The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10
CANON HENSON RAISES
A STORM OF CRITICISM
One of the Dignitaries of West
minister Abbey Impugns Inspira-
ton of the Bible.
OLD TESTAMENT PUERILE
SAYS Its Narratives Are "a Pack
of Lies Too Gross for
federation.

LONDON, April 9-Canon Henson, one of
the chief digntaries of Westminster Alb
hey, and a select preacher of oxford and
of Cambridge Universities. has raised a
storm of criticism by an article in the Con-
temporary Review in which he entered
into the question of the future of the Bible.
In this article Canon Henson impugned
the inspiration of the Old Testament. re-
ferring to Its incredible. puerile or demon
aliZing narratives" which were regarded
as being "a pack of lies too gross for toler-
alton" Letters, interviews and resolutions
by church and lay bodies, denouncing
Canon Henson. followed the article. Dr.
Oliver Lodge added fuel to the fire by an
article entitled Suggestions Toward the
Reinterpretation of the Christian Doc
trine'
This agitation for revised Christianity
led by such well-known men, whose re-
lgious principles even. their critics do not
dispute, threatens to stir the church to
an unprecedented degree.
Canon Henson declared that Inspiration
was not allowed to certify to the truth of
any statement in the Bible which cannot
be substantiated at the bar of reason and
evidence, but whether much or little, 1t
Old Testament prodigies" He recon-
mended experimenting the reading of
the Bible in church with Christian
compositions which have secured the
approval of general acceptance, declaring
that 'indiscriminate reading of the Bible
is an extremely perilous proceeding and
adding that 1.-The rigidity which restricts
the modern English Church to canonical
Scriptures is as intrinsically indefensible as
il is practically mischievous-' Despite its
hnl a
the Bible will not continue for all time to
be the best manual of fundamental
morality and the best corrective of eccle-
si&stical corruption, besides being the
most effectual check on the materialistic
tendencies of modern life.
In a striking analysis of the present So
cial conditions, Canon Henson attributed
the spread of anarchy. the ulcer that is
eating the vitals of society," TO the disap-
pearance over large areas OF civilized life
of the religious bases of mortality. Yet
he finds an excuse for these "nonmoral
multitudes," who from the cradle TO the
grave have faced the severe pressure of
competition with the squalor of poverty
and the miserable eXigencieS of unmerlted
want" and who inevitably compare their
condition with the ostentatiOn of unearned
wealth, the profusion of unchecked luxury
and the insolence of unchastened power.
The canon says that when ii is remem-
bered that these "cruel. shocking contrasts
are no longer regarded with the dull stare
of fatalistic ignorance, but in the full light
IL
the commonplace of democratic politics"
ait is no wonder that the minds of thou
sands are predisposed toward the sophis-
tries of anarchy. 1t would be idle TO deny
he concludes, that the credit of the Scrip
lures is seriously shaken in the public
mind, nor can IL reasonably be doubted
that the tendencies of popular life as at
present prevailing are in the main hostile
to Christian tradition.
In another and similar article Canon
Henson, dealing with Christ's resurrection,
asks: lis the faith of the church in the
really built on an empty tomb? For my
self | prefer to believe that no such init
mate vital connection exists between the
truth of Christianity and the traditional
notions of its historical origins.
Sir Oliver Lodge asks: Now that re-
whether the formal statement of some of
the doctrines we have inherited from
medieval and still earlier times cannot
wisely and inoffensivey be modified?' and
shocks many of his coreligionists by de-
claring that he regards the doctrine of
atonement in its concrete form a sur
vival from barbarous times" repudiating
the belief in IAN angry God appeaSed by
the violent death of Christ and maintain
ing that human nature now is rising TO
the conviction that we are part of nature
and so part of God. In this sense the union
of divinity is what science some day will
tell is the inner meaning of the redemp-
ton of man..
These outspoken utterances have caused
public and private appeals to be made to
the archbishop of Canterbury, but so far
no action has been taken. The upshot of
rent and generally accepted versions of
Christian truth are becoming inadequate
and unsatisfactory" is awaited with keen
interest.