The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-04-20

1 might suggest correction in the tftls
of your edito ial for it seems to me that
it would be more explicit if you wrote of
a creed in danger instead of the creed. in
danger.
l have no suggestion to make to nv
Presbyterian friends in regard TO a change
in the r creed. That IS their to1ee q and
none of mine, though l am free to say
that it strikes me as being peculiar tn at
such learned men as DR.. Hitiis and Others
should have only discovered recently that
they could not consistently remain IN the
Presbyterian communion. The particular
article TO which they object was not pro-
claimed yesterday. l mEs confe 8 my
surprise that any one should have imag-
ined that any difficulty would have bee
raised in Plymouth Church, o a church
which calmly sat under the spiritual gui
ance of Henry Ward Beecher aui Lynn, n
Abbott must have a wo>ds Hui.yf elias
spiritual digestion
My only concern with your editorial and
the excuse for this letter are found on
your comments on the domestic row
L make no doubt but You represent the
views of a majority of your readers. and
more's the pity; for the practical indif-
ference to all positive rella ious teaching
is one of the worst features of modern
society. Men are no longer shocked when
their preachers deny the p.enary inspira-
ton of Holy Scriptures or the Divinity Of
Christ, because men consid that these
questions are of little moment.
DR.. Parkhurst IS quo ed as advising tina.
attention be rather paid to "the vitnl -
gradients of Jesus Chrisfs message to the
world"
Now, it seems to me that Christ's mess
age to the world is and should be the sub
ject of the creed of the Christian church.
If it is, then this creed can not be a sub
leIf -,E ss,NsF re-.
bound to accept it as coming from
Christ. If Christ has spoken, 1 am not
free to regret His word.
But if the creed does not give Christs
message to the world, then the church
putting forward the creed has no claim
on man, and is Of purely human origin.
There is a proper field for human reason
in finding whether Christ gave a message
10 the world. But. the fact being estab-
lished, is it possible to conceive that a
Christian could be Indifferent to it, or
claim that reason has a right to roget it?
Is a man ever free to do wrong-of
course, l am not talking of physical but
of neral freedom. Men may, aud do err,
in particular cases as to the morality CT
certain specified actions. But the general
axiom stands that no one has right to
do wrong. And this moral rule has a cor
relative proposition in the domain of
faith A man is bound to believe the truth
and is NOT free to regret it. He should
not be Indifferent to it. Truth has a real
existence by itself and apart from Him
who knows it, and apart from any knowl-
edge of it. AS objectiyeta truth would be
as real if it were never known, as it
would be, if all men knewit
If God made a revelation to the world,
this revelation must be true, and no man
can have the right to deny it or be in
different to it, for it depends upon the
veracity of God.
Men may deny the fact of revelation or
question that certain statements form a
part Of such Divine revelation, but can
not comprehend how any man can pro-
claim his utter Indifference thereto. The
vast majority of Christians profess to be-
lieve that such a revelation has been
made by our Lord and Saviour, and the
evidence for such a belief is ample ana
convincing. Now such revelation was
made in order that mem might, through
it, secure salvation. Can sane man be
Indifferent? The evidence for revelation
as a whole as well as for the various ar
tic!es of revelation rests upon the same
foundation. 1t seems to me that 1t is the
great duty of man to satisfy himself
on these points, and his Indifference there
to is an insult to God. Can l not here
suggest one of the practical results of in
difference to Christ's message? AssuredIy
there could scarcely be found any more
eNpuClC statement made by our LORD than
His solemn declara ton that the marriage
tie is severed by death only. Yet, our
civil courts daily grind out divorces, and
Christian ministers ore too busy in inves-
tfgating some abstruse question, such as
antecedent danina ton or the improbable
ity of some Scripture story, to give a
thought 10 this dreadful evil.
If the theory Of indifference to creeds
be correct, then where is the difference
between Buddhism. Mohammedanis
Paganism and Christianity. Is there u
difference before God? Does God care
whe Their we believe what He has said,
reject it, or are Indifferent 90 it?
Many creeds may need revision, but
they should not A creed which is not
true to-day. was fnlse three hundred years
ago. creed which needs revision tells
of purely human origin and never hid
nnd never could have binding force on con-
science; and yet men have been expelled
from various scots, because of opinions
not in conformity with these creeds.
Time was when our friends, outside TIE
camp, held uD the Bible as the sole arbi-
ter, but, in the irony of fate, the ehurch
which was bitterly assaulted as the enero,-
of the Bible is the sole Christian b. =
which stands to-day unequivocally for tn
inenancy of sacred scripture and its di-
vine Inspiration; and outside her pale
ministers are daily assailing the divine
and pen UNDERMINING the faith of the peo-
pie in their authority.
A creed is a necessity. That there are
spurious creeds is an evidence of the ex-
istence of a genuine on. If a creed be
Of divine origin, its acceptance Is a bound
en- duty; its rejection q deadly sin The
proper attitude ,sof iihan IS TO discover
where this credd is. Then. his duty is
plain. 1855.
But is a man honest who having sub
scribed to a creed, gradually passes from
doubt to rejection and continues in the
ministry of the sect which retains it2
Is man honest who no longer believes
in the divine inenanoy of holy scripture
and yet continues preaching from the b.
bic as though he believed it to be an in
spired work? ft
Is a man honest who breaches doctrines
which he knows are not in accord with the
formularies of his church?
once more permit me to correct your
misleading headlines. A creed may be in
danger. The creed certainly is not
Benz. j. Kelley.
Gordon Streets and Jones Streets.
The Gordon Streets and Jones Streets