The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-05-12
THE CRAZE FoR PERsEcUr1oN.

lives Of men, is sometimes constrain d
to doubt his convictions and j)in with
them who hold the doctrine of total de-
pravity.
| It is when in the name of Christ men
cruelty their brothers that the faith we
! have in human goodness turns rae and
| halts by the wayside The same slirit
that condemned the great Jewish reform
er without trial, and because of his
opinions nailed him to the cross, fourisf
es today within the con fnes of she
church that looks back to Calvary fo-
inspiration. This disposition to pc Sc
! cute passes over the human race ia
waves. 1t seems to be epilemic Follow
ing the great temperance crusade which
ended in the adjustment of the army
canteen and the deeds of violence at
tending the outburst Of Carrie Nat n i,
ism, seems TO come wave of ligio Is
intolerance assuming tie garb CT moral
ity
This craze assumed prominence in the
upreasoning denunciation of P of. Her
ron. In his case, social deeds which are
not conmedncd in others-acts which may
be in strict accord with the highe t prn-
ciples ands the purest life-are made the
object of savage and scm riious denun-
citation. Guilt attended by the worst
motives is assumed without so much as
a suggestion of proof Grea dailie3
publish fairy tales by So, allied "staf
correspondents" CT this mans fall; tales
that bear on their face the stamp of
hatred, malice and all Observation-Disclosures
great preachers who have known i'm
and loved him as a her, all at Cnce
he secured a divorce from his wife. The
domestic trouble that led to the divorce
! is not investigated-th is no judicial
| determination of human rights, because
forsooth, the man is a her tic-be cause
he is off color on his confession of faith.
Prof. Heron may be blamable, re
may have placed himself in position
to merit the rebukes of his brother min
; listers, but so far there has been no evil
dence that he is better or worse than
the average. The acts of the great
say the least, but they were condoned.
as they should have been. The unchris-
/ tian spirit behind this persecution of
Prof. Heron is what strikes the obsery-
q
tempting to punish him for an alleged
social crime when his real crime Is
heresy.
Coordinate with the persecution of
Prof. Heron comes the prosecu-
/ ton of Prof George H. Gilbert, 1of the
Chicago theological seminary. He had
been tried for heresy, the verdict beng
request for his resignation. His books
were found to contain heretical teach
ings. One is inclined to smile at the
points involved. He is condemned be-
cause he spoke of the Ideal pre-exist-
ence of Christ" which was construed to
be denial of the actual pre-existence
of Christ" One is led to doubt h s. senses
at the recital of such an accusation. DO
we live in the twentieth century? Do men
really bubble over such non-essentials
now? The mind hanks back to that pc
Rod when the learned of the church grew
excited over the question of how many
angels could dance On the point of
cambria needle. Was that more absurd
+rio of
cause he preferred to use the word ideal
when speaking Of the pre-existence of
Christ?
This doctrinal sensitiveness is not con-
! fined to any locality, if we are to credit
local newspaper reports. Did not DR..
Northrop, of our own state university,
ask Of a body of Methodist ministers. if
there was any one present who did not
believe in the resurrection of Jesus
Christ? This was hardly fair question
! to PROFOUND at such a time and in such
a place. A chorus of noes greeted the
question, as it would have been profess
! sional and social suicide for doubter to
have expressed his doubts. Why was this
question asked Of it were asked? Is
belief in that tenet an essential to
right Christian living? Is it the
life of Christ or the death of Christ
that makes for holiness? We do not ex-
pect this to be answered, nor is it asked
in critical spirit, but only to call at
tention to the prevalent disposition to
emphasize what the great bulk of think
ers regard as non essentials.
! Let all who wish return to the original
doctrines of the church, discuss and
| maintain the ancient subtleties of the
medieval doctrines if so inclined, but ac-
cord the same freedom of thought and
honesty of purpose to those who think
they see a better light than that which
comes from the darkness of the past CEN
turtles. And when discipline must be ad-
ministered to one who has forsaken the
doctrine of the church. let the charity
| of Christ prevail.
THE MAN WHO NEVER.
81 never smoked, never swore, never