Evening journal., 1904-03-07
BIBLE SUBJECT
. OF THEIR SERMONS
Learned and Interesting Dis
courses by the Revs.
Bowser and Lewis
TWO POINTS OF VIEW ARE GIVEN.

lIl many Nl tlit NlAN A|ANlNNAHiAN
churches yesterday, sermons suggested
by the centenary observance Of the
British and Foreign Bible Society were
delivered by the pastors.
In First Unitarian Church the Rev
Alexander II. Bowser preached on this
subject.
The Inspiration and Authority OF the
Bible from the Point of View OF Mod
ern Thought.
Prove an things; hold fast 10 that
which is good. ~. Thessalouians, 8:
2t
Ia part Mr.. Bowser said.
There are three distinct points OF
view from which people look at the in-
spiration and authority of the Bible.
The first IS the position almost uni
versally held by Protestant Christian
ity 1t regards the Bible as a super
natural book divinely inspired through
out and Of infanible authority in every
part The second Is the standpoint of
superficial criticism II is taken 10y the
uneducated free-thinker, i'm "a not un-
natural reaction from the dogmatic
assumptions of popular theology; and
from 1t he sees nothing specially di-
vine I'm the teaching Of the Bible, OF nc
an binding I'm it's authority Then
third, there is the outlook of modern
scholarship which studies the Bible in
the light of history and experience. and
insists that its facts and doctrines
must stand upon their own merits.
sure that "what is excellent, as God
lives, IS permanent" and that. there
fore, no harm can ever come TO the
truths of the Bible from the fullest
investigation and frecst criticism.
This last point OF view was taken
many years ago by our Unitarian lead
ers, and Is only just now coming into
growing favor with the advanced
thinkers Of other churches. 1t sees
clearly that the authority of the Bible
is not 10 be found i'm its supernatural
origin or infallible inspiration, but in
the value of it's teachings concerning
life and duty bringing to US the eX-
periences OF good and true men Of
olden time who felt after God as we
do now. become conscious Of the Di-
vine presence ana protection, and COM
muned with the Spirit in prayers Of
penitence and psalms of trust and as
piration.
Ay person who seriously studies the
Bible as literature soon discovers that
although it contains the highest re-
ligious truths, its pages also abound
/ in errors of various kinds which pre-
clude all claims Of infallihle author
/ ity Then. too. he finds that much Of
its teaching is Of purely local import
ance, belongs TO far-away age and
relates to the life Of the Jews alone.
having neither authority nor use I'm the
religious thought and activity OF the
/ present time. But he likewise learns
that, IN spite of limitations and mis-
takes, it contains the Fundamental
principles of religion and is the only
source of information reeapdigg tht
origin and early history Of Christianity:
lland that FOR this reason, If for no others
it must always be considered sacred
book and worthy of- reverent study and
lunswerving loyalty
While this modern Thought rejects
the absolute and infailible authority of
the Bible as the only word of God, il
gladly recognizes the fact that it IS no
I ordinary book to be treated with in
! difference, or thrown aside with con-
tempt. or TO be criticized with nippant
ridicule-that after an it's errors and
faults have been eliminated, and an
its merely local and Jewish teaching is
set aside, there still remain the high
est moral and religious truth and the
most sublime ideals of human charac-
ter and spiu observation-disclosures
ter and spiritual attainment Of which
the world has record. Then. too. mod
ern scholarship does not hesitate I'm
acknowledging that this book of books
has exercised a marvellous influence in
lelevating society and purifying life,
has been the chief source of religious
Inspiration comfort and hope. and has
led the civilization and progress of
mankind for thousands Of years-that
such a book cannot be regarded I'm the
same light as we look upon other books
but should have a peculiar place of it's
own in the reverence and affection of
all truth-seelSers and truth-lovers.
Sermon Of Mr.. Lewis.
The Rev W. T. ID. Lewis preached
an interesting sermon upon the work
and development of the British Bible
Society i'm Rodney Street Presbyterian
Church yesterday morning. He took
his text from Hebrews 4. u: For the
Word Of God is quick and powerful and
sharper than any two-edged sword"
The prophetic fulhliment Of these
words has been more than verified In
che magnificent work of the Bible So
ciety whose centennial the American
Bible Society has requested to be OBJ
served in our churches today. IL was
born the year before the battle of
Trafalgar when the Napoleonic wars
were filling all Europe with gloom and
/ despair. I'm comparing the modern
Christian world with those times we
are only brought TO the conclusion
that, for the publishing of the written
word of the gospel of peace, it re-
quired courage and faith to organize
"a society which I'm the vastness OF its
work has been Of untold benefit and
help to the missions Of the Christian
I Church.
No century has Witnessed changes of
such moment as the last. AT the found
ing Of the British and Foreign Bible
Society only one person i'm three could
Tread and write accurately outside OF
educated men and women. Men trav-
Ielled by stage coach and sailing packet
no faster in the days of George III.
than in the days of Marcus Aurelius.
Criminals still suffered capital punish
ment for 223 different offences I'm Eng
lish law. 1t was just at the infancy
of missions. Many lands lay unex-
plored and inaccessible A young peas
ant girl, walking from Llanhhangel 10
Bala, North Wales-a distance of
lforty-nine miles--to get a Bible. show
ed the urgent needs I'm Wales. There
was not a copy for her.
This historical incident gave rise 10
the Bible Society to spread the Bible
without note or comment, not only I'm
! Vnlae buf fn all lands V1ho firc+ f,..,;t 6