THE INFALLIBILITY OF THE BIBLE QUESTIONED BY METHODIST MINISTERS.
By W. N. G.
Now it is the Methodist turn to be agitated over the question of the infallibility of the Bible. The New York Journal of February 16 says:— “This question indirectly put to some three hundred Methodist clergymen yesterday morning, provoked a discussion which ended in one of the stormiest meetings ever held by clerics in this city. For nearly twenty minutes the controversy was so heated that the chairman was unable to restore order.” In the course of remarks upon a paper that had been read by another minister, Dr. J. M. Buckley, editor of the Christian Advocate, and an acknowledged leader in the denomination, took occasion to state his belief that “the English version of the Bible is not infallible; that it contains errors.” At this juncture the report says:— “A chorus of voices in angry and indignant protest drowned his further utterances for several minutes, but, with another gesture, he finally commanded silence. “‘I do not believe,’ he cried in a loud and defiant voice, ‘that there are four men present who believe absolutely in the English version of the Bible. If there are, and they are looking for a fifth, they can count me out.’ “Then a scene of the most intense confusion ensued. Dignified clergymen arose to their feet, and shouted, ‘Tis false!’ ‘We believe in the Bible!’ ‘Heresy! heresy!’ and, ‘What doctrine is this?’ Other men stood on chairs wildly brandishing their arms in a vain endeavor to gain recognition from the chair. Still others surrounded Dr. Buckley, and asked him to retract his words, but he was firm. “‘No,’ he shouted, and his strong voice could be heard above the tumult; ‘I’ll not retract, and I demand a vote on the question.’ “This defiance only served to add to the hubbub. By this time every man present was in a condition of the keenest excitement. The chair seemed about to entertain a motion that the question of the fallibility, or the infallibility, of the Bible be put to a vote of the meeting. This made the strictly orthodox ministers doubly indignant. “‘It’s out of order!’ they cried. ‘It’s unparliamentary! The question should not be put.’ “‘It should be put!’ shouted back Dr. Buckley. ‘I question the infallibility of the Bible, and I want those who—’ “The Rev. Dr. Shaffer, for many years superintendent of the Five Points Mission in this city, bristled up to Dr. Buckley. “‘If you doubt the infallibility of the Bible,’ he cried in the editor’s face, ‘we can very well get along without you, and all like you.’ “‘You’re afraid to have a vote taken,’ retorted Dr. Buckley.” A vote was finally allowed by the chairman, but the result was not deemed an expression of opinion, as most of the ministers saw the impropriety of attempting to settle such a question in that way, and refrained from voting at all. Dr. Buckley referred specifically to the English version, saying: “I do not pretend at this time to question the infallibility of the Bible as it was written in the Hebrew and the Greek, but I do question parts of it as it is written in English.” The adversary of truth seems to be going the rounds of the denominations, plying each in its turn with the suggestion that the Bible is fallible; and many of the leading theologians fall in with the idea, thus casting doubt over the minds of the rank and file. It is one of the many Roman Catholic heresies that have crept into the Protestant ranks. Skepticism of the Bible is in the air, and has so permeated the nominal church that the Word of God is no longer deemed the standard and power of reform, and the civil law is being invoked instead. These are indications of the last days; for “the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils.” 1 Tim. 4:1. Satanic cunning could not devise a more destructive doctrine than the fallibility of the Bible, by means of which salvation is proclaimed to the world. W. N. G.