Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-15
MIR. ARnsrRONG's ORTHODOXY.
The Presby terry Satisfied w'th 1t
Avoiding ZOO Much Publicity.
lNnr York Times

Al It's meeting Yesterday afternoon IN the
scotch church in Fourteenth street near
sixth avenue tie New York Presbytery
IC.uned lis consideration OF the case OF y.
G.. Armstrong, Jr., adjunct professor 81
history in Princeton ThcOlugicIi SEMINARY,
VITO, at his presentation before the PfeSuy'
tCry at the November meeting rs a caldi-
date for the ministry. was objected 10 ny
the Rev, Or. Howard Crosby on the ground
fiat he was tainted with rationaIlsm. Tue
reporters who had been present ut the De.
ginning Of the meeting were excluded
when the Armstrong matter came TN, Tor
the reason. rs the moderator put II, that The
rcror Of Mr. Armstrong; first examination
before the body was infamous, and had al
ready done much damage.
Tie Presbytery decided TO receive Mr..
Armstrong into the ministry. lie repre-
sented to the committee, which was ap-
pointed after his first examination TO ascer-
tain more exactly and fully what views he
held about the inspiration Of the Bible. that
he was not well when he appeared before
tie Presbytery, and that his mind was u
IN tune with that OF his examiner. Ibe
committee, consisting OF the Rev. DIS.
Howard Crosby, John Hall, and Robert
Russell Booth, put Mr.. Armstrong through
a searching examination on the points al
issue. and Or. Crosby Yesterday assured
the Presbytery that bis doubts about the
| candidates orthodoxy had been completely
| dispelled. To set himself right before the
4, rupne and refute the suspicion east upon
| him. MIR. Armstrong was requested TO
| write on expression of his views on
| Scripture inspiTatIon. The confession OF
| faith Which he prepared in accordance with
| this wish was deemed entirely satisfactory.
| although in 1t he rotracied none Of the
| opinions he advanced at his first examina-
| tiUn, but simply expressed them In less
| positive anu aggressive way. He declared
| that he believed the Bibleto be the Word Of
| God inspired ky Hin without error, and
| accepted IL a. the rule Of iaith ard practice
| But the Bible came from God TO men
| through men, sBd, like everything trans.
mitted through human and iallible chan.
mel, was liable 10 error In that part. A
committee consisting Of the Rev. DIS.
| Frsncls II. Maring, Samuel III. Himiton,
and Honry Van Dyke. Jr., was appointed
! to arrange the details OF Mr.. ATmstrong's
| ordination, which will occur soon.
The trouble between the Rev. Wilbur +.
Crafts, rector OF the First Union church,
IN east Eiebty-Sixth street, eud the trustees
aud members Of his congregation, l. 10 b.
investigated by committee.
Tie PIosbytery has taken strong action
relative 10 It's treatment Of the press ia ia.
IuJe. The "interlocutor SYSTEM" which
prevails in England aud Scotland at the
conferences OF Presbyterian ministers. will
be Investigated, aud. II 1t is found suitable.
will be- adopted by the New York Presby-
terry. BY this system reporters are placed
upon their honor, sud, while permitted 10
be present during all the session, are
Obliged, before going away, 20 submit their
notes 10 an interlocutor, who will take care
that nothing startling reaches the public
eye. The Rev. DIR. Booth and Hall Will
report at the pext meeting their opinion
as 10 The expedlency Of this plan.