which 1t practically calls OF rreligion,
as II Is brought to attention by the Rev. DR.. Benia-
min f. De Costa Is renunciaton OF his ministry.
Cnbclicf more popularity known Broad Church
ism, II says seems to have the upper hand in the
diocese OF New York. That fact led TO tho with
drawal Of Dr. Dc Costa. it notes with regret and
to the Broad Church party the paper also ascribes
the growing divorce evil
The charge in the report of a committee 10 the
recent Convention that the fashionable class are
the leaders In corTupting the morals Of the com
mun!ty the paper denies and lays the blame upon
the clergy who have gone astray. Nospecial bias
for the leisure class IL asserts leads 1t to their
defence, but to the question who are the leaders
in that melancholy work it answers, without
the slightest doubt or hesitation, a certain part
Of the clerical class"
why should not any man have four wives y
II asks. III he wishes or deseCrate the Lord Bay
utterly # feels So incinrd, Because 1t il against
the tea hings OF the Biblc. But certain clerical
class has iillcd The world with the teaching that
the old Bbc viii, h the Church in all ages hhS
read in her services. Is not the true Bible.
The Bible as We have 1t. say these men. is partly
rubbish partly myth. partly fable, partly ira.
Bible AS for the auIhor y Of the Church We are
irankly told that not even the canon Is TO be de.
icrmined by the consensus Of the Church, II
Bible and Church are 10th alike TO be doubted
what sta ndardS of fri Ii and morals left? None
whatever wor h their weight in air.
why, II such teachings are true. should the m an
sunday NhhteNer
be his sins or shortcomings. he is man in most
all cases Of good intelligence, of outward rcspecta
hilty and OF inward honor Now, why should
such man go Join in the services saturated with
ihc Bible as i, nov Is that Is, an untrue BIZ
to modern teaching, there is the gravest doubts.
| and have pronounced as the very words Of Al,
mighty GOD words with some later criticism
| What respect can the fashionable class, OF
any other class have for the honor OF priest and
| his religion who continues to say words VIII. oh
! that priest believes are untrue and to administer
| SacramentS with words which have been or may
yet be proyen unreal WnS' is the earthly nSr
| standards regarding divorce, Sunday and othel
questions when is not yet certain that the Bible
our Lord AMI His Church have ever said anything
upon these subjects
| The paper saws Of Dr. De Costa that he he'
'""d - br%vSy for many Xxx {ears against 'h h.
I regretted that he has allowed the enemy 10 dis
rourare him" tbs i saws IL not the time t.
/ who believe in the Inca rnaton and in the fac
that the Bible is the word of God to stand fast II
/ that faith, and earnestly to contend for il to tn,
| last
! The Church Defence saws that DR.. De COST
failed a. discriminate between the church ant
som" 81 It's NOISY ard the unruly members, som'
| ~ whom lave 'dcparted from the Church'S stand
! ard and are running things with high hanc
n few diuccscs." They will I've swept ava,
like the enemies Of God in every age, but th'
/ Church and the Bible will remain"
| That ~ not the only rap at Bishop Potter by
the ChUrch De'sucr IN an another article dealing
, with ljr. De Costa = letter 10 Bishop Potter tn,
paper saws IN so far as his letter arragns will
| nCortrovertjble business the Bishop Of New Nor'
are the Broad Church party which fouriShe'
| under the bishops practical protection II no
| open patronage-thus far We are forced 10 GiN'
| a sprrowfll assent 10 the terrible arraignmen
| which they have earned and for which they have
themselves alone 10 blame But DR.. De Costa
, probably overweight hy the Nrhemcrcr Of hi
grief at the apparent triumph Of unhe lief, lose
| heart altogether and uphraids his holy mother
| the Church, for the msdrcds OF some OF her faith
! less children The fact cannot be emphasized
| too strongly that the Church and the majority
Of the Bench Of Bishops are perfectly sound il
the faith and that error exists only In the teach
! ings Of rrbellous children. for whose mlsdeed
| the Church cannot be held responsible. and tn
bishops cannot be blamed unless, indeed, L,
! holding their peace they permit error to foursl
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