Article April 20, 1899 Issue

The Decay of Faith

Editorial

That vigilant watchman on the ramparts of Zion, the New York Sun, a journal falsely accused of cynicism and Mitchellism, laments, as we have done many times, the decay of faith. The higher critics are boring like so many worms of erudition into the very heart of the Bible; eminent Biblical scholars are co-operating in furnishing the text for a polychrome Bible in as many colors as Joseph's coat, the design being to show the simple-minded reader what to believe hard, what to half believe, and what flatly to reject! Noble task for Christian clergymen, and how Renan would rejoice to see this subtle attack on the Scriptures in the name of criticism!

But to return to the Sun which shines for truth and righteousness and the fine old iron-clad Presbyterian creed. That journal calls attention to the recent resignation of the Rev. Dr. Van Dyke of the Brick Presbyterian Church in New York City, because he preferred to be a professor of English literature in Johns Hopkins University. Of course, the apprehension of the reverend doctor regarding the imminent peril of the human soul with the Pit blazing just ahead of it on the road of destiny is not so strong as it once was, else he could not descend from the sacred desk to teach English literature. He has deferred his going, it is said, but what can thoughtful people in his congregation think of him? He is plainly not at all worried about anybody's future.

The Sun says of another great Christian denomination (and we should like to hear from the Rev. Dr. Butler on this point),—

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