New Britain herald., 1924-05-21
CHRIST'S BIRTH
 NOT QUESTIONED
Science or Research Fails to Dis prove Bible, Bishop Says

Hartford, May 21.-Right Rev
 Chsuncey B. Brewster, Protestant
 Episcopal bishop of Connecticut in his
 annual address to the diocesan con
 vention in Christ Cathedral church
 late yesterday said, in reference to the
 present controversies over the creed that 'among our people many have been wont to believe in the Incarnate Son of God with faith in what the
 litany beautifully describes as the mystery of His Holy Incarnation. Re gently that veil of reverence has been plucked and the mystery laid bare to the scrutiny of analytic criticism until many of our people are in no little perplexity and confusion of mind" He said that in the discussion there has been a disposition to isolate a single article of the creed from its setting.
 The ancient creeds come down to us with the accumulated authority of the tradition and testimony of the Christian generations he said, ''in this
 
 Christian consciousness there is richer accumulation of treasured experience and conviction than in any individual personal experience or any single de- nomination of Christians or in the trend of any particular age. It is to he observed that this testimony of tra- 1ition has weight of authority in pro- portion as fl is free. An essential con dition for genuine authority is free dom of research, investigation and dis cussion, Christian truth has naught to fear from reVerent scholarship, honest study and investigation as re- gards such investigation the church may well bo patient and not attempt foreclosure hy authority. The articles Of the creed as they come to us must of course be interpreted in accordance with truth as made certain in tho light of scientific discovery. We do not now think of Eades as sub terrancan region below inc earth's crust. We know that the right hand of the Father is not fixed locality in space. The language of those articles IS hguratiNe but none the less accepted as true. By the resurrection of the hody many of us want 10 mean what St. Paul meant and took pains to teach, Language is at best an at tempt not 10 compaaa but to lay hold of tho mysteries of levine truth. h. terp:~.gtion Is hy no means denial.
 'ere fact, however has been discov- erad a7 science ar brought to view hy scholarly research to dieprovo the @ery Of Christs birth which is hy scholarship acknowledged tn belong where il atandn ia tho ro-pcl according ip s. Lake, anI which hat painstak- ing historian who of 0ll thc now tcsia- lneni writers perhaps best stands the tahing iirr of rrticisal, and ms m hls- iofi1n has hrpp compared to Thucy- 'iij"s p"rsrrycd as he had it. il may ho lndrrcuy rom tho blessed Mother herself
 "rhcrc je to loo adlnred high scicn- life authority ot tha present day 10 the effect that a man does moi violate his inl-llcctu"l integrity in believing be nricir Of the cree q which has rr- gently hncn mach debated. Thus article ia iisrlr tho source tn o hirb may b" traced th~ devotion, tho hiruirr the a1 and architecture which glnrifcd fhc middle ages lpon -udcr ages Il had potent innnoncc and has sinro hrcu Hn effective factor toe wards maintaining tto liner elements of our civilization.
 The history nf ihn Catholic crords hrs seen modidcaiinHs of affirmation 5rouah interpretation. i'ha basis however, ur histoilr f1rt remains while attempted explanations and dcnials ie in fiagmcnl5 along tho way. To Inc hisiorIrity of ihia basie nf fact thc hurch iF committed, whit" il may and .hould allow tho freedom of inquiry md rcfosrch."
 Tine bishop said that truth 'is SD iiE in its vast eircumfctr,.cr that cr- -or often bcgina Hith dcz.is. We are nore likely 10 bc right wh11 Wc affirm han when Rc deny. Lct mo lrgc as against tha principle of nega- : ion and rejection tho principle Of ac- eptance and affirmation. Lot us rc- member that ennuin" faith has it's ad- rnturous element. II is reason rour- [