Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-01

IN ANHNNA Va NhAhoAg tNhANHN Wt'Naf'"
natl.
According 10 an account IN the Bos-
ton Herald, the Rev. gentleman has add
dressed letter to his bishop. and
caused It to be published. In this COM
muElcation ne claims that on the sun
day after Dr. Crapsey's tria by the
church tribunal he took sides With him.
y preached a sermon in my parish
church In which | declared / did not be.
lieye IN the virgin birth or in the bodily
resurrection Of Jesus Christ" Further,
he says Il have on many occasions
preached sermons IN which the doc.
trine Of atonsment. as 1t Is inanifestly
Sc, forth In the prayer book was ques-
toned on scriptural. as well rs on logic.
81. grounds. The doctrine Of original
SIN, as SET forth In the baptlsmal ONCE,
] have strenuously denied ana tried TO
disproye, and there are other manifest
teachings Of the prayer book which !
have criticised from the point Of view
OF a reyerent and critical study Of the
Scriptures themselves"
Judging from the reports OF the case.
the gentleman is hardly prominent
enough to attract attention by preach
Ing doctrines AT variance with the creed
Of tho church In the employ Of which
he earns his living and 20 he calls at.
ieniion to himself In rather unusual
way and classes himself with Dg.
Crapsey. the eminent clergyman who Is
now temporarily suspended from his
office IN the hope that he may change
his mind. Mr.. Cox practically asks for
the privilege OF trial for heresy. he
says he is willing TO preach Christ as
model and even call Him the Son OF
God in poetic sense" but he must
dismiss the supernatural as incredible.
The whole OF our theology" he says
is tangled with the supernatural, the
miraculous. A good part OF Il Is a
metaphysical setting Of poetic truth
falsihed BY its metaphysical state.
ment'
The proper church authorities will.
OF course, deal with this peculiar case
as they deem best. but TO an impartial
and dIsnterested spectator Of current
events the question naturally arises. to
what extent is the so-called Christian
pulpit infected with this kind Of inf
delity2 once In while prominent and
learned ministers are caught deliberate
~ proclsiming doctrines that are In.
compatible with the plain statements Of
the Word OF God, And In this instance
a minister does not wait TN he is
called upon to answer to charges made.
but he comes forward and proclalms
himself nou-belieyer. How many
ministers are there who secretly sym
pathize with the views expressed, but
who, for various. we'll understood rea-
sons refrain from publicly proclaim
ing their secret thoughts aud doctrin-
al preferences? Mr.. Cox asserts. In
all this have not been alone. but have
had a multitude OF supporters in the
pulpit, including bishops" IL the ex-
tent Of the uncertainty and doubt that
exist In the very ranks Of those who
should be the pillars OF faith were
known, the prevalence Of indifference.
among the masses would appear quite
natural.
And how can this be remedied. ex-
cept by the reminding in the church o.
the light OF revelation. that spread its
brilliant rays among the first followers
OF Jesus? Candidly. what other rene.
dy Is there2 What other authority is
there to lead into all truth, to declare
ruth. and TO prevent error. than the
Holy Spirit manifesting himself as in
the early church? Human reason. no
matter how well trained to make OBJ.
servations and logical conclusions. ia
Inadequate to secure unity. The Scrip
lures cannot bring about unity. as long
as each individual places his own juds.
ment against that OF his brother. What
remedy against error and contention is
there then, except the humble submis.
sion Of all TO the enlightenlng influences
Of the Holy Spirit, whose special fune.
ton in the church II is to lead into all
truth? Is truth desired? Is unity the
OBJECT? Let the light OF revelation
shine In the midst Of the people Of God.
and the object will be attained.