Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-07-02
DIR. BRIGGS AND BISHOP POTTER,

DR.. BRIGGS AND BISHOP POTTER.
Bishop Potter has stood by his con-
victions in right. honorable anu cour-'
ageous fashion. There is such evidence
of fairness in what he says that 1t COM
mends itself TO every thinking man in
the community. Not only the secular,
but large majority of the religious
people will unhesitatingly take their
places at his side.
His bold declaration that he proceed
ed to the ordination of Dr. Briggs, after
the recommendation of the committee,
of course because he personally thought
it right to do SO. in spite of criticism
which was not merely earnest but bitl0
ter, calls for hearty approval. He was
unwilling to shield himself behind the
cannon, but came out into the open,
ready to take the full responsibility for
his act.
For that matter he turned on his OPP
ponents with dignified indignation, re-
marking in clean cut language which
no one need misunderstood that "the
cutlery against DR.. Briggs" is to be de-
plored because sit betrays such a. la
mentable ignorance of the progress OF
sound learning and judgment of the
best Christian scholars" but met the
same by the assertion that many
Christian scholars" are on the side OF
DR.. Briggs, and that it is too late to
treat their opinions with disrespect and
contempt.
So far as we can discover. after a
careful reading of all that has been said
by the ultra-eonservative element. they
seem to be afraid Of honest investiga-
ton. Do they have the human as well
as the divine in the bible? The scholar
who tries to make the divine more val
liable by eliminating the errors which
have been mingled with it ought not 10
be looked upon as an incendiary, an
enemy of our ancient faith, man with
whom we are to have no relations ex-
cept those of enmty. Real learning,
real research, are not to be discouraged,
and progress must not be lowered to
the level of a crime. Are we to knowl
no more than our fathers did, andy
ought not brains to be used in sacredI
concerns? Is the old to be accepted
because 1t is old. and is he heretlc|
who knows more than his fellows and
would teach them higher and bette<
things? That is surely a dangerou
policy to pursue, destructive of a
knowledge, and will lead to the apoth1l
costs Of ignorance.
The Word Of God does not need TO be |
buttressed by feeble intelects II can hold
It's own against attacks, and the holder the |
attacks the more firmly It stands. You
need not tremble for Its safety. 1t is not
necessary to order props for the Rock 81
Gibraltar. 1t has all the elements OF de-
Tense and seif-protection within itself IL
would be folly for a man TO declare that It
is likely to fail to pieces II you use your
hammer against 81. II hammer can
destroy It, then 1t IS not the Rock Of Glib
raitar
Theworst Of the Bible ulB cnfw pIwypy
The worst friends of the Hibiee class are
those who are afraid Of It. Evidently they
have little faith IN 81. On the contrary,
they are in dread lest II you find out the
exact truth concerning IL e VIII cease to
exercise q benehcent influence over man-
kind. In our minds that Is the rarest kind
Of heresy II indicates lack OF confidence
which is boundless.
Scholarship. honest and bold ard search
ing, never yet did any one HARM on the
other hand, It strengthens the real fasth(
81 the world. II Is blind and unresson5
faith that is Injurious
DR. Briggs il a strong man and a r
scholar. but he cannot destroy a SIM
jot or title OF the truth. II he can ma
the Bible a grander book than Il now
by expunglng the errors which have ers
into Il through the faliaoy % Euz
judgment. II he can reverently sft
false from the true, he simply grind
rough diamond, removing It's imperfs
and leaves Il precious gem beyc
possible price.
The world IL made better by its
arg. and scholars increase the
faith ia divine things. To rebuk
Is folly. TO encourage them Is a
We have nothing 10 fear from kna
and everything to fear from igud
Religion Is quite able TO guard iisel,.
research will make X stronger alway
but never weaker. Say what you vi
thetrllth is eiernaliy the truth. unshakd
and unshakable.-Nsw York Herald.