The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-09-20
Rev. Oliver G. Frazer, Friends
Minister, Issues State
ment Defending the Teach
ing of Russell.
FRAZER ORTHODOXY
NOW INVESTIGATED
Committee for This Purpose
Recently Appointed by the
Quarterly Meeting He
Warns Church.

The Rev. Oliver c. Frazer, pastor of
the Friends church at Economy.
graduate of Earlham college, in a
strong statement today espoused the
cause of Professor Elbert Russell un-
der suspician in the Friends church of
teaching heterodox doctrines at the To-
cal college.
The Rev. Mr.. Frazer, who specializ-
ed in Biblical work during his resi-
dence at Earlham college, is himself
suspected of being a hereto, and a
committee was recently appointed by
the quarterly meeting to investigate
the case. His advanced thought seems
to be in conflict with some of the old
er doctrinal teachings of the Friends.
The Rev. Mr.. Frazer is popular in
his congregation at Economy
Through self-sacrifice and devotion
he has advanced the interests of the
congregation at Economy and given it
a strong position in the Quarterly
Meeting.
Challenges Orthodox Friends.
In statement, which the Rev. Mr..
Frazer gave to the press today, he
challenges the right of Jealous Friends
to claim for themselves the right to
say what things one should believe.
The truth is," says he, that selfish
ness may lurk in religious things as a
wolf in sleeps clothing; generosity
and Christian courtesy will cause one
to grant to another the same rights
which he holds for himself
Let those Friends who have been
instrumental in casting such suspic
ion on the spotless name of Earlham
Earlham, the chief cornerstone of the
hope Of our society as an organization
of power and efficiency, let them ex
anime their own hearts and cast ou,
the demon of ignorance, of selfishness
and suspicion. But if the denseness
of their ignorance doesn't permit that
their efforts to oppose the truth will
only give that truth greater strength
The Rev. Mr.. Frazer holds that the
| danger which confronts the society Of
Friends is that the world is about tc
leave it as an organization, stranded
like sea-weed on the oceans Shore" in
| the words of the minister.
Text Of Statement.
The full text of his statement fol
lows:
The recent appointment of a com
mittee to investigate the doctrina
teaching of the biblical department o.
Earlham college is a blow at vital re
ligion. Jesus proclaimed that the
great essential of the gospel is love;
/ Gods love born in the soul of man ane
expressed in a life of faith and hops
and love. This is universal and vita
religion. This is the truth taught a
Earlham.
The professor of the Biblical de
partment of Earlham college. through
historical research and through the
hearts experience has become con
| scious of the power of the gospel o
Christ. While he stays at Earlham
no fears or suspicious can come from
those who will honestly and frankl.
meet this man. / sat at his feet fou
years, l have a right to bear witness
| Now what this committee wishes Il
| do, seems to be, to place intellectual
assent to creed above the experienc,
of Gods love in the soul of man ex
pressed in Christian conduct ant
! Christ-like character. The virgin brit
of Christ. The Fall of Man. The Di
vinity of Christ, Depravity, the Atone
ment, and a great many more doctrine
have caused much wrangling in tn
church, and have divided her forces.
A Blow At Vital Religion.
1 1aar ~, do
that no explanation of spiritual reali
ties ever can quite explain; that tn
Absymal deeps of Personality lie hio
den in the hearts personal relation t
God, that this relationship is not
matter of doctrinal statement, but a.
experimental relationship; a bad ma
/. can intellectually accept any cree
which might be written out and still
be a bad man. A man of Christ-lik
character cannot long believe ba
things. II was possible in the though
of James. "a book in the Bible) tha
devils could believe good things, bu
remain devils still. / mean to sa
that intellectual assent TO beliefs, goo
tho they may be, does not necessaril
change character. The essential thin
is Gods love as vital fact in tn
soul of man. This experience as
new birth and development in man
4 experience is the only thing that ca
form the starting point for righ
system of thought and belief Thi
makes growth of thought and belief
necessity The terrible tragedy whic
comes to organizations and individl
ais is caused by making no provisio
for growth
The danger which confronts the s,
ciety of Friends is that the world
about to leave us as an organization