Ogden Standard-Examiner | 1926-02-25 | Page 2 | Prelate Doubts Serpent Story

PRELATE DOUBTS SERPENT STORY STOR Dutchman on on Trial Tria Thinks Its It's question of Interpretation ASSEN ASSE- Holland Feb 2 By 2 25 By ByThe B The Associated Press The Press The Re Rev J 3 G 0 on trial for here here- herey hereBy heresy y By by the tho general synod ot of o the th Dutch Reformed church Wednes Wednes- Wednesday day appeared before the synod 1 for tor tora fora to a a verbal examination the feature of ot which was vas the point blank Question whether he believed the serpent of the tho Biblical account of c the tho Garden of ot Eden was a rei rea creeping creature The question we was lk asked d b because lse clI he he Is alleged to have o cast doubt In a sermon lermon on othe the Genesis Geness GenesIs story tory of ot Eve Evo and the Serpent lIe He He replied replied that he lie believed whit whits s recorded Ir In holy writ although he did not know v how the term terr serpent should be Interpreted here Ho asserted that he tie be be- be believed believed the traditional tion of the church namelY that It was 3 a real 11 animal was quite possible but h he also admitted that he ha had 1 believed belleve that the serpent was a fIgurative representation of the devil The defendant defendant- however dentin ed to commit himself J on thIs thi a point on tho the ground that he was wa no expert on the Old Testament He then demanded that lie ho be fully rehabilitated a in In the church and am be be that all au all all- pastors be given ghen liberty of Interpretation He lie already has hns i submitted a typewritten reply of at 46 45 sheets to 19 questions submitted to him on points of ot dogma The Rev Mr has hoa a received many messages ot of sym sym- sympathy sympathy sympathy pathy from England Germany and an the United States