The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-02-19
Another .sHieher Critic

last year The Constitution felt
called upon 10 protest against con-
dition of affairs which made 1t possible
for men posing as teachers and in
structors and protesting 10 be Chris
tian ministers 10 give aid and support
20 the infidel teachings of the hour
We protested against the fact that Dir.
Briggs, who declares that the Bible
IS made up in part OF legends. myths,
fairy tales and fiction, should be able
10 find a snug and comfortable place
in the Episcopal church. after being
shown the door by the Presbyteri-
ans
The Constitution is not a religious
newspaper. and takes no part IN the
controversies and discussions that are
constantly going on between The va
rious denominations OF Christians.
but when the Bible is assailed by the
very men who pretend TO make 1t the
ground and basis Of their faith We
think that il is time for the secular
press 70 utter note OF warning and
% enter a protest against a NANTES
tation 50 demoralizing, so discour-
aging and so dangerous.
But Or. Briggs and his doctrines con-
tinue 70 flourish. and IL 81 said that
his book. in which, by means OF the
higher criticism" he disposes Of a
large part OF the Bible, has a large
circulation and wide popularity. That
his influence is spreading-that the
pestilence OF doubt and infidelity has
become cOntagious-is shown by
brief dispatch from Boston which we
publish today.
II seems that the students OF the
Boston University School Of Technol-
ogy have been compelled to protest
against the teachings OF Professor
HinCkley w. Mitchell in regard TO the
doctrines OF Methodism. The dispatch
states that these students are "disaf-
fected." and when we read a little
further on an explanation Of the doc
trine taught by Professor Mitchell. we
ore surprised that the students are not
worse ID isamected" than they are. The
professor declares that a belief IN the
deity OF Christ is not necessary 20 sal
walton. and he says that he IS support
cd in this by John Wesley. But what
are We TO believe shout the Savior IL
He was not divine2 We never heard
before that John Wesley invented q
new religion. but that he resented the
cold Journalism OF the established
church and provided 4 method of wor-
ship better calculated Gas he thought)
10 attract the attention and devotion
OF the people.
In addition Professor Mitchell says
he shall have TO plead guilty TO the
charge of believing that some OF the
stories in the first chapters OF Genesis
are more or less legendary. Here you
see the opening flowers OF Briggsism.
In the presence OF the higher criti-
cism." which is only another name for
( hypothesis. faith must stink off into
the bushes and live on roots and barxs.
But when so many teachers and pro-
fessOrs and preachers ambitious to be
recognized as scholars" are deceived
as TO the utility of the higher criti-
cism"-when so many men who have
access to the controversy between
German infidels and skeptics on one
side and churchmen on the other.
which has resulted in this higher crit
icism-who can measure the irrepara-
bic damage which DR.. Briggs and his
ambitious followers will work upon
the great body of churchmen by their
efforts to destroy the faith of the peo-
pie in the Bible?
There is only one remedy, and that
/ IS for those who have any faith LETT
to call attention to the fact that the
higher criticism" is something worse
than infidelity in disguise; that ii is
! based on series of hypothesis that
never has been and never can be
proved; that there is not a single fact
so far discovered by science that has
any tendency to prove that the Bible