The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1908-05-14
HIGHER CRITICISM
OF BIBLE is
DEFENDED
ENABLES US TO LOOK FACTS IN
THE FACE EVEN THOUGH THEY
ARE UNPLEASANT SAYS PROF.
l. w. BATTEN.

THE constructive value OF the high.
er criticism" was the topic discussed
In the Wednesday morning session OF
the Episcopal church congress in the
Light Guard armory. the subject being
hrst presented In a paper by the Rev.
Loring w. Batten, ID. D.. professor
or Old Testament exegesis in the Gen
eral Theological seminary, New York
DR.. Batten said that the higher crit.
icism Is method OF investigation
perfectly in accord with intellectual
discernment. and that II bases It's
conclusions on the evidence II gath.
ers.
The higher criticism" he said, has
enabled Us TO look facts in the face.
even though the facts are unpleasant.
The modern critic insists that IL any
thing Is 10 be juggled with II must
be theories and not facts. Among the
greatest constructive values OF the
higher criticism is the fact thar 1t
enables us TO interpret the bible I'm
terms OF human experience.
Accuse the higher critic In what
ever way we may, he can never again
be persuaded that the socalled mir
acles OF the Old Testament are i'm
possible Of accomplishment today Dr.
Worcester has accomplished works
more marvellous than the works OF the
Judean king"
Higher Criticism Defended
The Rev. Ernest NJ. Paddock, rector
OF Emmanuel church. Allegheny. Pa.
and the Rev. Lester Bradner. Phi. D..
rector OF st. Johns church. Provi-
taff GO
ing: What men are after today Is
: reality about their religion and the
history of their religion. There is
no intention 10 ignore revelation or
inspiration in biblical Interpretation
as q whole. The constructive value
Of biblical criticism is testified to by
the interest which 1t has awakened in
the minds OF men"
The Rev II. Z. w. Fosbroke. pro
lessor OF Hebrew and Old Testament
literature in Nashotah Theological
seminary, was the last OF the regulaS
speakers. but the Rev. DR.. w. d. Max
on, OF Christ church, Detroit. spoke
extemporaneously saying In part:
There Is higher criticism and higher
criticism. believe 1t were better.
however. to call il biblical criticism.
and whether II is high or low, 1t Is
interpreted by the spirit In which 1t
is given. There Is criticism which
may be called high and lofty and un-
questionably elevates the bible as a
book of religion and strengthens the
faith in which our religion is en-
shrined, but everybody who looks into
this subject knows that there Is
criticism which may be called purely
intellectual and in which the spirit OF
religion Is more or less latent or over
looked, and along this line we may
call the criticism OF the bible as some
what low. 1t Is exceedingly destruc-
tive and at this present time, | believe
exceedingly dangerous. There Is
tendency on the part OF some ex-
treme critics to take the supernatural
out OF the bible refer TO Prof.
Schmittdiel who finds but five authen-
tic sayings OF our Lord Jesus In the
New Testiment Another extremely
intellectual critic of the New Tesla
ment has recently argued from GER
tain passages In the gospels that
Christ is not a historical person"
Believes in Scientific Study.
The Rev. DR.. Tatlock, OF Ann Arbor,
said that the higher criticism Is the
scientific study OF the bible, and that
he believed in the scientific study OF
the book the same as any other scien.
tific study.
ut has been said that there Is dan
ger, but we are familiar with the cry
declared the speaker. The only dan
gerous thing in connection with the
church and religion Is error. The
only man who has done harm Is the
man who is unwilling to learn and
teach the truth. The people demand
the truth wherever 1t may be. The
scientific study OF the bible brings the
bible back 10 the people and makes
that book understandable, makes II
real thing that can be read and under.
stood They can then appreciate Il
IA the great book OF religion that has