Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-12-21
MODERNISTS WIN
Continued from Page One)

their creed upon scientific theories,
he said, should take note that no
scientific textbook. of which hun
dreds have been written, ever has
eqdalled the Bible in popularity.
The Bible, said the speaker, has
the quality of unique universally.
IL belongs to all ages and tribes, and,
unlike the Koran and the Vedas, has
universal appeal, it's mystery e,e-
ment is necessary to all religion, for
when man solves mystery he ceases
70 revere the thing that has mysti-
ned him. Its universal appeal has
caused the highest intellects of all
the ages to make a deep and sincere
study of the Bible.
1t took 1900 years for 40 authors
from every walk of life to write the
Bible. he said, and yet there is unity
and lone spirit breathes through it
all. throughout it's &c divisions the
Bible is one harmonious whole and
this fact is made possible only because
the Holy Spirit of the Living God
was the real author" said DR.. Straton.
NO other book has stood the test of
literally fulfilling it's prophecies, he
asserted. and many instances were
quoted in which words of the prophets
were borne out by later happenings.
DIR. Straton said he did not want to
base his arguments on the infallbility
or the Bible upon the Bible itself. but
declared throughout the book there are
repeated assertions that it is the work
of God.
The Bible is the final authority in
Christianity. he argued. and in any
walk of life there is need for such au-
thority. The whole "nfodern philoso-
ply" declared DR.. Straton, when logi-
cally followed out, leads not only to
atheism. but also to anarchy" The
man who makes and follows his own
laws, he declared, is an anarchist.
with sober hearts and earnest
MINDS he continued, 1--WE need to face
the question whether this truth does
not apply to the man in the religious
world who does the same thing. If the
consciousness of the individual is the
seat of authority and the court of final
appeal. then we have anarchy in the
religious world. Every man will be
law unto himself. Conflicting authori-
ty means that there is no authority"
In establishing the affirmative in the
debate Dr. Straton declared he did not
have to prove that the Bible is in
fallible to all men,
Spiritual things are spiritually dis
cerned just as physical things are
physically discerned," he added
In closing. Dr.. Straton asked his
hearers to "thinll again on the good
works of this, the Book, as sufficient
credential for it's character and it's
claims. 1t has justified it's claims by
it's deeds and has thus indicated it's
right to stand forever as the one suffi-
Gent and final authority among the
children CT men"
Mr. pnffor he 60 Col
the negative side in the debate only
because of the exact wording of the
subject: "Resolved, that the Bible is
the infallibie word of God" which he
declared could be interpreted only as
meaning that every part of the Bible
is the word of God and therefore in
fallible." The question, he said was
whether or not God actually was speak,
ing in every verse, phrase and word
in the Bible"
Declaring his doubt of the Bibles in
fallibility began at an early age, before
he had read writings of higher crit
ics." Rev. Potter based his arguments
largely on passages which he declared
were:
1. Inaccurate historically or scien-
tifically.
.. Obvious contradictions.
3. Representing God as doing or ap-
proving something which seems to
me morally wrong"
In support of his first premise
Rev. Potter quoted, among other
passages, a phrase from Leviticus
11:6. ."And the hare. because she
cheweth the cud." Scientists have
long since proved. he said, that the
hare and the rabbit are not cud-
chewing animals. although they
make motions which the unscientific
observer might mistake for such an
operation. The same sort of mis-
take was made. he said, when grass
hoppers, crickets and locusts were
spoken of as "going on all tours"
when all these insects have six feet.
Three errors of history occur, he