New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-23
GRANT HERESY RECORD


~ III, marian doctrine, as iiiv sS,n,rcn
preach Unitarian doctrine. And we Woulu
DC sorry representatives of the teacnlHss
OF Jesus II we did not do so; 1t has eitn nre
ignorant OF the fact that a good nine-
tenths o: more OF Unitarian doctrine Is
identical with Presbyterian doctrine.
80 you see ! could not very well pledun
Presbyterian doctrine without at the same
time preaching Unitarian doctrine. Though
the Unitarian point of view is not wholly
KINDRED 10 that OF evangelical Christianity,
YET whole sections Of the New Testame,n'
Take, Tor example the Sermon on the
Mount, Corinthians, xiii. the fatherhood
OF Cod The BROTHERHOOD of man, the sort
Of character that determines human des-
tiny. immortality. etc What would the
Unitarian be likely 10 say in treating such
themes that the liberal Presbyterian could
rot indorse?
That is to say. the Unitarian and evan:
selieal agree in all that is truly essential
10 the attainment Of the highest type OF
life and character. This is proved by the
example and attainments of many. VINO
have never heard Of the historical Christ,
But | may be told that all this that |
have said is aside from the main grievance.
that some people have a suspicion that 3!
Jesus Now II should not with unpreju-
diced minds and II there were no other
Questions at issue. be difficult to settle
solemnly and honestly and without reser
walton OF any sort, that hold 10 the divn-
Ivy or Jesus OK Nazareth as / believe HIS
first disciples. who were nearest TO Him
ard who knew Him best regarded His di-
vinty. / thus believe In the divinity which
Jesus constantly claimed for Himself. and
which God. the Father. generously accords
HIM
And while the belief in such a divinity
may be enough for me, as IT is enough for
most people who have given the matter
any consideration. as Il was enough for
ha, a.tst1 ,,olf
he enough 10 satisfy those who have be-
come skeptical regarding my orthodoxy
II is no easy matter 10 satisfy prejudice:
the Master himself had an experience Of
this difficulty. Such people I imagine ex-
pect me to believe in the divinity OF a be-
ing whom his most intimate followers
10 meet him to-day: 70 believe in an un-
natural, abnormal being. 10 believe in n
being fearfully and wonderfully construct
ed by theological rennements and ecclesi-
astical controversies: TO believe in a being,
in short that is not found in the Gospel or
anywhere else save in the imagination OF
some people which certainly is not found
in life and experience.
II has been my observation that belief
in such fantastic divine being confessed
by some people. Is frequently accepted as
a convenient substitute for living the divine
life Of Jesus II the fanatca zeal and re-
ligious fervor that have been manifested
throughout Christian history in attempts
20 set forth and maintain the divinity Of
Jesus had been employed 10 build up and
perfect character the one and supreme end
Of Christs mission and message. today
the kingdom Of God would he considerably
nearer at hand than it seems to be.
In the testimony a former member Of
Or Grants church said that while he
had been a Presbyterian elder for sew
eral years he had been led 10 accep.
Tnitarlansm al the result Of Or. Grants
preachings.
Says Liars Died from ApopIexy.
The story Of the death of Ananias and
Sapphire. who sold their property and
brought a part Of the price 10 the apos-
tie. maintaining that they had brought
the whole amount. was treated by Dr.
Grant in an article in The Sunbury
Daily under the heading: Did God AL
mighty strike Ananias and Sapphire
dead because they ned?"
Beginning with the statement that the
couple played the hypocrite and that their
conduct could not on any ground be
condoned he made the unqualified state
ment that they died from ordinary apo
plexy or heart failure. due 70 the unex-
peCted discovery OF their guilt. They
dropped dead" said the preacher, be
cause they had been caught in a pre-
meditated and barefaced lie" Then he
took the saints and patriarchs Of
Scripture 10 task for prevarication, and
said that none Of them was struck dead
for doing so He continued.
Lying Why. did not Abraham. the friend
% God. lie most grevously and inexcusa-
bly, DID not the patriarch Jacob lie In
manner and measure tar moro heinousy
the twain under consideration? Did he not
wilfully deceive his poor. old blind father
who was. IN every sense. God : representa-
i've. IN order 70 possess himself Of a paltry
What shali We say OF St Peter Had he
been so superior and immaculate that he
could AFFORD % SIT IN Judgment on other
should have manifested patience toward
and consideration for a weaker brother: for
whoever lied with less reason. or with
more profanity 20 make his assertion ap-
pear true. than did this same leading apos-
tie? II II is claimed that the infant Church
reeded 70 be taught a lesson on the vice
Of lying might II not have been enough ha6
/ eter related ! is own experience
fear there would be a dearth 0f teachers
next Sabbath I'm The SUNDAY school should
all absent themselves save those who be
fore God could claim 10 he less blame
worthy with regard to lying than were
Ananias and Salphira.
Mr.. Grant sat beside his counsel and
listened unmoved to the reading of the
articles which he had written and 10
the testimony against him and in his
favor His counsel will speak in his be-
half tomorrow. and then the appellant
will he heard and the decision will he
reached by the commission and reported
to the assembly.
The commission may approve the de-
cision of the Presbytery of Northum-
berland dismissing the charges. or en-
terrain the appeal for a prosecuting
committee and find Or. Grant guilty OF
heresy and suspend him or send the case
back to the Presbytery for a new trial.
Other Heresy Cases.
Or Charles Little. chairman of the
committee of bills and overtures. re-
quested that the two overtures relating
To the alleged heresy Of President Brown
and Professor Brown. Of Union Semi
nary. he referred by the assembly 10
his committee for consideration and re-
port and the request was granted. The
committee met this evening to consider
these overtures and report will be
made probably after the termination
Of the Grant heresy case.
The assembly proper. on motion of
Theodore w Marcis of the Presbytery