ible._

At a meeting of Methodist ministers last Monday morning in New York City,
the validity of many of the stories of the Bible was questioned. Rev. S. P
Cadman urged at that meeting that the Bible could not be accepted as the
sole rule of faith any longer. He pointed out alleged discrepancies in it,
and said people could find truth only at its fountain head, Christ. The
other ministers applauded him.

"That the inerrancy and infallibility of the Bible are no longer possible
of belief among reasonable men."

This proposition, the acceptance of which will tear away the fundamental
pillar of Methodist theology, was urged in all force, sincerity, and
enthusiasm by the Rev. Cadman, pastor of the Metropolitan Temple, before
the regular weekly meeting of the Methodist ministers of New York.

Four hundred of the leading ministers of New York and its vicinity,
including Bishop Edward G. Andrews, were present when Mr. Cadman's paper
was read. He was applauded when he arose to read it, and applauded again
when he got through.

Mr. Cadman's paper was one of a series on Bible criticism. A paper taking
practically the same ground was read before the ministers on the Monday
evening before last, another paper on the subject will be read next
Monday.

This bold portentous utterance, involving the most radical departure from
accepted tenets of the Methodist church since its very foundation, was
made before the most representative body of Methodist clergy in America.
It included the vast majority of the preachers of Greater New York. It is
the first announcement of an impending controversy, which may shake the
Methodist church to its very foundation stones.

The acceptance of Dr. Cadman's proposition, heard with respect and
applause by the New York ministers, is comparable to the adoption of a new
constitution for the United States. It places the Bible on the basis of
historical works on other than divine subjects; it rejects the
authenticity of all parts of Holy Scripture which are repugnant to human
reason.

Some of the details of the Bible that these ministers find fault with are:

That the earth was created in six days.

That Methuselah died at the age of 969 years.

That a whale swallowed Jonah, in whose belly he lay three days.

That the Red Sea was divided in order to permit the passage of the
children of Israel out of Egypt.

That a snake tempted Eve in the Garden of Eden.

That Joshua commanded the sun to sta