Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-06-05
AUTHORITY VOW THE NEED.

But with the lapse Of time. the evil
dence as to what the Master taught be-
came less strong II had TO be taken
third or fourth hand, with such spurious
additions as were caused by its pas
sage through different channels, Then
the need Of some other reliable au-
thority was felt. and the church was APP
pealed to as the infalllble Interpreter
Of doctrine and ethics what does the
church teach?" became the test, when
the Master could no more be heard
But with the Reformation, the final
source Of authority was again changed.
The Bible was appealed 10 against the
church. Before this court every opin-
ion was tried. Philosophy, science, and
art were viewed in the alleged light Of
the Bible The world had accepted an
entirely new authority on questions Of
faith and conduct, There was much
comfort I'm this, as long as mon could
receive 1t. but the tyranny exercised In
the name Of the Bible has been as in
tolerant and intolerable as that claimed
by the so-caled church. Protestant
countries are stained with the blood Of
martyrs Just as are those under the Ro-
man purple. The difference Is not great
But according to Rev Newton, a new
era IL breaking The world is looking
for some new authority. greater than
that OF the church, and Of the Bible. He
says:
"Our age sees an era closely parallel
ing the period IN which Christianity
arose and the period In which Protes-
tantism broke from the great Catholic
church. Again mans mind Is teemins
with new. fresh thought, Novel knowl-
edges are streaming In upon him from
every side. The whole horizon OF his
outlook has changed His mind Is yeast
inc with new ideas. The old expert
ence renews itself-a vast growth from
the soul Of man, alike Of good and OF
evil demanding once more an author
lty capable OF Sitting the true from
the false and OF deciding between the
rleht and the wrong. Never was au-
thority more needed than today-pro-
vided II be the right sort OF authority.
never MMN AMADNIlAN NAANAf A' faHNA AAAtAAA
today--so that II be an authority TO
which mans mind and conscience can
cheerfully bow"
Never was authority more needed
than today" Is the outcry Of a good
many honest souls, who are perIshing
in a "Chrlsuan' world that offers
stones for bread and reptiles for fish.
But what will that authority be? The
so-cared churches have failed; unen-
lightened human reason has failed, and
the Bible Is about TO be set aside, by
modern criticism Where, then Is
there any authority In matters OF eter-
nal Importance? The reverend gentle
man quoted, points TO the Divine rea-
son. the Logos. as such authority He
says.
There need be nothing surprising to
the conservative Christian IN thus ac-
cepting Reason as the ultimate court
Of appeal In religion. What Is the
fundamental doctrine OF the Christian
church II Il be not the doctrine Of that
divine Logos, or Reason, immaneht IN
the universe indwening man, the
ught OF his intelligence, his directions,
and his conscience; the light which
ughteth every man that cometh into
the world-the very light OF God Him
self. We are bowling not 20 the human
reason alone but 10 the divine Reason
Of which Il Is the expression. Ana so
we return. In the cycle Of the church s
story. to the primitive authority IN
another and a deeper sense-the au-
thority OF the Master Himself. That
was not the authority Of one man over
against the other men. u was the au-
tioritv of one man speaking from the
common nature Of all men, as an TO-
eether were the sons OF my Father
and your Father, my God and your
God. The authority OF Jesus was not
the authority Of d being sent down from
the skies: II was the authority Of hui
manity itself finding a voice In the
individual man who brought the spirit
nal conscience TO the full. and so be-
came Himself a revelation Of the IN
dwelling Logos, or Reason. Of God
Readers OF the News cannot fail TO
notice the acknowledgment here siven
10 one OF the fundamental doctrines Of
what IS known as "Mormonism" The
proclamation was made by Godthrough
Joseph the Prophet that Christendom
had gone astray. and that there was
no way back 10 light and truth except
through the divine revelations. IL was
stated, through the Prophet. that the
divine authority had been taken away
from the earth but that II was about
TO he restored again II was restored.
God spoke. and conferred authority up
on His servants. For this, they were
imprisoned, mobbed driven, and killed.
Now eminent dlvines and teachers
openly corroborate the testimony Of
the Mormon" Elders Is not this one
OF the signs Of the times?
But II the learned gentleman intends
10 make human reason, however en-
llghtened, the authority IN matters OF
religion. he merely shifts the ground
Of uncertainty and doubt on which the
Bible-worshlppers stand Without the
light OF the Lord mans reason Is a
poor and unstable guide In spiritual
things Is Il not true that as Paul
declared, THE things Of God knoweth
no man but the Spirit Of God" And
again. NO man can say that Jesus Is
the Lord but by the Holy Ghost"
TO settle disputes, 20 decide differ
ences. there must be an acknowledged
final authority II must be vested In
some person or body OF persons form
ing the end OF controversy. No book
can take the place OF that power. Nor
can Il be found in human beings whose
reason may lead them 70 diverse con-