Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-06-08

large extent spent ITSELF and that
Dtssopt was today a political rather
nan N splrltual power, was destitute Of
any sufficient foundation"
THESE admissions from q prominent
evangelical dlgnltary, were not dis
puted BY other eminent clergymen who
addressed the conference Rev. Canon
sireat0ed however, took up the subs
ioct Of ohleher criticism" lie thought
that the Evangelical school Of religious
thought was making a mistake In leav-
inc severely alone the controversy pro-
yoiod By the arguments and conclu-
slons Of science. lie said there were
two kinds Of higher criticism" one,
however disturbing to the mind, left
every doctrine Of the Christian faith
untouched. but the other sought 10
shake the entire foundation Of our
faith III. work was that Of dIsinteg-
ration end destruction
lie Thought there was nothing more
foolish than to try and silence doubts
they could not satisfy, and they should
be prepared to admit that criticism had
modified their views on many non-es-
sentlal points lie said the dlsmay and
INDIGNATION felt by the church when the
theory Of evolution was put forth by
Dorvin had passed away and Chris
tiaplly had changed ts standpoint and
ADAPTED Itself more to new environ
monts ot thought, lie declared 1T
was generally agreed that evolution
was a worthier more rational and more
truly philosophical view Of divine VIII
than that advocated by specal crea.
ton" lie thought It was the duty Of
the Evangelical school to recognize the
demands of modern thoughts absolute
silence was suicidal
Other speakers referred to the Inn
portance Of modern Eyangelicallsm,
dealing with such questions as the Be-
lnp of God. the theories concerning the
creation. the inspiration Of the Bible
the faIl and redemption OF man. the
possibility OF miracles, and last and
greatest Of all and as affecting all, the
personality, divinity, and eternal au.
thority Of Jesus Christ, upon whom all
their hopes Of resurrection Of the
body or OF a future life absolutely de-
pended
Archdeocon Taylor said If they got
rid Of and considered as fables the
creation, the fall the promise, the
food. and the erection OF the Tower OF
Babel. they got rid Of Christianity it.
self because Jesus Christ and st. Paul
both taught that Christianity rested
upon the foundation Of historic fact set
forth In the early chapters OF Genesis
The miraculous facts Of the Old 'Tes'
lament were referred to by our Lord In
many places az facts, and important
lessons were based thereon,
The discussions at this Evangelical
conference are a fair sample OF what Is
going on in other branches OF modern
religion. The great trouble Is that the
ology Is. with them, a matter Of INTEL
lectual speculation. The questions in
volyed are open and undecided. Their
expounders are ever learning, but
never able to come to a knowledge Of
the truth They. are all upon sea OF
uncertainty. There is no definite au-
thorlty to decide their differences. De-
pending upon the dead letter Of ancient
scripture, they disagree among them
selves as to It's meaning, and without
the voice Of revelation or the guidance
Of inspiration or any recognized head
and end Of controversy, they have TO
offer 10 the man on the street." or TO
any lnqulrlng or doubtful mind. Moth
ing but mere opinion, and beliefs that
change with the development Of science
and the deduction Of logical thought,
Not until the world accepts the doe
trine and the fact of present revelation,
will the difficulties that stand in the
way Of the worlds evangelzation be
effectually removed.