Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1903-01-03
"LrBRaLIsMo IN cHRIsrENDoM

According to English newspapers,
which give accounts of the utterances of
the Dean Of Rlpon on public occasions,
the learned doctor Of divinity Is so far
advanced in liberal thought that he
might fairly be counted among those
skeptics who denominate themselves
''freethinkers." He strikes heavy blows
at the orthodox notions about the
Bible, and in a paper on Natural
Christianity" read by him at meeting
OF the "Churchmen's Union" In London,
he declared that people may safely
leave out Of account the prodigy OF
Chrlsts birth from a virgin; that It
was unknown to the writer's Of the New
Testament except two" (Matthcw and
Luke. He threw doubt on the alleged
miracles OF the Savior, and intimated
that the death" from which He raised
certain persons, was only what mod
ern science would recognize as forms OF
swconing, syncope or hysterla.' He
further spoke OF the Lords resurrec-
ton as that Of a simply spiritual ex-
istence, invisible except TO the eye Of
faith"
These ''llberal' views are SO contrary
to the testimony OF the Apostles Of
Jesus Of Nazareth as to place the Dean,
who entertains them, in different
theological class to that which was
occupied by those disciples and all the
early Christians. The gentleman also
holds queer notions, for an Episcopal
clergyman, in reference to ecelesiasti-
cal authority In q work published by
him called "Christian Conference Es-
says" he puts forward the Divinity Of
Christ as "a moral rather than met
aphyslcal fact and the doctrine Of the
Trinity an expression OF the soclabil-
Nv of the Godhead" But It Is of his
ideas OF apostolic succession that we
desire TO make particular mention. As
stated In n London newspaper, which
endorses his liberalism it is this:
'The Episcopacy he finds valuable
only SO far as 1t Is necessary for the
progress OF the Christian community In
righteousness, and questions whether,
ON such a ground. the title OF bishop
may not be extended to all the chief
administrators Of the Christian COM
munity,' making not only independent
ministers. Presbyterian moderators,
Methodist presidents. bishops OF por-
tlons of christs church, but judges,
mayors and ministers Of state to be
esteemed as truly successors OF the
Apostles"
1t is astonishing that the term sue
cessors OF the Apostles Is used by so
many modern dlylnes. IN the sense IN
which 1t appears to be understood in
both the Catholic and Protestant Epis-
ccpal churches How can any other
dlgnitaries than Apostles be really the
successors Of the Apostles? In the
Church established by christ He placed
therein first Apostles" and then other
authorities, each with a special calling.
Apostles, prophets evangelists, pas
tors and teachers" were necessary, for
''the work Of the ministry" all In their
own places, and with duties to perform
for which they were seyerally APP
pointed.
When Judas lost his place in the
Twelve, another was chosen TO M II
and he was numbered with the other
Apostles. That wes true apostolic sue
oession. An evangelist, presbyter,
pastor teacher, priest, cardinal or pope
Is not a successor of an Apostle; to be
such he must be himself an Apostle. or
dained by competent authority and
holding the keys Of that Office.
II may be argued that this line OF
reasoning would throw out the claim Of
apostolic succession entirely from the
whole OF Christendom. Just so.
The truth cuts very closely and
keenly. There have been no
Apostles In the churches for
hundreds Of years. That fact remains,
whatever may be thought about It's ef-
feet on ecclesiastlclsm. II any other
dignItary than an Apostle can be truly
the successor OF an Apostle then the
conclusion said TO be reached by the
Dean Of RipOn may be pronounced losi-
cal and possibly correct And yet as
matter Of fact It is a palpable absurd
fly.
The restoration Of the Apostleship
with the possibility OF true apostolic
succession, could be effected in this age
Of the world IN no other way than that
by (which II was accomplished Peter
James and John, who were associated
in the headship Of the Church after
Christ left the earth. came and orr
dained Joseph Smith TO that Divine au-
thority comforting upon him the keys
which they held. with power 10 or,
ganze the Church again on earth and
ordain others to the ministry Thus.
IN the Church OF Jesus Christ ofI.atter-
day Saints there is genuine apostolic
succession. and also true guidance as
10 the doctrines which the Dean OF
Ripon and some other liberal modern
christians" dispute. but about which
there was no dubety IN the minds Of
the early disciples OF the Savior.
That He was born Of a virgin, that
lie was verify the Son Of God that He
literally raised the dead, and that lie
rose from the tomb with His body
1uiokened by spirit, and in 1t assembled
to heaven whence He will come
again, and change our vile bodies" II
se are ''in Him." and fashion them like
unto His own glorious body" there is