EVE AND SERPENT.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 105, 3 April 1926, Page 11

EVE AND SERPENT.

A PASTOR’S DISBELIEF. TROUBLE FOR A DUTCHMAN. AMSTERDAM, March 14. Did Eve, when nearly dying of curiosity, have a talk with the serpent in the Garden of Eden, and did tho serpent say, in effect, “Go on, have a little nibble at tho apple!”? For saying ho does not believe this colourful conversation took place ? Rev. Dr Geelkerken is likely to lose his pastorate. , The Synod of the Dutch Reformed Church, sitting at Amsterdam, has given the doubting pastor very short shrift on his unbelief. It demanded, as set out in a Reuter message, that he imiuediately sign a declaration setting out his acceptance of the truth of chapter 2 and 3 of Genesis. He refused to do this, but sent word to the Synod requesting a discussion on the matter in dispute. Dr Geelkerken complains that by its action the Synod lias rendered the authority of Holy Writ subject to tho decision of a church meeting. After a late sitting lasting into the small hours, the Synod decided to suspend Dr Geelkerken. The suspension caused a deal of excitement, and tlie pastor’s supporters assembled at his house and gave him un ovation. The message in chapter 3 of Genesis is as follows: And the woman said unto the serpent, “We may eat of the fruit of the trees of the garden. “But the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden God hath said, ‘Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.’ ” And the serpent said unto the woman: “Ye shall not surely die: “For God doth know that, in the day ye eat thereof then your eyes shall bo opened, and ye shall be as gods knowing good and evil.”-