Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-01-20
HERETO OR LEADER

Prof. Charles w. Pearson, professor
of English literature in Northwestern
(Methodist) University of Chicago, has
awakened interest and antagonism by
declaring the miracles of the Bible to be
fables that should now be rejected to
place the truths of religion upon more
rational and safer ground He notices
that Jesus told the scribes and pharisees
that they made 1.-The word of God Of none
effect thru their tradition" and declares
that very many of our religious teach
ers Of today are doing the same thing.
Modern preaching" he says, lacks
truth and power because so many
churches cling to the utterly untenable
tradition that the Bible is an infallible
book. This dogma is their besetting gin.
1t is the golden calf of their idolatrous
worship. 1t is the palpable lie that gives
the ring of insincerity to all their moral
exhortatione."
Altho Prof. Pearson thus strikes at
the cherished belief of many, he praises
the Bible as the most precious OF all
books Its teaching that man is child
of God and heir of heaven ennobles hui
mar. life and Is the great basis of virtue,
happiness and high achievement. The
Bible is a noble collection of law. his
tory, biography, precept and poetry"
He characterizes the stories that chal-
L. 1n5u Of fprfS
legends or ailegory. not to be accepted
as truths He declares further that it Is
Impossible to draw any dividing line be,
tween the alleged miracles in the Old
Testament and similar accounts In the
gospels and acts of the apostles; that
the miracles spoken of, once as help,
are now a hindrance. He believes 1T
is the cowardly refusal OF the churches
to admit patent facts that has brought
about their present deplorable condi-
ton, and the low moral statA of the ma
ton that depends on them for guild
ance.''
He also declares that 'If the church
Of today is to control the business men
OF today 1t must meet them fairly upon
the plane of their intelligence"
Prof. Pearson is man Of good stand
ing, whose views are at least to be re-
spected. Two years ago, in paper
read before the general conference of
the Methodist Episcopal church, he
stated that the story Of Eve was myth
and that the Christian churches should
abandon all creeds
He believes the truths Of God are SO
mighty that they will prevail without
the aid OF stories OF miracles which dis
credit our rational knowledge. Others
within the pale Of the church will agree
with him-some Of whom long ago threw
overheard Jonah and the whale story.
Within orthodox circles, however, his
statements will be rejected and tle uni
versity will doubtless be called upon to
exclude him from its corps of instruct
ors. AS member of the laity the T.-R.
can only look on the contention in an
unbiased way and hope that the truth.
in whatever direction it lies. may pre-
vail.
AS to the new hereto" Mr.. Parsons
life has been one OF practical experience.
At the age of IA he left his home in
England and became sailor before the
mast. He spent several months in India,
and then went to South America and
taught in mission school. Later he en-
tered the academy of Northwestern
University and was graduated from the
College OF Liberal Arts in 1871.