1889 Watch Tower - A2Z.org

money-getting and pleasure-seeking; consequently they haveneither time nor desire for matters of faith and doctrine, andpermit themselves to be tightly bridled by the clergy. And thisdecline in individual liberty and equality is regarded by theclergy as desirable, as a supposed necessity, because here andthere in their congregations are a few "peculiar people," whopartially appreciate their rights and liberties, and who aregrowing both in grace and knowledge beyond the clergy. Theseare causing trouble to theR1138 : page 5creed-bound clergy by questioning doctrines long unquestioned,and by demanding reasons and Scriptural proofs for them. Sincethey cannot be answered Scripturally or reasonably the only wayto meet them and to settle them is, by brow-beating and a showand claim of clerical authority and superiority, which holds itselfbound to account in doctrinal matters only to fellow-clergymenand not to laymen.But some in the pews are to-day as well or better educated thanthe occupant of the pulpit, and it will no longer do to claim thatthe laity are so ignorant that they could not comprehend; and thepeople have learned that the big words of technical, clericalphraseology are used to hide and not to teach the truth. Hencethe individual and educational superiority of the clergy can nolonger be given as an excuse for arbitrary definitions ofScriptural statements and doctrines.The doctrine of "apostolic succession" --the claim that the layingon of the hands of a bishop conveys to a man an ability to teachand expound the Scriptures --still holds Romanists andEpiscopalians, who fail to see that the very men thus said to bequalified to teach are among the least able; none of them indeedseems to be any more able either to comprehend or to teach theScriptures than before being thus authorized; and many certainlyare decidedly injured by the arrogance, self-conceit and assumedauthority to lord it over their brethren, which seems to be theonly thing they do receive from the "holy hands." However,Catholics and Episcopalians are making the most of this Papalerror, and are more successful in smothering the spirit of inquirythan others.Recently, however, in view of the growing intelligence of thepeople, the tendency among clergymen is to disclaim personalsuperiority or authority and to place the authority in the hands ofconferences, synods, etc. Some ministers even disclaim anyresponsibility for their doctrinal faith, placing the wholeresponsibility for what they teach upon these councils. Someeven admit that their personal views differ from those theypreach, and are endeavoring to have their conferences andsynods allow them to preach what they conceive to be truth andto desist from preaching what they believe to be error.