New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-20
THE REV. Mr.. SMITHS STAND.
HE THROWS DOWN THE GAUNTLET.

SOME OF HIS CONGREGATION WALKED OUT VI
TIE CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.
Some OF thc members of the Central Presbyterian
Church. I'm West Fifty seventh ST.. near broau"''' III"
deeply dissatisfied account OF the s'and 'ahc" ~
their pastor, the Row Wilton Merle smith. IN III"
aggressive advocacy Of ia" views of Professor brN-
Many Of the members of Dr.. smiths church ar" men
Of extremely conservative religious Views anu No9
were much surprised when on sunday morning d.
smith, before beginning his Sermon hiduc '"' '"
ing statement:
IL wish TO make n statement oi my position Ill
the General Assembly. | have said nothing sine"
my return this subject because thought II "o'
not TO- but | lind have been misunderstood anu
you as my people, have a right to know Wh're
stand The action Of the Assembly In Ir' i'lss' ;
case was most Unfortunate: will not say unjust
The whole question Is one Of Hebrew schoHarshp'
am no Hebrew scholar, and don't know any 'm"'
about it.
Tile Judgment Of the General Assembly can IN no
way settle the matter. It must be- settled al III"
bar Of the court of final rcsort-'hc court III Tue
worlds scholarship. Councils In the DAYS "i '"Prr
uicus declared that the sun went round IN" car'h
bat that did not change the fact. There were not
five men in that Assembly who were competent {"
iudce Of the matter. do not understand that the
decision Of tie Assembly in any way changed IN
Interpretation Of the Confession OF Faith. for hat can
under the Constitution. Dc done only by the ir''
bytclics \ man may believe now Just ~ he d'n
before the decision That was the opinion Of the
Assembly not the judgment Of the whole 'hur' u'
For myself. | cannot why there Is not room III
hc Pre-, bytcrian Church for such men Is Dr. Er'F''
# Union. and DR.. Hodge, OF Princeton. nave
determined to make Ills ,tatemont. for Won are nay
people and you have right t. hear II and DO WIN
me - you will. Iut / must say am strongly "
the liberal side, but sim ! can, and WILL 'A'"nd
NY hand to any man Who believes in the Lord Jesus
Christ
For awhile the congregation sat and ponder'd over
| the statement They had known that d. smith
WI, Of liberal view, theological subjects but ti"N
wcr. not prepared for amy such open avo"al - ths
Just - be reading Ai, text to :" on Win N''
discourse. several member, were seen I" 10 p''hh-
M their hats and gloves then they walked down TIE
ai,les and from the church. The most prominent
We're Jane, N,aranoc of Tie Equitable LIE Assurance
Sodciy and ". ). Johdn,. rich Wfll street broker.
Mr. lcarancc i, tie superintendent Of tho SUNDAY
| school AID Wa q las delegate from III" N'wl"rN
| Ir,.'yicry go i.c rcec.t "'ncf4l Assembly
,or,r II de- n,i car, ~ discuss the matter. Nr.
smith, statement Wa, ~ advised. hut u" e'lr "Y' r
m tH. .rl,rt and Their. s, NJ probability that b. VIII
lead 10 any severance Of the ties that "hh M''
ga n"min.n, n.rml-r ~ the church ciar1ct s1ed
Dr. smith, action i timed. I'll advi''d ana W%rthE
! Ie r"niiuurd Inc actually threw Gown NJ sannl,'
and hy hi, remark, DO with mc a- lph VIII 40 iN
meant r9 We m ~, ,' ',A ' r VS. "gt di,ir.,
| him. Thi, 1, ih" hr-t urn" Ter On. i"'h '' a,
friction between him and the congregations but 1t
| '''t Trhnne reporter who oiled At ne ,'rath1orc
apartment h,u,r 10 see Nj J"b'ln' Ga hot ""' "'
al T I''' rcv. Dr. smith va. tn rlnin 70 avoid r..
loreT It. i 3 }"4nii %,, r % ,,ad Ii, ,nuc t.
| II ,,t. hc wlo wien a dc.eaie TO the General ~
emily IN W,.mn.'c3 ,; ,'s . n1, ,'f' hi'h '1c
rcv Dr. -rld,rland T. pastor. Dr. s,.nf,il'nu .'"'