Evening journal., 1923-02-12
GRANT FAVORS
ICREEDLESS FAITH
Asks What Denial of the
Virgin Birth Has to Do
With Christianity
{ RECTOR REVIEWS
LIBERAL PLEA

NEW YORK, Feb. 1.-THE SER
mon of DR.. Percy stickney Grant
Yesterday morning at the Church Of
the Ascension, Fifth avenue and
Tenth street, had as its subject;
SHOULD Liberalism Be Generally
Taught?" He summed up his afir-
NATIVE answer to the question in the
following words at the opening OF
his sermon:
Il hope TO see religion as free 10
thought as chemistry or physics ana
as little bound by dogmatic creed.
DR.. Grant made no reference 10
Bishop Manning or his latest crit-
clsm that DR.. Grants utterances re-
garding the divinity OF Christ are
TOO ambiguous for the church to pass
upon. He did make the following
reference, however. to the contro-
versy which has grown out OF his
recently expressed beliefs:
II have received a number OF let
tiers from people who find fault with
me because, they say, I am under
mining Christianity. To them wish
to saw. II ] do not believe that Christ
was born of a virgin, what has that
to do with Christianity? what mas
the popularity of birth TO do with
the teachings of Christ In the SER
mon on the Mount? I can still hold
nv attention upon the great lessons
81 that sermon and preach npon the
spirituality OF those lessons, yet re-
tain my belief Regarding the birth
Of Christ.
Changing Historic Records.
The biography and historical rec
ords Of Christ are going to be chang
ed as our knowledge widens' out
the spirituality in the words and &C
tions of Christ will live forever.
contend that one can obey the laws
and teachings of science and sun
obey Jesus Christ's revelation OF Ire
70 US.
True religion IS the obedience Of
the laws OF life. The trouble Is
that so many in the church believe
mat Christian unity means uni
formitv of belief. But that can
not he so. for we learn things IN diff
ferent fashions. I myself have learn
"a things in different fashion since
7 came into the church thirty years
ago"
7 DR.. Grant added presently: i.
II am able to accord no KIND OF
worship or semi-worship to the
Mother OF Christ, but II there are
people who can do so / am Wiling
that they should.
The foregoing remarks were APP
nlied as illustrations for the rector
argument that both liberals ana
Recommendations may find room
within the church. He pointed out
that Christians always have as
: creed regarding the interpretations
Of various doctrines.
In defending liberal thought anu
teaching in the church, DR.. Grant
said Eve should go ahead in every
direction where freedom is ehaliens-
ell" III
There are many liberals with
emancipated minds" he said, who
believe that liberalism is a good
thing for themselves. but not TOT
6thers have in mind a college
friend. who probably Is here TINS
morning. who doubts that the masses
IRE capable of assimilating liberal
thought and fears it would breed
oniV discomfort and doubt among
them. That is the aristoeratic at /
titude. while the facts developed by
American life all lie in the other
direction. The confidence Of Amer
lea lies in its belief in democracy
ut does not seem TO be fact That
the masses cannot do much thinking,
for the masses are being educated
every minute"
The congregation attending DR..
Grants sermon was smaller than any
since the Grant Manning controversy
began. but despite the snowstorm
the church was comfortably filled.