ALL ABOUT EVE AND SERPENT.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17837, 4 May 1926, Page 6

ALL ABOUT EVE AND SERPENT.

DUTCH HERESY HUNT. The Dutch newspaper “De Telegraaf” recently published the first news of the actual proceedings at the sittings of the General Synod of the Dutch Secessionist Calvinist Church, which met at Assen to deal with the case of Dr Geelkerken, a well-known Amsterdam! pastor, who was charged with unorthodoxy in connection with the interpretation of certain narratives in the Old Testament, and particularly the conversation between Eve and the Serpent in the Garden of Eden. At the first meeting of the Synod Dr Geelkerken entered the hall amid dead silence, and was requested to take a seat—-not a seat set apart, but one in the midst of all the professors and immediately facing the president. The president of the Dogmatic Committee then rose and delivered a short address Avelcoming Dr Geelkerken, who immediately responded, and to the surprise of everyone present delivered an impromptu speech, in the course of which he thanked the president and there and then furnished particulars regarding his case. First of all. Dr Geelkerken requested ' that the delegates from Amsterdam South should be permitted to be present during the hearing of his case. This request was readily acceded to, and the delegates were accommodated with seas of honour just behind their ( pastor. Dr Geelkerken then asked whether i he had been invited to appear before the Synod because of their approval of his having been declared “suspect.” The Synod denied this, and declared that the sole object of his having been summoned to Assen was that he should furnish further information regarding the matter in dispute. A DIRECT QUESTION. Finally, Dr Geelkerken declared that he would have preferred to see the case dealt with in public, and, in any event, he reserved to himself the right to publish the proceedings of the Synod, although probably he would refrain from doing so during the present sittings. At a subsequent sitting Dr Geelkerken was asked point-blank whether hi believed that the Serpent mentioned in Genesis was a real creeping creature. The suspense was naturally intense as this direct question struck at the very root of the whole case. Apparently, however. Dr Geelkerken stood his ground, as he replied that he believed what was recorded in Holy Writ, although he did not know how* the term j “Serpent” must be here interpreted. lie i considered that the traditional interpretation of the Secessionist Calvinist Church—namely, that it was a real animal—was quite possible, but that the conception that by “Serpent” the “Devil” was here meant could also be considered. On this point, however, Dr Geelkerken declined to express an opinion, on the ground that he was no expert on the subject of the Old Testament. DR GEELKBRKEN'S DEMANDS. 1 Dr Geelkerken also explained his demands, which were that the General Synod should completely rehabilitate him and thus full}’- restore him his honour and his good name, which had been assailed ; and, furthermore, that not j

only to him, but also to all pastors and professors, liberty of interpretation should be allowed. j The delegates of Amsterdam South j also declared that they would not. agree with, and would continue to fight, any resolutions of the Synod which were not in harmony with the above-men-tioned demands. It was anticipated that many discussions would take place after the com' . mittecs presented their reports.