New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-10-10
"TOMFOOLERY OF DOGMA
Bolton Hall Writes the Synod
Denying Belief in Miracles.
"OUR CHURCH NOT GAINING"
This, He Says, Is Because the
Heretical Bodies Pretend
to Common Sense.

Bolton Hall. counsellor at law. of No. %
Broadway, this city, and son OF the late
Rev. DR.. John Hall. minister of the Fifth
Avenue Presbyterian Church, has written
the following letter to the Synod of New
York on the admission 10 the ministry of
two candidates who disavowed belief in the
miracles.
Mr.. Hall adds that the matter viii come
ND again before the Synod at Rochester on
October % next. His letter is as follows:
New York, October 6. 1910
AN open letter 10 the Synod of New York:
Brethren: Let us be sensible and honest
with ourselves. ana we shall not lose either
IN devotion or responsibility.
We are Presbyterians, mostly the de-
scendants OF hard headed. reasoning Scotch
people. but We dc not realize, I think, how
ridiculous we seem TO the average man of
common sense In disputing about such
questions as the story OF Jonah and the
whale. the resurrection of Lazarus, or
the virgin birth Of the Saviour
There are numbers OF persons who &C
cept these things as true-no one really
believes them. Belief Is, according TO the
dictionary, that which is accepted as true
on the evidence of testimony or reasoning.
Then, no one who just receives those
things because he never heard them ques-
toned, or never thought about them at all,
or who simply cannot think. can be said to
believe.
But whether the miracle tales be true
or false makes no difference and is OF no
consequence whatever. No reasonable
man now supposes tTat any ones saliva
ton depends upon whether he deemed the
evidence of q miracle sufficient or not no
sane man believes that the object of Jesus's
coming was 20 establish such poppycock as
that.
The object Of Jesus's coming was to
bind Up the broken hearted, TO proclaim
liberty 70 the captives. and the opening of
the prison TO them that are bound and TO
teach men to love one another.
I am Presbyterian and the son of 2
Presbyterian. and I am proud Of it; but I
don't believe those tales, and I don't be
lieve that the COW Jumped over the moon.
except in some symbolical and metaphorical
sense And It makes me ashamed and hu-
INFLATED 10 see the Presbytery Of the great
city Of New York quar-elling over such in
fantile propositions or rebuking prize
fighters.
IF a poll were taken Of yourselves il
WOQLQ ne Iouno that hardly q traction OF
our own ministers under forty would say
that they believed in miracles. Separately,
we cannot say 70 the congregations that
we do not believe, because it would be
used as a handle Of offence by captious
members
TT is true that our Church Is not gain
ing in proportion TO population, and II is
true that heretical bodies, like the Christian
Scientists, who deny the miracles and at
least pretend TO the exercise Of common
sense. are gaining. And II is true that
socialists and single takers and skeptics
who openly laugh al our grotesque theo-
logical discussion are increasing enoT-
mously and are willing m accept the lead
ership Of the Church only If Il will so in
their chosen direction. which is TO make il
possible for men to live by loving one an
other instead OF by cutting one another s
Lhroats.
Let US have done with this tomfoolery of
down TO SEE serious business of life, which
Is 70 help mankind 10 live. II the Church
would make recommendation to every
rural minister 70 cultivate bit of land in
connection with his work, SO that he would
have some resources outside his stipend,
the old Elebe culture could be revived and
handiwork would become respectable and
raise up for us a ministry that could af-
ford 10 say what 1t really believes
Yours sincerely and respectfully.
"bOLTON HALL