New-York tribune., 1905-11-13
ASKS LIGHT ON CALVARY.
Minister Wishes Atonement DIS
cassed at Coming Conference.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.

To the Editor OF The Tribune
Sir: In the interchurch conference fedora
tion about to be held in Carnegie Hall. there will
be present representatives from the various evan
geHcal churches.
Nearly nineteen hundred years have elapsed since
the crucifxion of our Lord. Peter on the Day of
Pentecost said: Him, being delivered by the de-
terminate counsel and foreknowledge of God ye
have taken, and by wicked hands have crueifed
and slain
IN the divine Judgment, THE death OF the cross
was necessary, and those who were instrumental
IN putting the Saviour to death made sad mistake
and committed great crime.
There should be no difficulty about the truth of
taese swo statements. whether cur finite minds can
OF cannot bring Gods sovereignty on the one hand
ana mans free agency. on the other. satisfy
ing harmony.
Admitting, then, as We all do, the correctness of
this twofod apostolic statement IL is deeply TO be
deplored that there wide differences of belief
concerning the real meaning ''the death the
cross
Now. before the discussions TO the advisahl
ness Of the formation of the proposed federation
take place, or before the federation is consum-
mated would it not be well at the very start TO
have a deliverance to what is the basic element
of the Gospel?
AS there will be in the conference those who
boldly declare and publicly teach that the death of
Christ is expiatory, does not historical Chris
tianity-the of present evangelical belief
demand of this conference it's honest opinion on
this point also. just what proportion of it's mem
bers do and do not believe in -aton.ng blood?
There are those who have zeal of God, but
not according to knowledge. For they. being igno-
rant of Gods righteousness. and going about
establish their righteousness, have not sub
mitted themselves unto the Righteousness of God
Ministers have been telling their congregations in
their sermons. and in various ways the public has
been informed. that the present age has outgrown
the need of the vicarious sacrifice. that the ola
views of the atonement out of date. that the
theology of the future concerning salvation is eth-
~icI rfch- -lnrr n
Christ that was wrought out for us the cross
The masses of our church members should be in
structed to this vital point. and such as would
like to know have the right to demand of these
Christian teachers and leaders attending the inter-
church conference expression OF their honest
opinion.
This demand should find. after Que deliberation
its fulflment in personal response from each one
the calling of his name. and the record should
be preserved for future reference.
1t should be considered privilege thus to bear
testimony that which is essential to salvation or
in the last analysis. its underlying principle
Not only has the membership of the churches the
right to demand this of the conference. but tho
delegates themselves should have the willingness
and courage face the ordea1-all vying with each
other 10 have 1t known just where and how they
stand in this matter
More than this: The press. which seeks light and
imparts information all important suo1eets
should also AXE and unite in this demand
If the really means business. 1t shosfd
make the aseertainment of this point special mat
ter of busness-business of the first importance-a
sine qua noa not only Of church union and CO.
operation but of salvation itself. viewed from
the divine standpoint whether recognized ana ac-
cepted from the human not.
There should be attempt to keep respectable
distance this sensitive spot In Christian theo-
ogy from fear of giving offence provoking c5a-
treeersy. The times require positive, straight
forward, downright honest statement deverance,
to the world of the simple and indispensable and
indestructible truth at the basis of the Gospel
Let all going UP to Carnegie Hall to participate
In the proceedings of the conference be told before
hand that we want first to know and to hear from
them the real shns i In sess Ma e
Saviour actually accomplished or had to accom-:
accept and how many reject IT.
@ n ta asd wah MoEsy Is Of Tta
themselves and all the snlnl nd shona n not bs
It is not suftieient to say of God that He is in.
hnSe ne sen enf s to sy Of christ that He Saviour
but that should be supplied in virtue OF which He
reason of the hope that is in u.s.
The cross does, indeed, set forth the Infinite love
of God for His sinful creatures, but is He not also
God of Justice? Was there no satisfacnon rem
dered by the Great Sufferer to the demands OF In
There surely is great need at the pressn. time Of
forgiveness when ii is possible for the following
to appear, as 1t did only few weeks ago, In one
of our oldest and best known religious weekly pub
1ieations: mo exp!atory sacrifice is needed, for
God is abundantly able to forgive out OF his own
store of love"
It surely is the dictate Of wisdom to ascertain
first whether are agreed among ourselves as to
whether the sacrifice of Christ is expiatory or not
whether Christ took law-piace or not,
whether the blood and Righteousness of Christ have
anything to do with the justification OF the un-
godIv" or own good works are sufhcient TO
entftle us to the love and favor OF sin hating
God before contemplating or censumnatins the
nv reason of recent events In the Far East, IN
which the hand of Providence has been so clearly
ma nifest 1t is reasonable to suppose that the time
is not far distant when serious and careful atten-
OF Nazareth To their questions we should be
ready with answer. the true answer, united
answer that goes to the bottom Of things, that
will satisfy reason and conscience, that VIII con-
meet with 'the death Of the cross the Satisfaction
of divine Justice
When the people OF heathen lands come to see
that we are thus united in clear apprehension
and radical Interpretation of the Gospel, they Will
he more apt to Elook unto Him who was 'ffted
mn i'm their behalf feel the power of his draw
ing personality, and find the salvation designed
for all the ends OF the earth
The ascertainment therefore by the conference
af the fact of agreement to and acceptance OF the
fectons and the wants of the sinful soul is not
only desirable, but also imperative FOR the SAKE
both of maintaining a sane Chrlstlanlty az hofis
and the success of missionary efforts abroad
WILLIAM BALDWIN (Minister1
Hotel St. George. Brooklyn Heights NOV u lyS
NATTIRAIIZTNC THE BALLOT BOX.