The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1921-04-19
Mop,n>IzING Tur prBLl.

MODIRNIIING TuE BIBLI1
Thc sorlos ~ articles from the pom of H. g.
Wells being published in u popular American
weekly is worth tho rudious attention ~ cvcry
ono. because ln the nra place Nj Wells s
thinking man possessing a scientific mind, in
the second place. his aruclcs. iu our humble
Judgment clearly portray the failac.cs OF such
70 mind as Mr. Wclls possct5o, ana uses ln
most pronIgatc manner
lu reading his articles wo arc reminded ~
tbc day when Tom Lawson set Tho country by
tho oars awaiting his much advertised remedy
for existing financial aud social evils Tom never
camc through with his remedy Wells does offer
h.t u is that humanity needs u new Bible.
Bblo uodcruizcd and brought down 10 date. lilo
wants am of tho books NJ tho old testament re-.
written. the Mosaic law abolished and tho con.
else history NJ our own timcs substituted. Ito
wants the rights of labor ana property clearly
defined u This book, and thcn, ~ course If u
is 10 amount 10 anything at ALL he wants It
given % divine authority but on that phase Of
the matter hc SIS ~ set strangely silent
w nay the mans theory ia worth reading bc-
cause it is interesting even though rcpugnant
Ana 10 clearly sets out the imposbtics OF
purely theoretical academic mind. n can be
admitted without doing damage to tho oppos'
Ing brief. that m Bible could be adducod III
some mysterious manner for which divine au.
thorlty might bo claimed said Bible setting
forth In doRmatic form the rights Of property,
the decisions Of modern history and their i'm.
port the thousand and one controverted points
In history and 80 on ad ubitum. that it would
be a fine thing providing that could secure
the adhesion Of tho great body polite OF The
world TO that dogma
Mr. Wells asserts that such work could he
written by commission OF men appointed by
somc authority that he does not even suggest.
Ills crcduty IS that Of the dreamer and the
thinker In abstruec theories We challenge him
to name the authority from which such
mission should receive It's commission. And
having attempted that much, if he does. wa
challenge him 10 suggest In what manner It
would be possible TO give the work OF said COM
mission that spiritual divine authority with
out which Il would be nothing more than self
ishly Inspired propaganda OF hair-brained the
orists.
Indirectly the eminent writer declares tho
| bible to he nothing more than the works of men
! designed for the purpose OF composing rebel
| lious nationality. indirectly he disclaims divine
| origin and authorship alike. But his cdict docs
| not make 1t so. The fact remains that tho Bible
| has Influenced humanity Tor ages nhlpy nc
cause of the conviction, the hope or the fear,
that Is the word OF God. Mr.. Wells may be
! convinced that a Is nothing more nor less than
a polltical document---as he asserts, treatise OF
political economy az IL was understood at tho
time. Hut to attempt to supplant IT by mod
orn version OF sociology and political economy
such as he suggests. would prccipitate the great
est conflict OF modern times. And all the while
| he is striving for universal peace and universal
| nationality!
n one can understand that Mr.. II. G, Wells
| il one Of the most prominent and conservative
| international socialists OF the present day II
one will constantly bear in mind that socialism
i'm ts last and most scientific analysis stands In
eternal opposition 20 religion OF all kinds, and
especially the religion of the christian era, Il
win be easy TO follow tho gentleman and ac'
count for his credulous vagaries. But not other
wise
But ne does make mon think. In that he at
tains his highest virtue, Even though he may
mako them think In red. The gentleman gainet
his reputation as a fictonist. lie remains fic
uonisl OF the highest order And ne should no
even attempt to discuss the substanualtics o
practical things.