Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-03-29
ABAypoNs pREsnyrERraNIsM.

The Presbyserians have fair chance
Of losing another OF their most promin-
emit clergymen DR.. Newell Wright
Hills. last Sunday, In the famous Ply
mouth church, Brooklyn. proclaimed
his disbelief In the calvinlstic doc
trlnes Of that denomination. And he
did so, In no uncertain terms. Neither
did he spare emphasis or oratory, when
he declared: Il would rather shake
my fst In the face OF the Eternal and
fling every vile epithet toward the
stainless throne, where eternal mercy
sits with the worlds atonIng Savior,
than LIT my hand with that creed to-
ward Gods throne and affirm that !
taught or believed H."
lie quoted particularly the part OF
the Presbyterian creed according to
which certain human beings are fore
ordained TO everlasting death, being
particularly and unchangeably de-
signed. and their number Is so certain
and definite that It cannot be either In
creased or diminished" and then add
ed the comment that Il would seem
man would rather be burned at the
stake than charge such infinite cruelty
upon the ALLOWING God. For a man.
he said. "who does believe that hldeous
doctrine the hour OF judgment has al
ready come"
As is natural this bold attack on the
PRESBYTERIAN creed by the eloquent
preacher has created CONSERVATION In
clerical circles. II Is regarded as his
first step out OF that church. A clergy
man may possibly remain In his posi-
ton without believing in every word Of
an antlquated creed, but DR.. Hills
throws down the gauntlet to the funda-
mental principles OF Presbyterlanlsm,
and It is supposed he has done so for
the purpose Of making public the rea-
son for his withdrawal.
BY such episodes the Presby-
terrain denomination Is placed In
rattle. peculiar light. II Is under
the necessity Of either toleratng in the
pulpit the opponents OF doctrines con-
trary to their creed. or else to stigma
tie as 'heresy" dogma held by mill
lions Of christians" as sincere and
enlightened as they are themselves
Either horn Of this dilemma must be
an instrument Of torture. and II
should create no wonder II the Presby-
terians arise and demand a revision Of
their creed.
In the case OF DR.. Hills II is posi-
BILE that the authorities Of his church
will think Il the best policy to leave
him alone. He belongs, we believe, TO
the Presbytery OF Chicago, but It can
be maintained that as he is now a pas
tor Of a congregational church. he Is
virtually no longer responsible to the
presbytery, And on that ground HIS
superiors can find justification for non
interference, and thus avoid the scan
dal Of ''heresy' trial.
But the general public should note the
trend Of ecclesiastical events. II is
particularly noteworthy that the lead
ers and holders Of religious thought
abandon the old oreeds, They have
tested them and found them useless for
the problems that now confront the
world. our age is extremely practical.
II demands an application Of religion
TO all social and business AFFAIRS It de-
mands an arrangement whereby the
worth Of human being is recognized,
no matter whether he is rich or poor.
But what can old creeds, dealing with
prcdestinatlon and eternal hell fire do
towards the adjustment Of human daily
affairs2 No wonder that the old is CIV
ing way for that which is new, and yet
as old as truth, justice and eternity It.
self.