The Washington times., 1921-02-06

IDEA OF EDEN
EImira MinistersAttack DR.. Nc
KEGS Assertion That Bible
Story Is Fiction.

ELMIRA, N. Y, Feb. 6.-Declara-
tion BY the Rev. Wilbur w. Mckee,
pastor of the First Methodist Epis-
copal Church Of this city, that the
Garden of Eden episode in the Bible
is fiction, is responsible for q re-
ligious storm that has swept
throughout the Southern Tier sec
ton, with clergymen Of practically
every denomination attacking the
theory of the local pastor.
BIBLE NOT ALL INSPIRED.
DR.. Mckee, in his sensational dis
course. asserted that there was Q
wrong way to read the Bible, ana said
that many of the passages OF the
Book were not inspired by God. He
criticised the attitude OF those who
approached the Bible with excessive
reverence" and saw "a halo over
every sentence, word. or punctuation
mark"
The local divine discounted many
noted passages Of the Bible, declaring
that they were words of others than
God. and expressed his disbelief OF
certain incidents in Bible history, with
| especial reference to the Garden OF
Eden.
CALLED BLOW AT RELIGION.
The Rev. John Betlem, pastor OF
the Elmwood Avenue Baptist Church
here, today assailed DR.. Mckee, de-
claring that "he strikes a sinister and
destructive blow at the very vitals
and fundamentals of the Christian
faith when he denies the reality OF
the story in the Garden Of Eden"
This story is the seed plot of the
u,G pAtl 70 I'D "
spiritualizing 1t away or by calling IL
fgurative we throw a sinister shadow
of doubt over the whole thing. We
wonder II Ito be consistent with his
own argument) the doctor denies the
reality of the first Messianic promise
given at the same place and oc.
casioned by the same circumstances!
III we deny the Satanic tempta-
ton, then there was never fall
And II there never was a fall, then
we do not need a Saviour. Does the
doctor know that Satan is glorious
figure of such great power that even
archangels dare not withstand him
and that he had power over the ele-
ments and the heavenly spheres
Why couldn't Satan temporarily have
incarnated himself in the serpent for
the purpose OF seducing our first par.
ents? 1t Is to be remembered that
the serpent at that time was not the
| loathsome creature he Is now, but
more subtle than any beast Of the
neld
| ACCEPT BIBLE AS 1T IS.
| The Rev. NJ. b. Crockett, of Endi-
colt, also takes issue with DR.. Mckee,
declaring the Book which has out
lived a million critics cannot be swept
aside lightly.
"I cannot see how any good can
come from any treatment of the Bible
which raises doubts as to it's re-
liability and authority. and 1 can see
how much evil would result" DR..
Crockett declared.
Until our brother can either pro
duce divine credentials of authority
to designate what is and what is not
authoritative and reliable, would II
not be better to preach the Bible as
it is instead Of according to per
sonal Interpretation
DR.. Crockett stated that he felt
sure that the learned doctor has
worthy intentions in his attack upon
the Scriptures, but was a little too
inconsistent in the method he employ
ed.
He stated that DR.. Mckee put for
ward a misleading title in the use
of the term new Bible" Instead OF
finding something new, DR.. Crockett
declared, the Elmira preacher has
merely taken a position several CEN
| turtles older than himself"