The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-10-17

M. Edmonds, pastor of the church.
 According to the Standard, the presbytery was so requested because of certain expressions contained in an editorial sermonette written by Dr. Edmonds, and printed in The Age Herald September 26. In that ser- monette Dr. Edmonds declared that "the only requirement God made of us was humility towards himself and jus tice and mercy towards our fellow man."
 He declared, too, that the elder teaching that Christ is our substitu- tionary sacrifice to appease the wrath of God" is ''part of our heathen in heritance dressed in the terms of Roman courtroom procedure" Declaration of Convictions The situation in the South Highlands church has reached stage so acute that Dr. Edmonds has seen proper to declare to his congregation his theological con victions. In his statement he declared the three principles underlying the creed of the Presbyterians are the sovereignty of God the divine inspiration of the Bi- ble, and salvation through Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and added .I accept those three great principles without res- ervation." In his declaration, however, is contained the following which, it is said, has caused criticism:
 T differ with some of my brethren, however. with reference to how far the sovereignty of God extends. do not ordained some to everlasting damna- ton as the profession of faith states"
 How Article Was Reproduced
 The sermonette, printed in The Age Herald September 26, the basis of the re- quest of the presbytery. is reproduced in the following manner and language in the Presbyterian Standard:
 The theological views of the Rev. H. M. Edmonds. pastor of South Highlands church. Birmingham. Ala:
 ''The session of this church has re- quested North Alabama presbytery to con- sider the theological views of their pas- tor, the Rev. H. NJ Edmonds What his views are was set forth in the fol- lowing open letter to The Age H erald:
 II wrote sometime ago that the only requirement. God made of us was hu- milty towards himself and justice and mercy towards our fellowmen. The basis for that statement was the well-known passage in Micah: What doth the Lord require of thee but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God? That God required anything in addition to thIs the prophets were constantly and vigorously denying. All the weight of the Psalms is right here; likewise the whole teaching of Jesus; nd of Dan nd nf1 lac txfh.. rightly interpreted. Though 1t ought to be said that the preaching of all these was not an academic negative, but laundering and practical positive. Cease to do evil and learn to do right, they commanded and pleaded. They threat ened, they besought they wove the most wonderful words together that have ever been spoken, they wept. they agonized, they suffered, they died, to enforce the demand of God for right living.
 Substitutionary Sacrifice
 But I have been asked what. then, becomes of the imputation of Adams sin and of Christs righteousness, of the teaching that all mankind is under curse and that Christ Is substi- tutionary sacrifice to appease the wrath of God. or to pay the debt, or to satisfy divine justice?
 My answer is this: If anyone feels Ii-dt tllS elueT ledcnlnk SnOWS flfH tuc way of salvation and gives him peace, would not disturb him in any way There Is certainly no moral obliquity inl believing 1t, if only a righteous life fol- lows it. But I cannot escape the duty of saying truth as I see it. and of aiding those who perhaps cannot follow the steps of the old theologians.
 My own conviction Is that this Is a part of our heather inheritance dressed in the terms of Roman courtroom proce- dure refined, 1t is true, but behind it is still the notion that God is angry and must be appeased.
 ''1. It enforces universalism If the debt is paid, we all go free; or.
 ''2 It provides no logical way Of life for Jews and others before Christ And.
 "s. It provides no logical way of life for those who have never heard of Christ and yet have sought to do Gods will.
 A. It is unreal vague, far away from life. entirely objective,
 ''5 It is contrary to human experi- ence and reason. Can another bear your -s'.n shpen' and you escape? Can a death on the cross satisfy justice which demands eternal damna tion?
 G. It is unworthy of God. It makes Him either hard or technical, or both
 r. It is contrary to the whole spirit and teaching of scripture. There Is not one word of this in all the Psalms or
  for that matter. in Ruth. Esther, Job. 'Ecclesiastes. the Song of Solomon; and the apparent references in the earlier books of the Bible and in the New Testa- ment have a more rational and more spiritual interpretation. What then. is the work of Christ? Tn word for I have no more. 1t is by His life, suffering. death and resufrec- ton to reconcile men to God: show them that God Is not angry with them, that God Is Father, that only their sin sep l arates; to win men to repentance, by showing the ugliness of sin and the l beauty of holiness by exhibiting in His | own life the fatal consequences of sin | and the ane uish 1t brings to God; and holding before them His own character as a promise and a goal: by impartng | His own righteousness which is the right ! eovsness of God and His own life which Is the life of God.
 "Christ's work is to bring men to this rig tcousness, which God requires-really | not in fiction.
 HENRY M. EDMONDs.'
 Statement of His Views
 Dr. Edmonds' statement of his theo- logical views as made to his church last Sunday follows:
 "Inasmuch as there has been some discussion of my theological integrity. l think owe this congregation a state ment this morning
 'I am charged with not accepting the ! standards of the Presbyterian church. My answer is that do accept those as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Bible. The three | --H- u-r- = -1 x-- A . --