The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-16
CHRFsTIAN DooMA.
its Contrsdiction OF the Spirit Of the An,
and the ecientiae Habit.

ouo VIZ eosUAAsAnp ASuts
To THE EDITOR OF TEE SvN-Sir: Ih.,,
boon deeply impressed by the newt itAr
which you lately publiahed In regard 10 ths
unfortunate discovery mads by the Nav
York P~posbytery, that three OF tho four
candidates who presented themselves "A
applicants for license TO preach we're found
men are, ! understand. urged to take tims
and search their hearts prayerfully In tbe
hope that whom they present themselves
again thoy may be able 10 say that thev
believe whatever the reverend wise man
want them to believe.
! saw a similar exhibition oncs Of ons
man alone on tho grill, and It was a pathetic
sight. He was obsessed With thu here,r
that II q mar was honest In bis unbelisf IN
certain essentials" his integrity would
not necessarily involve him in everlastinr
punishment. He stood his ground man.
fully for over half an hour. with only his
conscience TO support him. Finally hs
gave in-his whole career hung In the bal.
~ance-and he lied supinoly. His conscience
collapsed and he said he believed the very
things he had been denying. When, he had
committed that crime against himself the
brethren offered him tho r light hand Of fel-
lowship. he was welcomed as a true minis.
toT VI tti0 pObpci VI O0sub -duu u bt6m61 70
me that he was pretty we'll spoiled.
Now the examiners are presumably sim
cere in what they call their beliefs. II one
repeats q thing often enough to himself he
may make 1t o part Of the subcorsclous
workings OF his mind. and thus IN time come
to regard a. a conclusion what In fact has
become but a mental habit. II is similar
to the attitude of Q lf-justih cation 10 cnm.
inals. With diligence and will we can ctnI
vince ourselves OF many absuTdities. Ii
every time the voice OF conscience speaks
TO the effect that this doctrine is q crime
against humanity and cannot be true or
the faculty Of Judgment becomes active, aud
beginning to think for ourselves. we call 1t
tho harassment OF doubt. and then over
come 1t by sinking back into 4 lazy mental
torpor with the SELF -satisfaction OF having
achieved q great virtue. We may become
firm In the faith"
Those remarkable. unreasonable. archaic
propositions known as Christian dogma are
contrary to the spirit OF the age; they do
not accord with what Professor Sumner
s e. rt shs . =. f.r z one Ct os ssIS: z. or ~ ss., 81 ~
ilhal, SHs was wa The csiheIic tSafeh hey
seemed nsao p , Ss5s:rss. ss. s.s liSs1 ssI.nt IA, b tAsy
Of mind Insists upon reasonable basis .for
every hypothesis. The scientific spirit has
infused historical research. which now re-
fuses TO recognize the Fathers and their
fables as final authority. and has made what
was belief crumble even within the walls Of
the sanctuaries.
Viewed in the light OF honest research,
trlne after doctrine and dogma after dogma
range themselves among the many other
myths that once were 10 the hearts Of pso.
pie and nov arc found only In booksi Be.
cause the men who achieve authority TO
preach IN the temples Of Christ must iirst
declare themselves to be believers 10 those
things which We are convinced are not true
their influence dwindles away. II they are
really sincere in all this twaddle. Of what
value is their jud gment? and II they are In.
sincere in their professions. why trust them
No wonder the Church Is losing power.
So the biggest of all questions arises for
to-day and tomorrow: Who IL there tnat
shall lead men unto Cox? Z. II.
NEW YORK, May 10.