Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1909-12-04

arc. he said, in substance, 5000. 600 pco-
pie In this country outside the churches
because the churches teach. the old doc
trines OF the Bible Let them give up
their creeds and preach the Bible as
remodelled by higher criticism. and
they will reach the people.
We beg to differ with the speaker on
this proposition. There is only one
way OF reaching the heart of man, and
that is by the proclamation. through
the Inspiration OF the divine Spirit, of
| the old, old story, that has brought life,
and joy. and peace to millions. and by
| which nations have been lifted out o.
| rarbarfsm and placed upon the highest
plane of civilization. Higher criticism
| is but another form of ratlonalism. 1t
| presents some truth, but 1t is far from
explaining the difficulties In the Bible.
| II adds to them. II it Is true. for III
stance. that higher criticism teaches
| us that Mcthuselah was only IS
years old when he died. because the
| Hebrew year lasted only twcnty-nine
and q half days. then it also asks us
to believe that he was only 10
years old when he beca-a the father Of
Lamech. and some of the patriarchs
OF that period were much younger
when they became fathers Mahalce'
on that explanation was only five years
old when he begat Jared That KIND
OF explanations are not satisfactory 20
an inouiring mind.
We have said that higher criticism
is essentially another form of rational
ism. But rationalism has been tried
and has failed, and II Will fail every
time when the soul feels the neec oil
communion with the heavenly Father.
Science is not to be Gespised. Through
its methods we obtain knowledge and
intelligence but it's ways are slow and
laborious. and by running too fast over
its rocky and winding paths we often
stumble and fall and miss the truth.
Hence the necessity of the guidance OF
that light which comes through the
channels OF revelation.
Nothing can be gained by n denial of
the doctrine of the fall of man as
taught in the Bible. Every man and
woman capable of thought and ref1ec-
ton feels the consequences of o "falr'
from the ideal of perfection that Is
implanted in human consciousness, and
the necessity of redemption. IL there
was no fall. there was no atonement,
and no gospel All is myth. Religion
Is farce. But the world will never
baf Nv afd of q farce
nor through an innate force lift
ing it up. We would rather say that
the reason why there are 10000
900 souls in this country outside the
churches, Is this that we have relied |
too much on higher criticism and too |
little on the pure. unadultcrated gospel
OF the Redeemer. We have offered |
our fellowmen the stone of rationalism
and the serpent OF materialism Or the
bread of life. Let the world return
to the first principles. proclaimed by
divine authority. and find in those prin-
ciples the very remedy ii needs, for
every possible ill, both moral and
social.
In one thing we agree fully with Col.
Churcn. and tnat Is IN ms plea loI tol-
Grafton, anu brotherly love, in spite of
differences of opinion Christian
churches have. In the past. sinned
in this respect. a Catholic
speaker has sale; Let me announce
it deliberately and with all the en-
phasis possible, that the time has come
when inhdelity and immortality are
stalking abroad in our land. and that
it behoovcs all Christian people. Pro-
testans and Catholics alike to forget
their petty jealousies and diffc-> ICES
and, although holding fast to their re-
ligious convictions. to unite, to stand
to shoulder, forming an un-
pregnable barrier to anti-Christian
doctrine and pagan morals
Those are noble words that must
find a responsive chord in the heart of
syry Christian. When they are acted
upon in the spirit of the Savior, the
Millennium is not far off
|