Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-17
HIRST DENOUNCES PEARSON
oharactsrisM Professors Attack On the
Bible az Oswardly.
BOOK IS GIBRALTAR OF CHRISTIANITY
Though Attacked Through Centuries
ny Every Form of IndiEnity,
Hatred and Rivalry IL stands
Undisturbed.


A large and representative audience was
at the First Methodist church Sunday
morning to hear the reply Of the pastor,
Rev. DR.. A. c. Hirst. to the recent utter
ances Of Prof. Pearson OF the Northwestern
university. The cream Of the bench and
bar, many representatives of other profess
sions and Of the business interests Of the
city we're present. The sermon was fire.
quently interrupted by bursts OF applause.
DR.. Hirst spoke from the theme, Have the
Ministers Lost the Message" He began
by asserting that the act of Prof. Pearson
was ungracioue, disloyal and cowardly, be-
cause the professor was a member Of the
Methodist church, which believes in the
inspiration OF the bible and in miracles.
The remarkable statements he made
said DR.. Hlrst, have aroused prompt and
serious comment-just aEd severe criticism.
This is not to be wondered at, because his
statements are so utterly revolutionary,
and, II true, take away the very founda-
tons, not only Of the Methodist Episcopal
church, but of evangelical Christianity.
Here Is an excerpt from his published
views, which will give some idea as to the
position he takes:
VERY many of our religious teachers
are today making the so-called word OF
God of no effect because Of the manner in
which they present it. Modern preaching
lacks truth and power because so many
churches cling to an utterly ~untenable
tradition that the bible Is an infallible
book. This dogma is their besetting sin.
1t is the golden calf OF their idolatrous
worship. 1t is the palpable lie that gives
the ring of insincerity to all their moral
exhortations. II theologians wish to re-
gain lost leadership, or even to possess
an influence in the thoughtful part OF the
community coordinate with that OF poets,
philosophers and men Of science, they must
completely throw aside the dogma Of an
infallible book ~
He then goes on to deny the human
mission and character OF Christ, Of course
denying His supernatural birth and pro-
nouncing His resurrection a myth. He also
repudiates the miracles OF the old and
new testaments.
THE bible is primarily, secondarily and
fundamentally the will and testament Of
God, the everlasting Father, by which He
beQueathed His children a marvellous in
heritance. For example, there is no such
language Of promise in the koran Of the
Mohammedans, or in the vedes Of the
Hindoos, or in the mythology Of the Greeks
and Romans, or in the hieroglyphics or
myths of the Phoeniclans, or in the legends
OF the North American Indians.
We believe in miracles because we be-
lieve In the bible. not in the bible because
We believe in miracles. We believe in
miracles which attest the genuineness Of the
seal, because we believe in the authority of
the book as the revealed word OF God.
These are days OF the struggle OF
thought. From schools Of philosophy, from
circles Of .skepticism and from ~coteries Of
trembling doubters comes the grave an
nouncement that ours is a transition time.
and hence the implied fact that somewhere
there is being gathered some intellectual
dynamite that will send the citadel OF
Christianity forever crashing to ruins.
"As this new century opens these things
are more intense, and hence 1t is evident
that we are passing from era to era,
from age to age, through crises in the life
Of the. intellect. through revolutions in the
life OF the heart, through new experiences
In the life of the conscience.
THE g~enuineness and authenticity Of the
bible is emphasized by the fact that 1t gives
the promise of pardon to the wrongdoer
and removes the burden Of sin and re-
morse OF conscience. It gives the promise
Of victory over death, and the assurance
OF a glorious immortality. 1t is the Gibral-
tar OF the Christians faith and though at
tackled through centuries by every form of
~indignity and hatred. criticism and reviling,
1t stands undisturbed, mightier than ever
before In the worlds history"