The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-08
BIBLE ERRS
Says Rev. Parker Cadman to
the Preachers
OF the New York Conference
Who Applaud.
SOMEPORTIONS OF THE
Scripture Are Inaccurate Says
Mr.. Cadman.
OFTHE
Infallibility of the Bible In
credible, He Declares.

New York, March S.-'That the IN
herency and the infallibility of the Bible
are no longer possible Of belief among
reasoning men,"
This proposition, the acceptance of
which, the Journal says, would tear
away the fundamental pillar of Metho-
dist theology, was urged in all force,
sincerity and enthusiasm today by the
Rev. G. Parker Cadman, pastor OF the
Metropolitan Temple, before the reg
uIar weekly meeting OF the Methodist
ministers of New York.
Four hundred of the leading preachers
of New York and vicinity, including
Bishop Andrews, were present when MI.
Claimants paper was read. He was APP
plauded when he rose to read it and
applauded again when he had got
through.
Mr.. Cadmans paper was one OF
series upon Bible criticism. A paper
taking practically the same ground was
read before the ministers on the MONDAY
before last; another paper on the SUD
ject will be read next Monday
This bold, pretentouS utterance. IN
volyinsr the most radical departure from
accepted tenets of the Methodist church
since it's very foundation, was MADE De-
fore the most representative pody Oh
Methodist clergy in America. II IN
Guided the vast majority OF the predch-
ers of Greater New York.
AS Mr. Cadman himself said today,
the Bible was accepted as the true
source of authority and inspiration by
Martin Luther when he established the
Protestant church. Luther made the
Scriptures the basis of all faith. we
now propose to abandon the strict IN
depreciation of the early fathers OF the
Protestant church.
The speaker referred to the Old Tesla
ment, half of whose pages, he sa1d,Were
of unknown authorship. The New
Testament likewise contained contradic-
tions The Bible, the church, the minis
try, ne said, were agencies. Inc true
source of inspiration was neither book
a church nor g, ministry, but the Nv
ing Christ himself.
The weekly meetings of the Methodist
ministers take place in the Methodist
Book Concern in Fifth avenue. They
are held in secret. The congregations
have not known concerning the discus
sion of this vital change in doctrine.
This publication will be the first intima-
ton they will have had that the faith
in which they have been reared Is
threatened with an organic change that
would make it no longer the faith OF
Wesley.
1t also goes without saying that the
enunciation of this proposition will not
tend to heal the differences between the
Methodist Church North and the Metho-
dist Church South, which were rent
apart by the civil war, for the Southern
church has rejected time and time again
kindred innovations.
-
But Mr.. Cadman insists that, what
ever the church may decided on the
question in the future, it will not des-
troy the belief in the chief and final
source of Christian inspiration, a be-
lief in Christ, the Son of God.
In taking up his subject the preacher
stated the proposition which he would
prove:
That the inherency and the infallibil-
ity of the Bible are no longer possible
of belief among reasoning men,"
The speaker referred to the great
change which had taken place in the
methods of Bible criticism within the
last so years. There should no longer
be any confusion between literary criti-
cism and the criticism of inspiration. 1t
had been said in former times by au-
thorities of weight that the two
criticisms conflicted. This was not true.
They were not on the same plane. In
spiration appealed to the spiritual ear;
literary criticism was addressed to an
ascertainment of facts from a human
meaning by stating that it was one
thing to examine, classify and discuss
the mechanism of a great organ, and
another to pass judgment upon the
music which proceeded from it. No
literary criticism could affect the divine
music breathed into the soul of man by
the life of Jesus Christ.
The Bible, he said, was compiled much
as in any other book. 1t was written
from the records and witnesses of the
time It had been impossible to de-
termlne the authorship of much of the
Old Testament. Half of its pages, said
Mr. Cadman, were of unknown author
ship. The same was in measure true
of the New Testament. Matthew Mark
Luke and John differed in quoting
words said to have been pronounced by
Christ upon a given occasion. Parallel
passages were not alike.
Mr.. Cadman referred to that much
discussed question of Christ's reference
to the miracle of Jonah and the whale
Those who have taken the Old Tesla
ment in it's entirety, believing all and
every part of it, have based their the
ology in part upon Christ'S reference to
Jonah, in Matthew xii, and 40:
JONAH AND THE WHALE
But he answered and said unto
them: An evil and adulterous genera
ton seeketh after sign, and there shall