The San Francisco call., 1905-08-08
Attacks Bible His
tory Before His
Brethren.
Says Higher Criti-
cism Has Upset
Theology.

Mucn excitement was occasioned at the
methodist ministers meeting yesterday
morning at the Central Methodist Epis.
copal Church, on Mission street, over an
address by the Rev. Z. d. Raley on "The
Critic and the Evangelist
The attendance was large. Mr.. RaIey,
who is deemed one of the most promising
of the young ministers of his denomina-
tion and is pastor of Richmond Metho-
dist Church, said:
| The critic and the evangelist are not enc
! mics, but co-labo The evangelist has as
sumed an opposition to the critic; he has been
attacking his best friend
The entire history of the church has shown
that the Bible critic or scholar has had more
to do with the reyivals and progressive move
menus Of the church than the evangelist All
great revivals OF religion hinge upon the work
OF the scholar who has investigated and
brought forth the great truths of the Bible
The attacks of the evangelist upon the critic
and his work are uncalled for and unwise.
The destructive and atheistic higher critic
mas done some harm, but the conscientious
and reverent higher crItic-and this is the only
Kind we have to do with--is constructive, seek
ing ever after the original word Of God
The evangelist attacks leave the impression
that all critics destructive.
The higher critic holds that some OF the
DOCKS OF the Bible are of a composite nature;
that dates OF composition cannot be settled
with present data; that all parts OF the Bible
are not infalible; that conditions and methods
or inspiration enter into the problem: that
there is no internal evidence that all the
Bible Is inspired or that the writer's believe
that they were inspired.
Inspiration does not preserve the writer from
mistakes in history. grammar and science. or
in any way interfere with his personal char
BIBLE HISTORICAL.
The books of the Bible are biographical and
historical rather than theological. Many ira
ditions and fetters have been DESTROYED that
never had a basis in the Bible.
The Pentateuch does not claim in itself to
be the work Of Moses, and the books of the
Bible were not in their present form until
after the exile.
The prophets are an aggregation of frag-
ments, with the exception of Daniel and
written by David. solomon knew nothing Of
Proverbs or Ecclesiastes
1t is not placing IT too strong to say that
higher criticism has revolutionized theology,
doctrines and creeds during the last twenty
five years and that the next twenty-five
years will show a greater revolution Its con-
structive work has just begun.
II is very probable that many of our beliefs
concerning the Bible will be entirely done
l do not believe that higher criticism has
in any way disturbed the fundamentals ot
doctrine. Some readjustment will be neces-
sary and then the Christian church will be in
far better position to teach and preach the
gospel. We should welcome everything that
tends to give the true word of God.
JEWISH HISTORY INTACT.
At the close of the address there was
a general and eager desire to respond.
higher criticism has spent its force-that
the pc 5ition of scholars of the present
day was at least suspended judgment. He
declared that the integrity of the history
of the Jews remained intact and that no
theory OF the higher critic had attempted
to explain the history of the Jews in an
essentially different manner from that
set forth In the Scriptures.
DR.. Bovard held that the precise tenn
permanent of the Jewish people to-day
corresponded with that described In the
Scriptures. and that the validity of the
history Of the Jews was unshaken by at
tacks of the higher critics.
Other speakers who discussed the ad-
dress and failed to agree with Mr.. Raley
were the Rev w. S. Matthew. D. D.; the
Rev. A C. Bane, d. D., and the Rev. ].
D. Ross, D. D.
The Rev C. NJ. Warner said that man
must go to the Bible with the concession
that 1t must prove its validity to him.
If he is In search for the truth and he
fails to find its evidence, then he is the
loser and those whom he teaches.
Hawaii, It's Natural, Secular and Re-
ligious Life" was the subject of an ad-
dress by the Rev. Charles d. Milliken Of
Waimea, island of Kauai, before the
Congregational ministers meeting yes
terday Mr.. Milliken said: