New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-04
SUSTAINING DIR. GREEN AND Dr. PATTON
A CORRESPONDENT WHO THINKS CRITICISM
HAS DEGENERATDD INTO ABUSE
Brooklyn, June 20, 1901

HAS DEGENERATEoD INTO ABUSE
To tho Editor Of the TIL IN
Cir, II seems to me that the time has come TO cry
b1t thar onouGh wanton abuse has been heaped upon
49, ,aodars N the late General Assembly-a time f0r
Lbverians TO consider what win be the outcome OF
bo,,sa so divided aqainst itself The ears OF ialr-
minded unprejudiced peace loving people have scarce
" ceased tinglinG over DR.. Parkhursts aTalghhehI
OF Drs. Green and Patton (Which arrangement naS
since been shown be untrue as IL was ui O'Nlho
1iIe) before they are again offended by hAfsh cI1u
csm Of Dr. Pattou's baccalaureae sermon reinforced
Nv = tI,rnst M his conduct a. chairman OF tlat COM
,ntaa ,rhioh recommended that the General Assembly
do NOT approve the transfer OF Dr. Briggs % tne chnr
OF biblical theology. And this, too, from h+lsne
who lacked both the knowledge and the ability he'e,
sary for such task. Mr.. smith quotes a p'HSB'iPi
from Dr. Patton's sermon purposely leaving ont tho
qualifying clause needfl TO make the meaning clear
Dr. Patton said II must choose between lie ana
DOGMA will say that Christianity is not life but
Dogma This last clause causes Mr. Shith PiV
found regret We will say that 1t VIII be uhe 10
regret such uteTances upon the part OF DE- fa'Von
when his preaching loses the great magnetic power er
the hearts and lives of men which IL no" hs~ "' wy.
the classes of Princeton College decimated Dy th'
great dognatist instead OF doubled In 10" years %
has heen the case The Church is under deep obhga-
lion TO Dr. Patton for the service he rendered ii mo
trial of David Swing, for the services ne rehuep" c'
as professor OF theism in Princeton seminary lor uo
great peace speech WHICH brought about 20 amcaoe
solution Of the revelon question IN the Assembly OF
1890 and now again for the brave, Impartial report
which he fathered in the Assembly Of 1891
Dr. Patton and DR.. Green are above The aSpersons
which have been east upon them, above completely
I'm any underhanded movement b. obtain the moderator
ship. az 30 packo committee unduly 10 influence
colleagues acting upon the committee. But WHAT
is more Ia the point the Assembly by It's tone and
vote showed Enthusiastically its approval Of these men IN
the chair and as chairman VI the committee. Prince
ton has uoby served the Presbyterian Church for years
and is she to receive nothing but abuse "a return
find IL impossible, a Princeton man, ue IoNot %
0.llegS and seminary to sit silently By and hear tNo
OF her nbiest, bravest and truesO men nEeheI ".O
Offering at least protest and appealing % tAys' "Ao
ho me have known and respected these iheu -
teachers and rs friends. Then, too, nave bc'h AZ
i'nou. hayo attended d.. Briggs lectures tor o.,
year and while ! admire the man and mo ech"lor, l
ala not think nor 30 now thnk, that ne 4 tins mao,
~ lea I'm the present stage Of MS thought - ou1
voung men for the fye,1l tcIitn Ministry. Know
that through al the Gouls lu ~, c.t7s room -
ya1 tlat had studied and established nay tuth uNacE
Wari,d Green and Hodge, and that then was uhdcr
Mn, venerable and beloved DIT. Shcdd. II iheo.o "a
seminary Is q place 20 uusetrle mans tlth ana %
max, him 1--WE forth an uncertain sound, Dr. Brg-s
should De retained but, II 10 is true that man - "
be built W. aid established % ~ form and sirslH =
the brethren. DR.. briggs Is not TIE man 10 c as'
Biblical theology. In conclusion, let me remind M;
smith that John KNOX and John Wesley pieaeHsa
" chris anltv A DOGMA" pun and simple % TIE pu.
Ions aids of England and that III classes and conduo
wer5 transformed and mon every Whc'. sought dihgeh
a place FOR repentance and the day OF eternal lte
WILLIAM II. hUDNCG
Port Jervs, " Y, June n 1891. ..-