New-York tribune., 1902-05-24
THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CREED.
STRONG IN DIVINE GRACE, NOT INCON-
sIsTENT WITH SCIENTIFIC TEACHINGS.


To the Editor of The Tribune.
Sir: The evangelical church still insists upon a
belief in the inspiration of the Scriptures according
to ancient formulas, and confesses that all the
miracles of the Old and New Testaments are true
Acceptance OF the resurrection from the dead OF its
Master alone Il holds insufficient. II Is not enough
to say Christ is the worlds teacher of eternal TRUTH
nor to believe the dogma that He Is God of very
God. begotten and not made" And If there Is de-
NAL of inspiration verasity in any one or the
books of the canon, are told its place is with
the pale of that Christianity by which we have
been nurtured whose moral dogmas have been our
support IN striving against sin, and whose Saviour
love and adore. More than one educated man
has laid aside his ministry. 10 which he devoted
himself with passion and fervOr In his youth. be-
lievng he had heard a divine voice from without.
because II were better to go into outer darkness
forever than occupy pulpit ami deceive the pubic
He has not Unitarianized because in his heart he
much the morality OF Christ proves TO him
more conciuslveiy than any miracle can me divine
Universalst. because neither the Scriptures
human exper,ence nor the philosophy OF goodness s
reach any soul which scorns rms and desPsesS S1 human nan
seen. II he love not his brother, whom he hath
There are multitudes in the churches OF this type
of thought, II not OF this experience. There are
must look up TO God for spiritual help. but who
are convinced that the story q the Garden Of Eden
and affirm that any inspired truth therein must
RsbSoma % s she Temple Of e egaaed a u mmoraas
and made IL part Of religious worship while the
Christian religion damns the same with anath-
ema, which to their mind shows the religion
had much In common with Satan and that the
other is of God
= mo evil thing. happen to good man." said
Socrates. and II go to prepare place for you
said Christ and I'm agreement with each Chris
tian may feel there must be double certainty OF
the immortality of the good, whatever may become
OF the bad That the good man OF Socrates was not
the saint of the New Testament strengthens faith
In this attitude, for Socrates immoral and
drunken while ideal is of a man who touches
neither wine strong drink. and who loves all
things pure Therefore, certitude lives that the
New Testament is OF God. and that its founder
be given Him In moral things, because no
earthly could give inspiration which
would lead man to keep his body under and to
glorify God. who is spirit.
Professor Park was right when he taught his
students that the more scientific teaching Of the
Scriptures dscredited the stronger II became
as a huttresS Of divine truth they given
a book Of religion, and not book of science.
The Christian consciousness OF the orthodoxy
Is bright with the hope OF Protestant twentieth
creed which shall teach absolute truth. Thus
encumbered and devoted to noble living, the mod
Church win die unto itself and show II has the
living grace which prOceeleth forth from the
Father and the Son. II will be a faith lncon-
sistent with scientific progress: Il will gather
victories. as In the days when Knox won Scotland
and Calvin dominated Geneva and saturated
France with Huguenot blood. and when Gustavus
smOte Europe. Then shall raise within the
walls OF every evangelical church banner.
which the cross shall be surrounded by the watch
words. God I'm Christ Holiness Immortality" and
"TIe shall draw ali men unto Himself"
Lynn. Mass. May IL 1909. JAMES f. ODIIN