ALLEGED HETERODOXY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 210, 11 March 1912, Page 7

ALLEGED HETERODOXY.

METHODIST INQUIRY. CHARGES AGAINST REV. J. G. CHAPMAN NOT SUSTAINED. THE COMMITTEE'S FINDING. Auckland, M&reh 7. The Methodist Conference has been investigating fcharges of heterdoxy against a clergyman of the church. The text of the findings has been mads public by the conference. The charges were originally preferred before a court of the church in Welington, which referred the matter to the conference. It was considered in ministerial session, and a committee was appointed to investigate the charges. The subject was mentioned at this evening's session, and after discussion in committee the following statement was dssued to the press for publication:— As there hae appeared in the publie press a garbled report of the inquiry into certain charges of heterddxy, the conference resolves to publish the full text' of the finding. Your committee, having heard the charges preferred against the Rev. J. G. Chapman (late of New Plymduth) and Mr. Chapman's reply thereto, begs to submit the following findings:— 1. The charges of heterdoxy do not refer to doctrines peculiar to Methodism, but to doctrines held by the Christian world in the eighteenth century. 2. In regard to the Holy Scriptures, Mr. Chapman uses the well-worn formula that "they contain the Word of God," and appeal to our moral seme to discover those parts that breathe an un-Christian spirit. Wesley, also in his preface to his version >, of the Prayer Book, explains that he had omitted the imprecatory psalms as unfit for Christians to repeat. 3. Mr. Chapman believes, in anil preaches future consequence® of our sin as "wages" 'or natural results, not as arbitrary inflictions or tortures. He does not deny the eternal duration of these consequences, but regards that as an open question and the Word as indefinite.

| 4. If we regard Wesley's sermon* i apart from Wesley and his history, we must frankly gay that Mr. Chapman's views differ from, Wesley's. By this w« do not mean that they necessarily contradict Wesley's. We beg to point out: (1) That Wesley's main doctrine, that of free grace, was a revolt and a strenuous battle fought in vindication of the character of God from the awful reflections east upon it by the earlier and | contemporary puttings of the doctrine of election; (2) that the compassionate heart of Wesley was tortured by the prevailing views of hell. He tells us that he sought diligently for a way of escape, and declares, "weeping," that he found i none. Here again his heart was in revolt against the prevailing opinions of the Divine character. After 150 years a loyal son of Wesley may feel the same heart revolt and be in the true line of march; (3) the recent Ecumenical Conference sent a, message to be read in each Methodist pulpit in the world. That authoritative message urges, "Let us unite steadfastness in the faith with complete intellectual freedom and confident ability to marph with the times"; ] in view »f these things, we cannot recommend the conference to censure a' frank and courageous man whom we regard as loyal to all that is essential in the teachings of our Church. 5. The evidence leads us to think that misconception as to Mr. Chapman's theological position arises mainly from i the manner in which he has sometimes expressed himself, the effect being to alarm minds unaccustomed to new statement of old truths. In this respect your committee feel that Mr. Chapman somewhat indiscreetly antagonised those who differ from him. At the same time we recognise that advanced thought and critical _ research necessitate change of emphasis in the delivery of our messages, and that we should thankfully receive all the light that the discoveries of science can pour on those vital and eternal truths of experimental religion that have been the strength and the glory of the Methodist pulpit, and on 1 which the salvation of the world depends. 6. we congratulate Mr. Burd on the admirable clearness, spirit, and Temper with which he presented ths case. It is also due to Mr. Chapman to say that he replied with quiet frankness to the. charges, admitting the utterances of statements, denying the use <of some,' 'and explaining or resetting others. WILLIAM READY, President.