VICAR AND MIRACLES

Hokitika Guardian, 19 November 1928, Page 3

VICAR AND MIRACLES

HISTORY OF THE GOSPEL

There was some liveliness in the Modern Churchmen's 'ConfeiVnice 'at Cambridge, England., 'on September 20, when, in a discusson in which opposite views wore expressed as to the importance of the historical element in Christianity, one of the women members protested against a Stairorshire vicar’s reference to the part which falsehood or illusion might have played in religious instruction in the past. Dr F. C. Ro.rkitt, Norrisian Professor sor of Divinity at Cambridge, said the Christian religion must lie the doctrine of the Cross or it was nothing. Tf the career of Jesus was to have a permanent meaning for them the Cross could not bo regarded as a. tragic incident a regrettable talc, a stormy sunset of an otherwise perfect day. It. must seem to he something inevitable significant, typical, and lie would add. gracious. The familiar phrase, “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,” did not mean a state of mind produced by conscious imitation, hut something involving the gift >'.<■ inspiration from outside.

On the question of the present-day authority of the i 1 1 1 o, Dr. Burkitt said: “As a modern ehiirelinien we are concerned with To-dav, and no new solution of our difficulties in dealing with our old organisation that does not explicitly recognise the diminish'd authority which is now accorded tho utterances of antiquity whether of the Bvble or the Fathers. “Both to Protestants and to Catholics these utterances were the nails and rivets with which their fabric of religion wa,s secured. The civets are now most of them rather loose; nevertheless, there is in the Gospel history, til a I 1) N'-crv its".9’ led up to it, an element which Christians cannot discard if they arc to remain Christians.”

AH Al. J. Okesbott, Follow of Gonville and Cains College, Cambridge, contended that the belief in the necessity of the prime facie historical showed no sign of permanence or necessity. T.l was one of the characteristics of Christianity continually to conform to and lead the civilisation or culture of its adherents. . I lie failure of Christianity to meet the demand put upon it by present requirements* would he more certain evidence of its demise than almost any alleged break in the Christian tradition.

The Rev. T. V. Rovds. vicar of Ma.ui'-li tnil . iAt.a-fi.--A said that (-volution of religion and science consisted in unl'-arning what it believed to be true. Honesty was the best policy. Miss Jessie Chit tv. of Silvertrees,' near Winchester, protected against Air Boyds’s reference to the element of “falsehood or illusion” in past teach- » ing.

AH Rovds replied that illusion was the word lie intended.

Miss (bitty: Then would you frank|v T.-itl>(ii"t'v I.lk- weed fahehood 1

Mr Rovds said his contention was that- events' somotiynes .proved that what was not known to he falsehood at tin- time had been fallible, hut when it was found to he falsehood •they must he lamest about it. “I am not one of those ’-lm teach their children of a six days’ creation.” lie added. “Sure.lv one reveals the truth gnUl"nlly to children just as God has revealed the ..truth gradually to the human race.”

The Rev. 0. J. -Sharp, vicar of Ealing. .said lie was grateful to the scholars W ]ru| made hi op cease to believe in tho .Virgin Birth, and in; miracles such as the multiplication of the 10-T-es and the f ”"oing of water into wine. Those scholars made him more sure than ever of the reality of Urn T>—son of Christ .inchof the, applicability of that teaching .to .modern conditions.