REV. CHAPMAN'S HETERODOXY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 224, 20 March 1912, Page 8

REV. CHAPMAN'S HETERODOXY.

> To the Editor. Sir,—James Fortune says that I am (beside the mark in upholding the truth. 2 The question arises, "What is Truth?" 5 Our friend would say that his conception " of the Bible's meaning is "truth," and •' so has it always been. "Truth" culled 4 ! from the old Book has always been dis- '; tinctly human, giving in that it is God V given, though not necessarily God taken. II would ask the gentleman, Why is our J Bible revised at each changing period of i time if it is' not to ! meet with man's l> growing conception of truth? He says e that a "minister who devotes, himself to '» discover some new theories which will r be more palatable and interesting to r a gainsaying people is false to his eall-. » ing." Now, I, for one,' vouch that the t rev. gentleman has at no time departed t from the way laid down by, God*. Again,' i his reference to Judas Iscariot'. *. Now, '"what was the influence behind this 6 traitor? Such a God a& beheldJ>y ,!&&•. • James Fortune, "selfishness." Now. this i is unfair, because many ' to-day,' including the Rev. J. G. Chapman, are earnestly 3 endeavoring to shed Upon the coming b generation the ingrained thought that ■* j "God is Love" and worthy of their sert vices. It is only cowards that serve for s fear, and that certainly is why man has presented such a God in past times. Being weak and superstitiously immoral I' n himself, he has sought to make of t the "God 'of Truth" such an image to 0 relieve him of his responsibilities. To- - day's uprising thought commands that iman shall know himself" and be true r to the principles of life, or else bear the 7 brunt of it, and it is high time that leaders of religion made this known to 1 , r «° n g re in a tangible sense. 3 Perhaps this declaration of God's Truth' t may not appeal to those that wish to s ride to Heaven on another's back rather > than cultivate their true God, like; r nature, that they may gain an entry • into heaven because of having imparted 1 some of the rays earthward. No, Mr t Editor, our friend "J.F." will find that t j Kingdom of Heaven is within us t and that it comprises a cultivated sense ;of true and earnest love for all beings i of creation great 'or small, which, being ' within, will radiate without, and' 5 bear its influence on all that it is our- ] 5 r T e * e Mr. James Fortune l declares that Mr. Chapman is a ship , without an anchor, and in his defence 1 declare that his opponents are ships without either sail or steam, because they are so safely anchored on !a superstition that it is not their fault if they have not stopped the wheel of Eternal . progress.—I am, etc., UPHOLDER OF TRUTH.