Fergus County argus. [volume] (Lewistown, Mont.) 1886-1946, 1906-05-04
= y ~
CHURCHMAN'S
NOVEL VIEW
THINKS ACTUAL BODY OF CHRIST
STILL llNGERS IN THE
TOMB.

London, May Rev. Forbes Phil
lips. the vicar of Confession, has just
dramatized Guy Thorne's novel, when
[, Was Dark"
Interview as to his ideas upon this
subject of this remarkable noval
which attracted the attention of Chris
tendon, he said: Il have practicall!
recast the whole story and written
the play in my own way. Mr.. Thorne's
book clever though it is, is impossible
from the point of view of the think
ing man. To begin with, even if
Christ's body were discovered, it would
not create the ridiculous sensation
throughout the world that he predicts
that it would. And again, for my own |
part l declare plainly as high church
clergyman-who, indeed, wears vest
ments and lights candles on the altar
that l do not consider it an article
OF the Christian faith that His Body |
did rise from the tomb. On the con-
trary, l believe it did not. l believe
that if We were to make careful ex.
ploration in Palestine today We might
actually come across the sacred tomb
and discovered within it the precious
body of our Lord, or at all events the
dim remains of it as it was hidden
away by Joseph of Arimathea for fear
of the Jews, and of the great disap-
pointment to the disciples had the body
been found in the tomb on the resur-
rection morning."
When his attention was called to the
fact that this was a very grave state
ment that might cast reflections upon
his orthodoxy, the Rev. Forbes Phil
lips being asked what the bishop of
London would say, replied:
Il do not know, and quite frankly
I do not care. My play is intended as
protest against the utterly material
conception of the great fundamental
fact of Christianity put forward by
Guy Thorne and applauded by the
bishop of London. l grieve that as
bishop of London ne should have as
sisted in advertising cheap and a SEN
timental novel. Christ rose in spirit.
1t was a spirit that appeared to the
disciples so constantly after the cru.
cifixion; it was spirit that assembled
into heaven. The whole of the New
Testament story goes to show the spir
itual as opposed to the material con.
oeption of Christ's resurrection from
, the grave"
The unique part about this whole
thing is that probably never before
has a writer attempted the dramatic
< alton of another's novel and made it
read directly opposite to what it was
] originally in plan and scope. Such a
+ thing could hardly happen outside of
: the realms of heated theological con.
e troversy. And heated theological
r controversy is raging over the views
enunciated by the Rev. Forbes Phil
9 lips. The Rev. DR.. Duckworth, canon
S and sub-deacon of Westminster. said
0 this week:
f Il have no hesitation in averring
y that the doctrine which the vicar of
\ Confession declares himself prepared to
= preach is in direct contradiction to the
h creed of our church, and also impos
s sible to reconcile with the fourth to
$ the 80 articles to which he must have
+ subscribed"
S The archdeacon of London was equ'
s ally emphatic in declaring the doctrine
$ of the church as contrasted with the
n novel opinion Of the vicar of Confession
G insisting that the doctrine of the res
n direction is an essential.
a The point is raised that Forbes Phil
e lips is clergyman in holy orders
It and that he has no legal or mora
If right to make the assertions which
e he has made and remain a clergyman
e. of the Church of England. Literar.
g men are also raising the point tina
lie Mr.. Forbes Philips had no legal O.
H. moral right to take the play, "Whel
he 1t Was Dark" and twist it SO tn
I'd original author would not recognize
tn 1t. The Vicar of Charleston Therefore
iS aDroor re n ho hot u,oor tu,o froc