Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1901-06-13


illusions just made bear manifest witness.
If more is wanted, more can be had The
New York Euening Post of April 20 had the
following piece of news, in line with our
subject:
-Four members of the senior class of Union
Theological Seminary have been refused Or
dination to the ministry by the examining
boards OF their respective denominations.
OF these failures to qualify, one occurred be-
fore the Worcester Central Association of
Congregational ministers, one before the
Elizabeth Association of Congregational
ministers and two before the Worcester
presbytcry The Evening Post is enabled to
say that all were due more or less to the So
called unorthodox opinions of the candidates
"In the Wcstchcstcr Prcsbytcry the doc.
| trine of the atoncment seemed to be the main
point of contention. The Candidates held
the moral influence theory, namely, that the
saving element in the alonemcnt lies in its
revelation Of the love of God; this is in line
| with the teaching of Union Seminary. The
candidates were pressed to modify their views
so as to include the cxpia,ion theory, but
without avail Upon several other points,
also, they failed to qualify and were given
six months TO reflect.
The Elizabeth case, as reported, is still
more interesting. Here the subject of cvo-
| luton was touched on, and the candidate
seemed To be much more fluent on evolution
than on theology He was asked whether
| evolution was consistent with the Holy Writ
and replied in the negative. lie even ven
turcd to explain parts OF the Old Testamcn
rs of legendary origin. The point at issue
seemed to be the ultimate source OF authority
whether the ultimate appeal could be made
| to the dictum of Scripture or to the rational
conviction. The latter was the point Of
view of the candidate, and he was turned
down.
THE Worcester case was also conflict
over the question of the ultimate appeal.
whether to the Bible or to conscience. The
candidate was unable to find sufficient ground
for positive belief In Immortality, although
nc would not deny the possibility of immor.
talty. Upon being asked how he explained
the evident belief of Christ and Of Paul in
immortality, he replied that he dd not feel
compelled to agree with Christ or Paul at
at any point at which his convictions led in
the opposite pirection. Accordingly he vas
refused license to preach and was gwen
six months to r,cant."
Now, all these things aid many others
like them, which you also have doubtless
met IN your reading, indicate most plainly
that there is in some quarters very wide
departure from the simple and undcnlablc
truth that ministers Of the Gospel should
preach the Gospel, the whole Gospel, and
nothing but the Gospel. 1t is all the same,
in my humble opinion, whether the audience
be one of simple minded rustics or ultra cul-
lurcd university people. The manner OF
presentation OF course may differ, but The
theme of the preaching, to be legitimate, to
be authorized, must he the same. II an
ordained minister wishes to read an essay or
dcliycr a lecture ON some question of social
or political economy, municipal affairs, liter
allure, science or art, let him DO so a, some
other time and place. But when he stands
in the pulpit, confcsscdly and by virtue of
his ordination al ambassador Of Christ, who
in heaven or upon earth has given him the
right to do any of these secular things, even
with Scripture text as u starting point?
For with the great majority of so called ser
mons of this kind, the text is nothing more
than that, and would better he dispensed
with altogether. Education aud polish Will
not save the souls Of men, no matter what
they do for mind and manners. The soul
needs the Gospel, in its richness and fullness
aud sweetness and power, and needs it not Il
whit the less when the mind Is highly trained
and thoroughly informed in worldly kn0wl-
cdic No matter how ably the cultured
mind may discuss the questions OF the day,
the soul can fud no satisfying answer outside
the Gospel to that supreme question. "What
must do TO be saved p
do not like the word 'bigOtCd, but In
case any one chooses to apply it to mt be
cause Of the views set forth in this paper
welcome il, and wish it written with every
letter q capital, and all the understanding that
can make ii more emphatic
4 a 4 NAA al