The Birmingham age-herald., 1916-03-11

To the Editor of The Age-Herald.
 When man of Dr. Eaves' profession by a few strokes of his pen assumes the task of nullifying a good part of that fundamental law of all civilization, the Ten Commandments, it is cause for 'un- easiness, unhappiness'' and fear for him not the decologue. The Lord Christ said:
 T am come not destroy" the law, ''but to fulfill" For verify I say unto you, ''Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one little shall in nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled" The Jewish ritual was abolished, but not the moral law, fundamental and eternal. It is re- ported that certain scholar once said: |:
 There is only one Hebrew scholar in this country, and modesty forbids my naming him." When Dr. Eaves asserts that The Decalogue is not and never was fun damental law for any one else than the Hebrew people-not fundamental law for Germans, Egyptians, Americans or Creeks his modesty appears not to be at the minimum. For in all these years of my reading I have never seen that declaration made in this state by any higher critic, nationalist or supernatur- alist. And if the Decalogue is not for us all, the whole of it, some of the best and 1 greatest men of the world have been and are very ignorant and tremendously mistaken.
 'Tis true that the Decalogue has not been obeyed in full by, any people or na-
 tion;' but it is Gods eternal and un-
 changeable law, every single command
 ment good and intended for good to all
 nations alike. But Dr. Eaves says: ''The point is that each epoch must write it's
 own laws, finding Gods will for itself.'' l Where did the doctor get that? Did he l find it in the Bible? Who said so? What
 school? What orthodox church? Hear
 what the canon of St. Paul's, Dr. Liddon said: For Christians it will be enough
 to know that our Lord Jesus Christ set
 the seal of his infallible sanction on the
 whole of the Old Testament. He found
 the Hebrew canon as we have it in our
 hands today. and he treated it as an au-
 thority which was above discussion. Nay,
 more; he went out of his way, if we may
 reverently speak thus--to sanction not a ! few portions of it which modern skepti-
 cism rejects. Hear the late Earl of
 Beaconsfield, himself a scholarly Hebrew l The efforts of the new school are par 1 alyzing the efforts of many who ought to be our friends. Will these opinions suc-
 ceed? My opinion is they will fail. 2 | Whether it be the provincial arrogance
 and precipitate compacency which flash ] and fire in an essay or review I find the
 common characteristics of their writing
 is this-that their learning is always sec.
 ond hand. When the turbulence was over when the waters had subsided
 the sacred heights of Sinai and Calvary
 were again revealed and amidst the wreck of thrones, extinct nations and | abolished laws, mankind tried by so many sorrows, purified by so much suffering and wise with such unprecedented exper- fence bowed again before the divine truths that Omnipotence had entrusted to the custody and promulgation of a
 chosen people," So this law of the Sabbath is regarded by the leading thinkers and humani- tarians equally binding on all, as is the law with regard to theft or murder Il pains some of us very much who have given our prayers. efforts and time tC building up a wholesome sentiment for the preservation of the Sabbath day, so essen
 tial to health, to spirituality and good
 morals-to have 1t lightly spoken of
 slightly regarded and selfishly used fol
 commercial purposes by any of our peo
 pie. Yet this is being done all the time ] If our Sabbath Is lost, this country vii
 become an easy prey to the destroyer o nations. And so we ask Dr. Raves in thu , kindest way possible not to lend his in : fluence further as minister to the enc ) mics of the day, which God said WI should remember to keep holy. By taking
 sides with them he causes many of hi, . brethren to offend. And he cannot af ford to do that. Very respectfully.
 l.. F. WRITTEN. Birmingham. March 10, 1916