New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-11
SCORING DIR. SHEARER
THE TROUBLE IN THE TRACT SOCIETY
EXPLAINED BY DR. HENRY NJ. FIELD
HOLDING THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY re-
sPoNsIBIE FOR TIE BRIGGS RUPTURE
CONTRIBUTORS DRIVEN AWAY
FROM THE SOCIETY.

FROM THE SOCIETY.
The Rev Or Henry NJ Field. Editor OF "Ihe
EVANGELIST" the recognized organ of the liberal ee-
nlent Of the Presbyterian Church. visited In his
editorial Office at No 80 Union Square, yesterday by
n Tribune reporter who asked him regarding MS
criticism OF the official administration OF the Kew 1T
George L. Shearer, as financial secretary OF the
American Tract Society. at Its annual meeting on
Wednesday The doctor said in reply:
AT the outset I would like to remove some mis-
apprehension that might be created among the
many Presbyterian and other denominationai read
crs of The Tribune by its report OF the proceedings
OF the society II said that 'Dr Field threw
bombshe into the meeting by Directing 10 the
adopon OF the secretary's report saying that there
had been a scandal In the official work OF the So
ciety' That docs not recognize at all the point or
my objection | did not object 10 the report lor
what II said nut for what Il d!d not say, In that II
ascribed the falling Off In the contributions OF une
last year to the financial depression In the country
which was half the truth. but no, the whole OF II;
for that az the secretaries very well knew, there
was another cnuse, which led many of the Oldest
and most liberal friends of the society 10 stand
aoof from II
Nor did ! say that there had been scandal In the
official work Of the society. on the contrary eX-
prc-sly dIsclained any such imputaton, saying dis
tlnctiy that there no pretcncc OF "A deiacatIoh
OF loss OF funds or OF any acknowledgement OF
Secretary Shcarer Will not keep to his official work
II he would only mind his own business and leave
ecclesiastical politics take care Of themselves. we
should soon have qnletness and peace. But ne Is so
possessed with the idea that he is called OF Coo to
regulate all the affairs Of the Church that he has
ended by becoming IA general meddler ana ms'hlel-
maker. and incurred an odium which reacts 10
the incalcuabie injury of the society
III Or Shearer were private individual ana had
irrcprsSsih. desire into ScfliNlA5'
there would be- nothing TO restrain him But ne Is
In. whole church has 10 beer the reproach OF ms
lndis'rc;!on. " ne Is SO "otuf' al ii't 20 So t''
'"trrrtaI Work ci HIM pit somebody Else in his
place can he lmaeinc the late Dr. kendall hsurinS
rendezvous FOR the leaders ~ IT party wher" th'y
should meet to count noses. lN ny tickets. ana Jay
been any worse In a secretary OF the Home Mission
airy Board than IT Is IN secretary OF the Irnct 80
What is the result? Many oil supporters Of the
Tract society az" rcpclled from u by ir"nnB
disgust Tho best fri nj IL ever had vas tho ate
lv,I and in his viii let il "A legacy OF 5000
Why Is II that his son. who bears that honored
name. and lnherlts his fathers beneNoicnce WI
I To- s", ,,otrb n Eys NOR. fHan once given 10
single object tloo e02 Nor Morris x. Jesdp who Is
on. - the most generous men IN our cit}. Civ
Sioanc o' an ci"r in In Halis church not give
penny? Nor John crosby Brown, who would nat
urnly be held to the Tract Society by "a double
of MS i,' fath,i ia.ilw. H. lax Dr. william Adams
who was one OF the main pillars of that society
for thirty or forty years? II the society has now
grown 80 great hat IL can afford 90 driN" a"tf
such mon then surely y does not noel TO nik FOR
further contributions from the Christian pubic.
"One other slight correction. Tn" report saws
that 'Dr Field finally Withdrew his remarks about
Br Shear.r' 7 dld not withdraw a single" Worl.
FOR the beat ~ all sons that hdd Only toll
the plain though unw.icom". truth
In concl fusion. pr Fi'll said 'br Sh"ar'rS
action was tho beginning OF all the trouble In IN.
Briggs caa@ Thrre years ago as Moderator or
Tho Prcshytery. ne appointed committee on Dr.
Hfiggs's inaugural on accepting the chair ot pro,
fessor ~ biblical history 10 Union Theologica,
Seminary That committee was entirely composed
of anti Briggs men. II II had been fair commit
tee made up 81 representative men from both
sides the result would have been different bur II
was packed Jury from the start-a preiudiced
committee a. least and bv appointing IT Dr.
Shearcr became more responsible than any other
man FOR tho whole rupture I'm the church over tho
Briggs matter For three years the liberal mem
hers Of the presbytcry have patiently horne with
Dr. shearcr's cours". which has been very pm
M and offensive 20 them. For thre" years IN"
Triangular has RETAINED from referring personally
~ Or Shenrcr although every liberal man m the
preshytcry has been outraged and made indignant
az the course he has pursued ~
Dr Shc1rcr. who was seen ~ IN" temporary
ofnces ~ tho Tract Society. in Twenty ihird-st,
near Broalway positively declined 20 discuss The
subject or make any statement FOR publication.