New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-05
CALVINISM AT PRINCETON.
PAUL VAN DYKE LEAVES THE SEMINARY
UNWILLING TO TAKE An EXTRA PLEDGE IN
REGARD TO PIETEMUON-THE STUDENTS
NOT ALLOWED TO PROTEST
THEIR TESTIMONIAL.


ALTON OF affairs in the PRESBYTERIAN Church has re-
ceived another illustration in the case OF the hcV.
Paul Van Dyke. which came before Inc u''e.'o'
Princeton Theological Seminary mt their mee'ns WI
Monday. His retirement fOm the seminary mas ooV'
brought about by the demand for an avowal On MS
part that he will accept the standards OF 'he '"u''"
In the sense which has always been PIT upon thcn
at Princeton, and conform his teaching 10 t'"S III
depreciation and never depart from II. This aVo"ai
he was unwilling to make. The regular ana coh7n,"
tional vows u professor. promising ioS"'E " , IN
standards, he could take with hcaitlcSs. o"' ga
extra pledge Of strict adherence TO uao''o""' Ia
terpretatIon OF them seemed to him an uh"e'e''",'
and improper imposition. This steady rc'is''''.
n has resulted in the OF his relations VIII"
tho seminary. III, &,
Tho whole history OF the case is OF peculiar III
terest Mr. Van Dyke appointed in 1oo' 10 pc
instructor In Church history for TWO Ut thce va
with a view OF his being made fnil professor az 'n'
time should the board OF directors be s"''S"eu WIN
b,s methods and success, Under this appointment
he was entrusted with sole charge OF thc m>'oi''"'
department and has continued to conduct all OF It's
,rorh Rut in the meantime the movement for u
change I'm the doctrina standards Of the Presbyterian
Church began and Mr.. Van Dykes father uic hc''
Dr. Henry j. Van Dyke, of Brooklyn ana Ms oro'i''
the Rev. DIR. Henry van Dyke, OF New-rorh' WIZ
strong advocates of II. The question "Hc'hct '"0
doctrine q, prcterition was essential TO the Presby-
terrain system Dccdiiic DuiH"s t"N'N
fessors at Princeton took the affirmative grounds very
v,rorously But Mr. Van Dyke was entirely silent IN
regard to II. and confined himself strictly u the
teaching of Church history or MS methouS ana SUI
cess in this work there can be no question. Inc
students were enthusiastic about nm as teacher'
This enthusiasm was expressed in definite lorih'
The members of the senior anu hi'uue ciassos u''"
up this testimonial:
We the undersigned students Of TIE senior class OF
the Princeton Theological seminary VINO nave enjvse s
and benefited by your instruction. desire 10 express
orr recognition of your broad and thorough scholar
ship, and the clear, unbiased ana purely n's,orCa.
method of your teaching onr hsh a., mr be
half; and orr sincere gratitude lor tie ss". LILY
the true historic spirit ana ior o .e esrnnS suGv
We wish to thank you also for tie personal III
terest which you, as an Instructor ana Cn,is ii''
lister, have uniformly shown toward each one vi u.s.
The Junior class presented similar paper represent
ing their unanimous sentiments as follows:
We, the members OF the junior class wish 10 ex,
press to you our high appreciation OF me suc,eSsui
bible history Notwithstanding the difficulties of the
situation In which you were so Unexpectedly placed;
We wish also TO thank you most hcaiuiS ior the
freshness and interest with which YOU have invested
the subject not sparing your own time or strenstn
profitable and we earnestly hope that nothing mas
sever the relations which have been 10 us SO sat'S
factory.
These papers were signed by more than ninetenths
OF the students TLey also held meeting to draw
lid q memorial to the board OF directors. and ap
pointed two delegates asking permission 10 appear
before the board and express their sentiments. bu'
at the same time that this memorial ana the request
Of the students presented TO The directors letter
came from Mr.. Van Dyke in which he frankly stated
the situation in regard the extra docrnal aSowa
which he WIS willing TO make. 1t follows:
To the Board Of Directors OF Princeton Theological
Seminary. ,. - ,s.
The den,rt,nent of Clutch history which has been
under my sole charge for three years. In 80 DONG
reasons Which led Inc retire from the service OF
Princeton. ,,o,
which precludes all doubt that no man Ca, can . DC
elected TO prOiessorshp in this institution Win inc
fun 81 se aba
accepts the standards Of our church In the sense wch
nss swa S FORMER this se@Sn
lie will conform his teachings and utterances thereto
respect. Such an avowal should not be willing to
make under any circumstances or for any purpose
vows imposed on professors by the Church sufficient
md should find no difficulty in taking them bnt |
could not reconcile it to my conscience to make G
because believe that It's exaction is not apt to
the &c me- entity d Sr liberty Of
personal Initiative, and to impose an obligation i'm
So saS to be- to s
traditional sense put upon the Westminster Standards
o. II is evident that 1t includes promise Of sup
port to doctrine which Is at present under discussion
Now believe the Calvnistc theology to be the bes
which the human mind has constructed but do no
SMd 'n no s ws make to Of
In regard to this point. while have never been con
sc esc ri any Of M %S S Ss Dr. A.
It may be that am not In perfect harmony with IN
present spirit and teaching Of professors in this semi
nary If So IT is certainly not due to any change OIL
my part.
any such avowol as that to which have referred
The knowledge that it Is expected from me Is In fact
s reason w WITH fhe EG not Of 10 e
Of Church history.
in WITH the pcy OF the co M and
me free to serve the Church accordng to the dictate
Of SGPsen'e remain s gItm TRx yg pyKE
The action Of the directors upon this letter in cor
nection with the memorial Of the students and thei
request FOR hearing highly significant. The
voted not to receive the delegates Of the students
passed a resolution recording their high apprcciatio
Of the value of Mr.. Van Dykes work a teacher an
OF his personal influence in the seminary, and at III
same time accepting his withdrawal from the depart
ment OF Church history. while dissenting from his
sons. This seems to indicate judgment that hi
expected are not sufficient to satisfy the directors
makes his separation from the seminary clearly an
In view Of all the facts, this is certainly or
OF great Interest II has prophetic aspect It show
sst upon the maintenance OF the doctrine Of prctcror
or foreordna,ion to everlasting death essential
the great question which now agtates the Prebytera
Church.
Mr.. Van DYKE has just received call from IN
Edwards Congregational Church Of Northampton, MAJ
He preached there on Apri. "a. and the follown
morning the church committee. with cOnSideiabl
number Of the congregation met ard voted unan
mously to extend a call 10 him. Mr. Van Dyke wa
officially informed Of the action but said that he mus
take time 10 consider IL. a. The Hampshire Gazette
OF Northampton, says: "Thcre is good ground f
hope that the call so heartily and unanimously give
will be favorably entera aimed by Mr. Van Dyke. Thong
single man. his mother would reside here with hin
nd nbnb1y moo
George W. Cable Is OF the active workers In IN
prominent church.
THINGS FOR WOMEN TO SEE. HEAR AND El1
An elaborate programme has been prepared for N
"ladics day to be given by the Delta Kappa Epsilo
Club. No. as; Fthave.. tomorrow afternoon. Thel
will be an exhibition Of pictures, vocal and nsrt