Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-02-20
OUTSIDE POINT OF VIEW

Dr. Pearson of the Northwestern Uni
versity has stepped down and out of the
chair of English literature. Reason =.
i The doctor had convictions, and eX-
4 pressed them. Jesus Christ was not
divine, the miracles were not authen-
tic and the Bible was not infallible. The
christian denomination that supports
this institution holds exactly opposite
views He did we'll in resigning he
now Cat this writing) thinks of With
drawing from church membership.
| This will also be commendable. Thus
i the church and the public VIII be spared
the details of heresy trial. Not few
things are noticeable in this case. First,
with one or two exceptions. this doctor
seems to retain the personal good Will
of ministers of the gospel everywhere.
To eb sure. enc good, gentle, christian
minister is reported TO have said he
would like to hang up and skin him
alive" but generally speaking he goes
out of the university with regret. Res
| olutions to that effect We're adopted at
a faculty meeting. All this is as II
| should be. Another good feature is that
| as the outcome of DIR. Pearson's utter
lances, but little free speech" twad-
die has been heard from the press. DR..
Pearson killed this whole argument
heard so often in the case of many of
| his predecessors, who had convictions
that they put into words, by resigning.
| The public agrees with him, he had
perfect right to express such opinions,
but not to hold his position after the
utterances of such sentiment. A paral-
| lei case would be, free trade editorial
writer expecting to hold down his chair
on the force of protectionist sheet, to
have his heresy articles published, and
draw a salary therefor. When we add
to this that this case of DIR. Pearson,
and the comments thereon from the re-
ligious papers, shows vast amount of
liberation for opinions at one time
deemed worthy of civil and religious
trial, with even death penalty In case
of conviction. certainly the world has
advanced. And this change has rome
since yesterday, speaking In world
years almanac. 1t is only yesterday
since Bob Ingersoll, who, outside of his
extreme sacrilegious utterances. said
no more than DIR. Pearson has, would
not be allowed to stand on a lecture
platform in a church building. And it
is also a fact that Bob Ingersoil refused
to lecture in Grinnell, Iowa, because he
would have to speak in a church build
ing. Bob was as intolerant as the
church. But no one now expects that
Or. Pearson will be ruled out of church
buildings. More than one church in
New England today could call" him
for a pastorate.
But there is another phase to this at
fair that savors of hypocrisy. Let's be
honest TO ourselves. DR.. Pearson has
been and Is to himself and the public.
How many church members today in
1902 really, honestly and literally be-
lieve what DIR. Pearson denies? Not to |
have a mental reservation, but how
many, what percentage of church MEM /
bers are sure In their own minds that t
the doctrine OF the immaculate concep-
ton is literally true in word and detail? /
How many church members really be-
lieve in all of the related miracles? Be-
lieve in even the New Testament ac-
counts as they do the history of Jesus /
Christi They. and Christian read
ers. believe there was such man, but {
does the average church member really I
think the story of the loaves and fishes
as true in detail as that of Christ dis
putting with the doctors? Nearly every
body believes in the story of His cru
how mary in the account of
the resurrection? How many church
in the year 1902 really and
believe that the Son of God, Il
divine being, was tempted by Satan?
That omnipotent power can or could
be tempted by 9 lesser one?
And so, has not DR.. Pearson really an
advantage of honesty on his side? Is
this the reason of the liberation he is
receiving? Or. Pearson has the courage
of his convictions, and says what many
good church members think. The prob
lem of church workers today is to get
the people into the churches. ITO reach
the masses HON TO get our young
men TO attend church services ITO in
terest the worlingman in religious sub
iects" Now 1t strikes the writer that
what are called the Essentials" lie.
what DR.. Pearson disbeieves and says
So and what many church members