The San Francisco call., 1899-06-21
REJECTS TENETS
OF CHRISTIANITY
Changed Belief of Burt
Estes Howard.
RELIGIOUS WOtLD STARTLED
LOS ANGELES PASTOR ADOPTS
NEW CREED.
Renounces the Theory That the Bible
Was Inspired aud Doubts the
Resurrection of the
Christ.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

LOS ANGELES, June 20.-Rev. Burt
Estes Howard who came to Los Angeles
seven years ago. after brilliant and
successful career in the pulpit OF the
First Presbyterian Church in Cleveland
Ohio, resigned the pastorate Of the First
Presbyterian Church of TINS city last
sunday 1t has been no secret that Rev
Mr.. Towards faith has gradually been
undergoing a change but when to-day he
rejected the theory of the inspiration of
the Scriptures, religious circles were
shaken from center TO circumference.
While Rev Mr Howard was always
permitted to express his sentiments with
out reserve. this freedom in April of last
year caused a schism in the church, I'M
pelling 300 members to follow him into a
Church of the Covenant. Mr.. Howard
will leave for the East tomorrow. Said
he to-day:
DO / believe in the inspiration of the
Bible. in the resurrection of Jesus and in
the virginity of Mary? No, | cannot say
that | do. My ideas have changed regard,
ing nearly all of the geneFally aceepIett ;ot
changed suddenly. but in the slow course
of the last half dozen years. Simple talth
i'm the Scriptures has given way 10 an IT.
resiStihle belief in what is called higher
criticism in religious thought. | believe
that Christ was born of woman, like the
rest Of us.
sentiar The necessity of believing them
is not apparent to me. | know there are
manv honest preachers who think they be-
lItVe these dOgmaS.
The old Testament is largely an his
torical work There can be no question as
TO the Bibles power for eleNatlng ana up
lifting humanity. But one does not have
necessarily 10 believe in the miracles 70
feel and profit by this power. My whole
aim in preaching has been to stimulate ny
people To the truest practical life. The
good life is not necessarily the religious
NY sentiment As to theology mas
changed and it seems 20 me that the time
has come for me to take up some wider
line OF work man IN seGIarlai p5lPiI ,
is always more or .ess clrcumScrlbed by
the limitations Of MS creed. No matter
what pulpit-radtcal or hberal-he occu-
pies the simple fact that he is minister
renders it impossible for him to speak
with the authority on public questions
that iS conceded professional and public
men in other walks Of life"
can YOU state. Mr.. Howard. in what
particular respects our theological Ideas
have changed?' he was asked.
"Oh. the list would be too long said
he Nearly all my ideas regarding re-
ligious tenets have changed. 1t is the
life that counts. not the belief one holds
Mr.. Howard will go TO Buffalo. where
during the session of the National Scotia
and Political convention. June Is to July
4 he will discuss the question On ~Do N4n Me
Howard will go to Boston and Cam
bridge Mass In the university town he
will spend the coming collegiate year m
the study of civics. In September t9Jo
he will begin a profesSOrship at Stant lrd
T-niversitv where he viii lecture on "Ehe
Principles and Practices of Democracy
and "Ethical Problems of the Consclen-
tious Voter" No other university in the
world. so far as known. has anything sim
liar 10 the chair that Mr.. Howard will
occupy.