Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-03-25

Minister confession Of faith-once the OASIS OF
nearly all protestant eommunions
II we and our Methodist brethren could main
tain the same degree OF spiritual warmth thar
Wesley and their forefathers enjoyed we might
do without further instruction But We cannot
do this None can stand still! Christiahs 10
day are losing their holiness. their sanctifica,
tion-their zeal for God is giving place to zeal
for a sect.
The light Of the millennial morning. which
for a century has been gradually breaking upon
the world. stimulating thought In every alEec
tion makes II necessary for our Methodist
brethren. as well for us all, to awaken 10
the wonderful privileges Of our day for Bioie
study: TO ascertain the real teachings OF God
Word. which. in the dark part we all seemingly
misunderstood and misrepresented. Already the
most intelligent ene-f0urth OF Methodism not
only rejects Brother wesley's theory, but alas.
repudiates the Bible also! IL accepts instead
Of salvation. that most dangerous form of In
fidelity known higher criticism ana thar
most unscriptural proposition Of human evolu-
ton which denies the fall OF our race and
makes void Christ's redemptive work and the
glorious result thereof-human restitution-Aets'
s;ls-23.
BURY THE DEAD PAST.
God forbid that we should bury any Of the
doctrines OF Christ and His twelve apostles!
On the contrary, let us strive to resurrect these
from the rubbish OF human traditions which
Is centuries have piled upon them Let us
instead bury our man made creeds, of which
we are all ashamed. Our Presbyterian friends
some years ago set noble example 10 all
InrlSTenQOu
Of faith and substitution instead Of a much
simpler and much more rational statement.
Rnt no. I must correct myself here. This
is what they should have done but did not do.
Instead Of burning the old creed not only
from sight. but also from odor. they have
merely covered the corpse, which is admitted
to be dead and placed the 6rieter ana ND better ,r
suredIy declare that IL Is not 3 substitute but
merely q representative statement. Hence
every time read the re-statement. We must
81 al coufa amin
odors OF, the carcass beneath. Not all must
do this, Tor. as the apostle suggests, "An have
not their senses exercised 20 discern" But
ali intelligent Presbyterians are being rapidly
driven not only away from Calvinism, but, alas,
away from the Bible also. because OF their err
roneous superstition that the teaching Of Calvin
and the teachings Of the Bible are one and the
same.
These bright minds sre not merely lost to the
Christian forces. but they become active agents
IN the PRONUNCIATION OF anti-Bihlical teachings.
Tbev are engaged in pulling down the Bible
and substituting for its teachings Darwin's evo-
luton theory. These sincere men are TO be
found in the faculties OF all Of the colleges.
in the highest pulpits throughout the land and
in the most prominent positions in business and
social life. Their loss OF faith in the Rible
has not made them murderers or thieves. Their
noble inheritance from the past preserves TO
them an uprightnsss Of character which the loss
Of q fear of hell torment has not undermined.
While they no longer Christians from the
Bible stendpoint-no longer believers in Jesus
us 4 Redeerner-they ere still believers in Jesus
as a great Teacher and a noble Leader Of men.
They fail TO discern the fact that II He posed
as the Son Of God and the Redtemer Of men.
example His life and teachings were most
stupendous frauds and receptions.
WHY do not these honorable. well meaning
people wholly abandon their creeds, framed In
the darker period? why do they not come
sfresh to tire Rible 70 learn inst what IL does
say respecting election. predestinstion. fore
ordina ton he'll. etc. The answer Is that their
more intelligent members have repudiated both
the creed and the Bible and are merely mn
holders. supporters of the system from an in
masses were to attain their standpoint OF I'M
belief Suddenly. Il might lead 70 some kind
Of trouble. They prefer therefore. TO pay
| money for the support ~ religious teaching
Insurance money house which they do not
expect will be burred-iust as large corpora
tions managed by Protestants frennentlv give
literally TO Catholic projects. trusting that 1t
will iuure to their advantage somehow.
As for the majority Of Preshvterians and 9th
ers holding to the Westminster confession. We
believe we represent them truthfrlly when We
say that while In their hearts they reDudiate
their creed. they believe that there Is none
other more scripturRl-none other that would
snit their heads end hearts better: IN nro-
nortion as they donht their confession Of faith
they doubt the Bible They are not ready TO
abandon the Pfhle ard hpvs nothing else, and
hence they are not yet ready to abandon their
confession OF faith.
n Is 10 this class in all denominations that
We appeaI-the middle class-the class that is
/ not 50 sleep as tobe unreasoning and the class
that has not yet reasoned itself out of all
: faith In the Bible the inspired Word OF God.
: These should hearken 70 the word OF the Lore
which declares thst ''Their fear toward me Is
not Of me. but Is taught nv the precepts 81
meu." And aCain. 'As the heavens are higher
than the earth. my ways higher than
your ways. and my plans than your plans
lisa. 5s:s: 1918.
| PAPTISTs AND DISCIPLES AWAKENING.
I When we say that this awakening IS also
reaching our Baptist and Disciple brethren.
I let II not be understood tn mean that all of
these have been asleep until now. Perhaps "
/ would have been better for them II some who
( have gotten awake during the past 30 year,
bad slumbered longer. Those long awake have
principally gone off into Darwinism and higher
/ criticism. Baptist and Disciple schools and col
leges and theological seminaries. like those OF
| other denominations. manned with the
I brightest minds OF the denomina lions, and all
I with one accord teaching higher criticism nnfi-
| delltyl and Darwlnian evolution. with one ae-
cord al are engaged In oYerthrowing the Chris.