Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-05
he IS NOT ORTHODOX.
The Coming Trial of theRev. Howard
MacQueary for Heresy
AN EvENTIN P. E. CHURCH CIRCLES
Charged With Holding Views Contrary tc
the Standard.
WHAT HE SAYS ABOUT His BELIEFS

CANTON, Jan. 4.-No trial of late years
has approached in interest that which is to
begin in Cleveland, O., on January 7.
The defendant will De the Rev. Howard
Mac @ ueary, formerly rector of st. Paul's
Protestant Episcopal Church, Canton, O.,
the court committee OF clercymen of the
Diocese of Ohio, appointed by Bishop Leon
ard, and the charge the holding and preach
ing of views that are heretical and contrary
to the standards of the Church. Mr.. Mac
Queary will defend himself, assisted, how
ever, by some eminent clerical friends.
Mr.. MacQueary is a native of Albemarie
county, Va. His mother was a Garland,
and his relatives are numerous in the f. f.
VS.. Originally planter, and self-edu-
Gated as a youth. adversely drove Mr.. Mac
Queary from the plantation to Washington,
where for ten years be was engaged in busi-
ness. He then returned to Virginia col-
lege, and graduated and entered the Episco-
pal seminary at Alexandra. Va. In course
of time he was stationed at St. Paulis
Church, Canton, and Immediately became
popular and attained high rank as a
preacher and promoter of intellectual life.
He organized philosophical society and
literary club. His evolution of belief is thus
described by himself:
How He Reached His Conclusions.
81 was educated in the strictest school of
evangelical orthodoxy. In the seminary
apologetics and divinity always interested
me more than any other branch of study. 1
left the seminary thoroughly orthodox. In
1885 attended the Church Congress in New
Haven, and stopped in New York, Philadelphia
and Baltimore to study church life. My eyes
were opened and returned to Fairmount, w.
Va, determined to reconsider my whole theo-
logical position. first broke with the trad1-
tional faith on the question of endless punish
ment, and this after careful study of Canon
Farrar's and Canon Rows works. The atone
ment next claimed my attention, and l soon
saw the unscripturalness and unrationality of
the Calvinistic theology. or course. it was
only q step to the question of mans fall and
the question of his origin and development.
After a study of Dawson, McCosh, Geike and
the Duke of Argyle. who are neither anti-evolu-
tionists or Christian evolutionists, turned to
LIE Conte, WInchell and then to the fuller con-
sideratIon of the works of Darwin. Spencer
and Huxley, and the result was acceptance of
the views of the latter.
''Tyndalrs discussion of prayerifor material
blessings brought up the subject of miracles,
and turned first to orthodox apologists such
as Motley Christlieb, Westcott, and then to
the rationalists. Bauer, Strauss, Renan, DAVID
son, etc. nung them aside, took up the early
fathers themselves. and studied the literature
of primitive Christianity, ana was forced to the
conclusion stated in my book. which Is an out
in which have collected the opinions urged by
many eminent Christians, many of them lead
ing theologians in my own church, the differ.
ence between me and them being that have
collected all their 'heresies' into a complete
system. whereas they have divided it up among
themselves"
Some Other Views Explained.
The book above referred to is the immediate
cause of Mr.. MacQueary's trial. Published
about year ago with the title of 1.-THE Evolu-
tion of Man and of Christianity" it made
known to the religious press and the clergy at
large the same views which Mr.. MacQueary had
been preaching for some time. So great was
the storm OF adverse opinion which fell upon
Mr.. MacQueary's head and the shoulders of
Bishop Leonard thar the latter requested Mr..
MacQueary to retire from the church in which
he was preaching and appear before the DID,
cesar Committee for trial.
Mr.. MacQueary's views on thu incarnation
and resurrection have been those most serious.
ly objected to, but on these points he asserts he
has been grievously misrepresented! Ee SAYS:
II believe Christ was God manifest in the
fesh'-that is He was as much of the Divine
Spirit as could be forced, so to speak, into fin
lite human form.
'As to the resurrection, ] believe that Jesus
appeared after His death in the spiritual body
spoken of by st. Paul ia /. Corinthians, xv.,
and not His heshly body that He had before He
tomb, the eating of fish in the Gospels are later
additions to the primitive account. In short,
accept both the miraculous birth and the resur-
rection of our Lord, merely rejecting the phys
1cal element in these miracles because, in my
judgment, insufficently attested."
His Farewell Sermon.
Rev. Mr.. MacQueary's sermon this MORN
Ing created something of sensation. He
virtually admitted that he did not expect to
preach again in the Episcopal Church. He
evidently expects the decision of the eccles-
iastical court, TO convene this. week, will be
against him. His sermon was very brief
and he prelaced it as follows:
Inasmuch as / do not know what INV
ecclesiastical status may be one week from to-
day. cannot announce services for next Sun
day. 1t is, of course, possible that may hold
services in this church then. You will learn
more definitely about the matter through the
newspapers during the week. l shall certainly
deliver one more sermon in Canton, but
whether in this building or some other remains
to he seen.
am sorry to say that the result of my labors
In this church has not been what l had hoped
for and expected. Both sides have doubtless
been more or less to blame. and am willing TO
bear my share of the blame. and dare say the
congregation is more than willing 1 should bear
it all. l am not sure that have helped single
soul to a higher and holier life and the thought
is more painful than dare tell YOU for no
preaching however profound or eloquent, is
truly successful unless 1t improves the moral