The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-21
Is 1t Not a Dangerous Position .

When Mr.. GOODWIN SMITH suggested
in letter to THE sun that at this time
of Biblical criticism clergymen must be
affected by the doubts 30 prevalent
among the laity, and he questioned if
sincerity does not require Of them a cam
did expression Of their real convictions,
an Episcopal clergyman replied with
some heat that. 30 far from any invasion
OF the pulpit by skepticism. there is now
among the clergy more vital faith than
ever.
This opinion however, was not sus-
tanned at the meetings of the opponents
of the critics of the Bible in a Fifth
avenue church last week. On the
contrary, the implication of the addresses
was that there is much Of that very in
sincerity in the pulpit" dishonesty.
as it was described. The president of the
meeting, for example, substantially re-
peated the suggestion Of Mr.. GOODWIN
SMITH, saying:
Men who have solemniy engaged to teach and
preach the canoncal Scriptures OF the Old and
New Testaments as the Word OF GOD. and who
teach and preach the conclusions OF a so-caled
scientific scholarship. whose inevitable effect is
the destruction Of faith in the Bible the Word OF
COP. are in principle as morally guilty OF breach
OF trust as are the men who untrue In the mat
ter OF finance"
The week before at the Episcopal
Church Congress in Brooklyn this $50
called scientific scholarship was pro-
claimed and defended by three out of four
clerical speakers on the subject. 1t is
taught, indirectly if not directly, in practi-
cally all the theological schools of emf
hence in Professionalism, at least and in
the Roman Catholic Church papal COM
mission has been appointed to consider it.
Only few days before the meeting Of
the Bible League in Fifth avenue license
to preach asked for by graduate from
nominally orthodox theological seminary
was held in allegiance because he accepted
or seemed to accept the conclusions of
this "so-called scientific scholarship.
Nor is it probable that the run of the
clergy even in the churches Of New York
designated as evangelical" could pass
more successfully through similar ex-
animation as to their views on the sub
ject, if they gave their opinions and con-
victions candidly and honestly.
A prominent Episcopal rector at
Rochester in this State has invited
trial for heresy by persistently denying
the inerrancy Of the Bible and treating
JESUS as "a man such as are other men,"
In England memorial to the Anglican
Bishops and Archbishops, asking for
liberty to apply the methods of the so
called scientific scholarship" to deter
mine the historical validity of the Gospel
records themselves, has already been
signed by fifteen hundred Anglican
clergymen. including many of high
distinction.
Are these clergymen morally guilty
of breach of trust" because they hold
these views and teach and preach them?
Is not their first obligation of conscience
to the truth as it seems to them? But the
speaker at the Bible League contended
that the inevitable effect Of their teach i
ing lis the destruction of faith in the !
Bible as the Word of GOD Unquestion-
ably they reject the theory of biblical
but none the less do they |
proclaim the transcendent beauty of the |
Christian idealism on which the Church |
rests.
Is it not somewhat perilous to. take the |
y0sition,H this Bible Leaeae that the
ChtRasn fsiigoh7 tself, TssssIe3h d 4 moral /