New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-17
BIBLE CRITICS THIEVES.
SO SAYS DIR. ". p. HILL.
President of Bible League DePIores
Scientific Tendency.

protest against the spirit Of the higher criticism
Of the Bible the keynote OF the American Bible
Leagues first session of its annual convention last
night IN the Marble Collegiate Church. President
William Phelps Hill in his opening address set
forth the aim Of the league. Professor Luther T.
townsend, formerly of Boston University, explained
the orthodox view of inspiration. and Professor
George F Wright. of Oberlin College defended the
miracles Of the Bible President Hill said in part:
The American Bible League represents the, or
gained conservative scholarship Of the evangelical
educational institutions and churches of North
the s 6r Of all all it stands in the C4gr9h ana 6e5s
once and for ali delivered ~ rba SAINTS Is mem
bers believe in the divine inspiration, integrity,
word Of God They believe that the Principles Of
common honesty apply with as much authority and
Wall Street, and that who have solemnly
Of the old and ' New Tesa ann as the word Of
God, and who teach and preach the conclusions OF
effect Is the destruction faith in Bible as
breach Of trust as are the men Who are untrue
In the matter of finance
always stands ready TO fully accept the proved
Two general topics Will be considered in this
conference-hrst. belief in the integrity and in
to Christianity, and second. the Bible as the in.
spired word of God. the only foundation for Chris
tan life and achievement
Professor Townsend spoke on orthodox as COM
pared with the unorthodox so-called liberal views
on the inspiration of the Bible. He declared that
Bible inspiration is inspiration through which
the Holy Spirit sometimes supertntended the writers
Of the sacred scriptures. when selecting their
materials sometimes quickening their intellectual
faculties. enabling them speak and write with
extraordinary skill sometimes suggesting TO their
minds not only thoughts but words. with which
to clothe their thoughts; sometimes Increasing their
power of vision, enabling them to see into the
future and into the mysteries of God Of heaven and
hell" He continued:
And as an outcome of this inspiration the Chris
boI T Tbat mas o3ok that needs no apology
whose records confirmed by every archaeological
erature IS unique in this that its characters from
mrs. TO last are neither distorted oyerdrawn nor
whose Book Of JOB is tb Tobest 3n rg IN qua t
erature whose book OF Ruth is the tenderest idyl
Yet written: whose book OF EcCesiastes is
than any tragedy Of G5sehylus or or SAKE Sake
RIe anest whose stories Of patriarchal life in
found in Herodotus; whose Book of Psalms goes so
nature his faith his doabt his rsas@n hi bis hoPe
his tender trust his ardent aspiration that it will
written: whose Prophetic literature stands among
all other productions Of human genius absolutely
alone that there are other writings with which
longer sco1ed at; whose principles of law are the
proIou1dest; whose cast Of morals is the purest
constratring ever vet concerted by tie Imam
would guide the nations Of the earth the utmost
peTity to tho host raT;d nteIect5Sl progres and
70 the highest moral and spiritual perfection pos
sible II. this world
Professor Wright spoke on Geological Confrma-
lions Of the Biblical History Of Israel from Abra-
ham to the Exodus" He spoke Of the crossing on
dry land of the Red Sea. and said:
Geolog!sts see a conformity between the physical
cOnltuOES ana the Biblical narrative which IS too
striking ana peculiar to have originated in any
thing but the truth. This mention OF the wind as
the agency by which the miracle performed is
very significant. and is not to be overlooke The
secDnuaIE force which the Lord used as HIS agent
IN this instance was the strong east wind" The
erect or q strong wind in lowering levels is
Well known from observation To all human appear
suicide for Moses 10 turn off from the accustomed
road and go down into that pocket between the
mountains OF the desert and the sea. : he did at
I1aahlrOtn- dcllveranCa OF his army either
ton upon the forces of nature.
Inc description Of the destruction Of SCdOTu and
Gomorrah reads almost exactly like that OF
Of the scenes known 70 have ACCOMPANIED the
stores Of inhamnable substances surrounding them
The Biblical story is sober and realistic to have
been invented.
Nor is the fate of Lots wife altogether anona-
Ious- The eruptOns Of gas and oil often "A
companied with eruptiOnS Of salt slime. such
presumably eCVelOped her she fingered behind
The description Of her death is certainly very sober
have been attached 10 il in many popular repre-
sensations. The phrase pillar Of salt IS more
definite than the original demapds. Mound of salt
would probably more nearly express the idea. But
salt IS an abundant constituent Of the rocks
the Dead Sea. The lower strata of JebeI J-sdum at
the south consists Of solid salt 40 feet thick
-e