La Junta tribune., 1909-11-27

speak In words we have not those
words, but only translations Of them
many times removed The words OF
the Bible are the words OF men, the
thoughts are the thoughts OF men,
: the ideals and understanding too, are
OF men. The ideals. thoughts and
words have come together slowly az
the results OF human growth and ef
fort. They are handed down to us
as great storehouse in which we
may find the richest products OF hu
man experience The more we searcl
this treasure the more inspiration
! and help will we find therein. There
Is no charm of magic in its use, no
miraculous influence attends 1t, bu,
the mind that delves here. seeking
for truth. finds ineNhaustible inspira.
!, ton. The BIT le will remain the
great storehouse OF devotion and
spiritual instruction. From its sub.
lime heights will always come the
glorifying light OF faith and hope. 1t
will be a source of revelation to those
who study II and intelligently use II.
Its principal use to unitarians is that
of literature. We cannot use II as a
statute book of laws, nor yet as a
message from another world. nor as
a declaration OF beliefs which we are
IN mn hs.l "a q
) read II as the only true expression
of religion. We cannot accept II all
! as equally truthful or valuable. Scrip.
ture is more authoritative when II
, agrees with what we know and feel
TO be true. but truth is no more
authoritative because confirmed by
scripture. We use scripture AS an
aid to worship, We read It as part
OF our religious service, but In so
doing We do not commit ourselves
TO literal acceptance of what We
: read am free TO read accounts of
! miracles and records OF sayings that
do not accept as literally true, the
matter Is useful instructive and edi,
Tying nevertheless The fables OF
Aesop are not records OF actual III.
ingly instructive.
The parallels OF Jesus are made
up stories" ] suppose. not records OF
: historic occurrences. yet they will
, never cease to give inspiration and
, lead to truth
The accounts OF miracles In the
| Bible may or may not be correct In.
terpretations or reports OF wha, hap
pened. but they always represent
, what people have thought. l can
read these narratives here In our
service without thereby committing
myself TO literal belief In them.
Use Of the Bible.
The fact that the Bible lies upon
our pulpits, and that we read from
1, In our service. does not Justify
the accusation sometimes made that
We are hypocritically using wha, W,
reject II Is not true that because We
reject IN. infallibility of this book
and do not accept II AS literally true
that We have no right To use II. Let
the Bible speak for itself. Let II
tell Its own story. We each will
have TO interpret tho story accord
Ing 10 our conditions.
II there be any hypocrisy In IN,
found with those who assert Its IN
fallibility. refer 10 II rs the Wore
OF God" and give the impression thai
the words read were uttered some
time somewhere. by God Himself
or were written by Him and super
naturally sent from heaven TO earth
. II there bc any presumption In tn
use OF the Bible Il must DO with
! those who think II teaches nothini
' but their doctrines. Tho fact IL, "a
said earlier. that many doctrine
are taught there and every dcnoml
nation exercises It's own judgcmcn
In picking them out. and each en-
phasizcs what II sees elcarcst o
thinks most important.
Al Unitarlans we are not partict
u larry anxious to support our doctrine
with texts Of scripture. that IL 10 m,
We do not consider . Bible text .
n final authority. We cannot belisv
o doctrine solely On Biblical stat
:. nsats oe h. Thsre ass .etAse si1s