Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-01-27
RAILS At THE BIBLE.
Prof. Pearson Of Northwestern At
taoks Inerrancy Of Sacred Book

Prof. Pearson Of Northwestern At
taeks Inerrancy OF Sacred Book
CHICAGO, Jan. 23.--Professor
Charles W. Pearson OF the chair Of
English literature In Northwestern
University has thrown a bomb into
the ranks OF Methodism In the uni
versity town by giving out for publ.
cation n statement of his belief that
biblical inerrancy Ia Buperstitious
and hurtful tradition--that the biblI-
cal Btories OF Christ's bringing the
water and Of feeding the multitude
with the loavas and fishes are mere
poetic fancies. Incredible and untrue.
Professor Phearsop declares that
the policy OF Methodism IL one OF
inactivity. obstruction and silence on
the part OF the leaders and the schol-
ars OF the church on vital questions
views and opinions which are not
held by the body OF the membership.
He says that most OF the present
teaching IL evaHive. and that most Of
the Sunday school teaching Is almost
farcieal and entirely inadequate. Ne
pleads for = system OF biblical re-
search that utilixcs the field OF
science. Cannot Christianity" he
asks. "be based upon progressive
truth, instead OF mouldcring tradi-
tionf"
Professor Pearson thinks that the
church 10 In deplorable condition
and that the nation itself has = cor
rcnpondingly low moral state. and hc
attnDutea these conuitions to the
cowardiy refusal of tho churches To
admit patent facts and in falling to
advance with tho advance OF knowl-
edge. His letter is in part M fol.
lows;
Jesus told the scribes and Phari'
secs that they made the word OF God
OF no effect through their tradition
Very many Of our religious teachers
are to-day doing the same thing.
Lot us look at q few examples Of
tares among the Bible wheat. There
In story in the Book OF Daniel that
Shadrach. Meshach and Absdnegro.
for refusing to bow down to tho I'M
age Of u Babylonian king. were cast
into = nery furnace, the flames OF
which slew those that threw them In,
to II, and yet the fre had no power
upon the three opponents OF idolatry.
He must be a very bold and ignorant
man who will assert that this account
In literally true,
I'VE read that Elijah smote the
water with his mantle and they d.
vidcd bither and thither.' 30 that he
and his companions went over on
dry ground. Elijah is said to have
miraculously multiplied meal and oil,
and even to have raised the dead,
Some OF these stories are crude and
childish. some are pathetic and sub
limo. but they are all Aiike--legen'
dairy and not historic.
1t is impossible to draw any di'
viding line between these alleged
miracles In the Old Testament and
similar accounts in the gospels and
acts OF tho apostles. When \ gate
opens OF Its own accord to lot Peter
through we think OF the story OF
Elisha and the AZ he made to swim
when Jesus is represented as multi
plying loayes and fishes TO feed q
great multitude wo think OF the wild
ow's barrel of meat multiplied by
Elijah and OF the cruise Of oil In
creased by Elisha. When Jesus ID
represented as walking on the lake OF
Gennesaret we think OF Moses divid
Ing the Red Sea and of Elijah and
Elisha cleaving the waters Of the
Jordon The story OF the raising OF
the son OF tho widow of Main by Jes
US recalls the story OF the raising oi
the son Of the Shunammite woman by
Elisha. legendary element Ia as OBJ
! vious and as indisputable In the New
Testament as In the old.
Miracles OF this clans, once n help
are now Il hindrance. Those churches
which continue to teach that sucf
legends. errors or s!legories are lit
eral truth taint all the rest OF theii
message. II Ia the cowardly refusa
of the churches to admit paten,
facts and to advance with the ad
vance OF much greater knowledge
that has brought about their present
deplorable condition. and the low
moral state OF the nation that de-
pends 10 largely upon them for spir
itual guidance and strength.
Truth must not be surrendered ts
bigotry. In what respect. ask. II
II more moral in our day for ths