A LONG WAY FROM GENUINE PROTESTANTISM
ORIGINAL Protestantism was founded on the Bible. It had no doubt of the verity, the inspiration of the Book. From the Word of life it drew its power. By the life of Christ it measured character. But there are not a few ministers in Protestant orthodox churches who frankly express themselves otherwise at the present. For instance, Zion’s Herald, a Methodist Episcopal paper of Boston, in view of the Methodist Ecumenical Conference in London, asks of Methodist ministers, “What changes, if any, ‘have occurred in your theological views, purposes, ‘or methods in the last ten years?” One clergyman, Charles H. Stackpole of Melrose, to quote the Springfield Republican, “is convicted of ‘the newer ‘and more rational theory of the inspiration of the ‘Scriptures;’ he no longer holds to ‘Paul’s dogmatic theology, founded largely on an untenable ‘view of Genesis;’ he is open to evolution; no longer ‘holds any theory of the atonement, save that Christ ‘is the supreme expression of God’s love; and ‘all ‘the awful knowledge of the past . . . misrepresents the character of God and is destined to ‘perish from the mind of man.’” A clergyman, George S. Butters, of Somerville, says:— The theory of the inspiration of the Scriptures which I once steadfastly held, I have been obliged to discard, holding strongly to the fact of inspiration with a satisfactory theory. Ten years ago I was strictly Wesleyan on the question of entire sanctification. To-day I do not regard that theory either Scriptural or practical. These are representative of the belief of many Protestant ministers to-day. They surely voice the fulfilment of the apostle’s words to Timothy: “For the time will come when men will not endure ‘sound doctrine.’ That time is here. Ears itch for novel things, and are turned from the truth to fables. But this drift also emphasizes the necessity of the apostle’s charge: “Preach the Word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, with all long-suffering and doctrine.” Brethren, true ministers of Jesus Christ, now above all times, Preach the Word; be true to God.