CORRESPONDENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIII, Issue 10155, 11 June 1896, Page 3

CORRESPONDENCE.

THE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH AND 'CREEDLSM.' TO THE EDITOR. • Sib,— may kindly permit me, as one who has advocated in press and pulpit the necessity, in view of Church unity, of a simpler Christian creed, to say a tew vorda in reply to the strong and unwise utterances of Mr. T. Fordyce, of Parnell. Similar misrepresentations appear too often in your journal, to the damage ot the Presbyterian Church. It seems necessury to enter a firm, protest against them. 1. Every reader of Christian literature should know that no Church in Christendom has been so progressive, in recent years, in dealing with ancient creeds and systems of ' theology as the Presbyterian Church. To verify this statement, I can appeal to many writings. It may be enough to mention the writings of Professor Flint, of the Established Presbyterian Church of Scotland; ol Professor Orr, of the United Presbyterian Church; of Professor Davidson, George Smith, Bruce, Dods, Lyudsay, Drummond, Caudlish, Dr. Denny, Dr. Stalker, of the Free Church, and of Professor Harper, of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. These, and other writers, well known through Christendom for progressive Christian thought, all find an honoured place within a supposed ' creed-bound' Church. These and other ministers of Christ, taking.in all the light God is giving from science and Biblical criticism, and from every possible quarter of human knowledge, find the Presbyterian Church still large enough for them; and find themselves, amidst all the change of ancient opinions still loyal in heart to (he eternal verities of the Gospel. No New Zealand youth, 'possessed of brains, heart, or the love of Christ,' eager to preach the Revelation of the God of Love and Righteousness, aud the redemption ~of man in Christ, need be discouraged by the supposed ' creedism' of the Presbyterian Church from entering her ministry. 2. It seems forgotten or wilfully ignored that the Presbyterian Church from Canterbury to Auckland accepts simply the Westminster Creed as a subordinate standard, under the supreme standard-'of Scripture, and under a liberal formula of interpretation also, sufficient to exclude all the rigidity of mind and bondage ot soul supposed to be expressed by this evil and antiquated 'issue.' If ' creedism ' still dominates a few individuals to the affliction of ministers of the Gospel, it certainly has no ruling power in our Church courts at the present hour. 3. The Presbyterian Church of Otago, supposed to be specially afflicted with this evil, has ot late risen wonderfully above it. In accepting the declaratory act of the Free Church of Scotlaud in reference to the Confession of Faith the Otago Church is in advance of m. This act, like that of the United Presbyterian Church, deals frankly with the objectionable utterances of the Westminster Creed, aud while it puts the responsibility upon the living Church to determine the Scriptural bounds of Christian liberty, so as to guard the Church from unchristian license of opinion, it yet firmly declares against all intolerant aud enslaving 'creedism' as follows :— 'That this Church disclaims intolerant and persecuting principles, and does not con . sider her- officebearers in subscribing the Confession committed to any principles inconsistent with liberty of conscience and the right of private judgment.' Our last General Assembly and the recenf Conference of Christchurch accepted thii Declaratory Act as the doctrinal basis of union between the Presbyterian Churches. I trust these, simple facts showing the progressive spirit of the Presbyterian Church, may save her from needless newspaper misrepresentation and encourage other Churches, such as the Papal, Episcopalian, and Wes ; leyan, to revise their ancient creeds.— am, etc., T. F. Robertson.