New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-29
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAILS.
SPREADING DOUBT"
A MINISTER'S PLEA FOR HONEST TREATMENT
or. az.z.aa.a... 90 Ic1oI.s AIru.


MINISTER'S PLEA FOR HONEST TREATMENT
OF QUESTIONS OF RELIGIOUS FAITH
To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: In to-day's Tribune a physician re'uAes
ministers for spreading doubt by means OF .neir
pulpit dscourses. and argues that they shouid re-
serve doubtful dsputations' for their own pro,
fessional circles In so far as they are u'
against an unwise and needless discussion iio'''
the pulpit OF speculative difficulties the present
writer is in hearty agreement with the doctor
structures. To build up faith and advance CUNT
dence In the sure word OF prophecy. ana thus 70
conserve the comforts Of the Christian iai,h
against the dying hour-this should be the s'e"u
fast aim OF the preacher of the Gospel
But IT is a mistake to argue either from MS own
walk in life or from corresponding occupd..o"s'
that the minister must never state uo"D' "
raise a question outside of his own ''proiessiona'
,ircle" case in point furnished by pnys,r 49,
In New-York will illustrate what Is meant
physician is now furnishing for health mas o"."'
a series of articles TO show that the mooeIn :,
ton for appendicitis is "a lamentable misio, I'M
He states that the disease is so exceedingly laie
that in fifty years surgical practice ne mas ~
with but two cases. He says:
The reader may ask why have not exposed the rhe
OF the operation in medical Jouphbb, History OF
is true although aes saG p n9o that every
Improvement has come mostly from tne ,psed 70 be
beS She ~ stated h 1st G6s
enough vesterday TO keep her well. and tnat sne
had none too much now TO assist IN ner ia dro1
Blood letting wiped out OF medcal PIac' "a =
the people. For this and similar reason, ,ar bv
better assist in stopping this feariui oPeia -
writing for health Journals
Thus reforms are promoted and progress secu, ~
in the medical profession by the appeal OF tnousn,.
full physicians from their own professional circ'e
TO the laity Precisely the same thing Is true u
the clergy. :.
That religious faith which confines discussio" ~
select circle and outside OF this husness up ma ~,
oulry NAV minister a traditional consolatlon' anu
may continue to do for surprisingly long rae;
But in the lack of sufficient robustness 70 " az
openly and fairly all reasonable inquiry sooea VI
later II will be recognized as decanent hn shakes
We find no fault with the physician VINO s.td
our faith In current medical beiiefs OF truer
provided he is offering US belers tnau ar - ~
and practices which better 1t Is Hkewse Al
tional belief in order that the true belet may oe
the better established He is not the oeaI ~ a.
nent OF divine truth who runs 10 sheter .rs,He
riualistic or dogmatic because OF the ha idss
ness Of modern inquiry. and he is not tne iue e.
nearer who forgetting the maxim a1 tran1o,
verItas ct pravaebit." is in continual u n bs
lest the truth of God may suner damage - ~
The Old way was 10 avoid Inquiries OF an EN-
barrassing nature in matters OF peneI OF ~ ~
nress them; 10 this system is 10 pc cuai go ~
ist although they have no tolerated OF sreI and
existence The new way is to face squarey amo
discuss directly all questions that may arlse' &
ever Troublesome affecting religious penei n q,
due propriety is observed as to mode or time time 9,
place or the limits OF thought. hNen, ,ieen ~
NAV occasionally involve too free eHpio'a'o" "
doubt Is not the latter the peter wa? Tho on,n
Whatever significance there may be IN me oPI y,
ions herein expressed will better be undeIsroou
reason of the fact that they are the ,WWg gTr
Orange n j., April "a, 1899. MlNlSlHH'