The Detroit times., 1910-10-21

jubilee, we reafflrm our alleyiahSe
TO the principles for which the
Baptists have been characterized,
among which are the deity OF our
Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ;
the reliability Of the Scriptures;
His atoning sacrifice and re9ener-
alton by the Holy Spirit.
This resolution was presented by
the committee on state religion In the
Thursday morning session OF the bap-
list convention in the North Wood
ward church, and was adopted with
out comment OF any kind. The Rev.
+. B. Cutler read the report OF the
! committee and moved the adoption OF
the resolution.
II was expected that there would
be some opposition 10 the resolution
by the I'll surgents." and some sur
prise was privately expressed thai
none developed The Rev. A. w. Wis
hart. OF Grand Rapids. regarded as the
leader of the insurgents" or higher
critics, was not present when the res
olution came up. He came In after
the motion was adopted and expressed
surprise that II went through without
some discussion.
Had | been present" said Mr.. Wis
hart afterwards, to The Times, Il GER
tainly should have said something
on the resolution. But there Is
really nothing in IL TO cause serious
consideration. The wording OF II
doesn't mean anything at all; we can
90 right ahead and think and act as
we please. and that's just what well
do
"old Guard" Pleased.
The Baptist clergymen OF the old
euard" type were pleased that the re-
affirmation was made possible with
out any ado. They point out that the
action OF the convention in sticking
10 the old ideas, the fundamental
principles OF Christianity, will have a
nation wide significance, in view OF
the general feeling OF unrest In re-
lis.ous as well as political and other
lines. and will have an influence In
other Baptist communities.
The 'old guard" men, however.
while they rejoiced at the passage OF
the creed" resolution, had an un-
comfortable time of IL later Two
speakers upheld the idea of freedom
in religious thinking and action. The
~.
Grand River-Ave. Baptist church, De-
troit. said in the course OF an address
| on Michigan Baptists and education:
las for the banterIng theological
game cock or the bartering terrier OF
orthodoxy, they never brighten Bap-
| tist. The chesty pouter pigeon, gen
efalissimo. self-appointed defender OF
the faith, with cooked hat, nodding
i -. ~ Id mo
! up and down the line, commanding,
| fall in, heads erect, eyes front. right
dress to the infallible Interpretation
OF an infallible interpreter, he is not
| even a good joke. No one can find
the conscience of Christ alone. The
illogical statements are man-made and
must undergo change, II there Is any
living thought or investigation. We
seek truth stated in terms OF today.
Our fathers were too wise even TO
think that their statements, strong
and profound as hey were. were to
be considered as final. Personal re-
ligion is a growing thing. life within
the soul, born of a holy spirit. 1t can
| never be measured in the terms OF
theology. A people, free to do their
own thinking. dominated by no &C.
clesiastic authority, free to accept the
thinking Of others, people that go
with an advancing kingdom. are a
people who have an educational out
look. future that Is worth while"
Some More ProddIng.
Later, DR.. E. w. Lounsbury, OF Chi
cago, district secretary OF the Ameri
can Baptist Missionary union, prod
ded the sticklers for orthodoxy in q
vigorous address. He said, among
other things:
I'VE ought not to spend precious
| time discussing old and new theology,
higher criticism, or lower criticism,
and the dotting OF our is and the
crossing of our is. The difference
between orthodoxy and heterodoxy Is
old, the difference between my 'doxy'
and your 'doxy.' What the Baptists
need TO do is to preach the gospel
and live the gospel. Then these ques-
tons will of detail will take care of
themselves.
The Rev. J. Y. Aitchison, d. D., Chi
cago. in an address ON Home Mis-
sions," said:
Il have had the sad duty Of burying
two Baptist churches. They were
killed by an overdose OF good doctrine.
the doctrine of Christian baptism.
believe In doctrines. but we must hold
them In proper relation. We shall not
find men In trouble over doctrine. II
we can get them TO do the definite
work In hand. We have given too
much attention to baptism and too
! little attention to the great commits
sion, evangelism"
Speaking on Social service" the
Rev. F. T. Galpin, OF Detroit, said.
THE church is doing only half it's
duty where it fails to safeguard hu-
manity against physical pollution. as
we'll as striving TO bring about spirit
ual regeneration. Social service Is a
duty of love, and the church must not
look on IL as a work of temporarily,
otherwise the church will become a
spiritual vacuum"
The convention OF 1911 will he held
in the First Baptist church, Adrian,
and the annual sermon will be
preached by the Rev. Abner f. Bowl
ing. of Benton Harbor, Mich, with
the Rev F.. T. Galpin, OF Detroit. as
alternate.
Delegates to the Northern Baptist
convention in Philadelphia, Next June.
were appointed as follows: The Revs.
A. 8. Slocum, OF the Kalamazoo col
lege; +. T. Galpin, F. b. Cutler. +.
w. Young. and M. p. Fixes, Detroit;
George Laughton, Owosso: J. w.
IJovt rackaon. w n Shoemaker