MODERNISM

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 1, 1 July 1929, Page 16

MODERNISM

The visit of Dr. Major, ' Principal of Ripon Hall Theological College, Oxford, has been of considerable 1 interest, as he is the editor of "The Modern Churchman", and the generally accepted leader of the Modernists. Thirty years ago he was Vicar of Waitotara. Addressing the Wellington clergy on "The Faith of a Modernist" Dr. Major said that during the last 70 years a great increase of knowledge had taken place for which the Modernists were m no way responsible. This increased knowledge had made it difficult for many to accept the traditional presentation of the faith; and the task of the Modernist was to preserve the essentials of the Christian faith by presenting it m a way acceptable to the minds of present day people. Dr. Major's is a sincere attempt to meet the difficulties of young men facing ordination, difficulties which are by no means new, and which every Vicar finds m his own parish. To us these difficulties have become more apparent than real, believing as we do that until we see truth as a whole we can not seel perfectly the parts m relation to that whole. We are content to abide by the historic faith, trusting m the Holy Spirit, Who shall lead us into all tne truth. While sympathising with those ivho are making a genuine attempt to meet modern difficulties, we are yet of the opinion that too much importance

may be attached to- 1 modern speculation, and that m the field of practical Christianity it will be found that these difficulties have lost their force. Not to know about God, but to know God is eternal life ; and the way to know God now as it has ever been is to do His will.