The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-05-11
A Remarkable situation.

The Rev. DR.. FIELD astonished the sixty
ninth anniversary meeting OF the American
Tract Society on Wednesday by declaring
that the reports OF the affairs OF the society
for the last year were deceitful. He said.
substantially. that they might be true so
far as they went. but that they did not tell
the whole truth: and this suppression he de-
nounced as odious ecclesiastical politics"
The American Tract Society was organ
lied In 1925 by the combination OF numerous
independent tract societies in different
parts OF the Union. for the purpose OF pub
fishing and circulating reading which would
"difruse q knowledge Of our Lord JESUS
CHRIST as the Redeemer OF sinners. and pro-
mote the interests OF vital goodness and
sound morality" and be calculated to re-
celve the appreciation OF all evangelical
Christians" From the beginning. there
fore. it has been one OF the very few relig-
ious societies supported by members OF the
Calvinistic Churches generally.
At first 1t published only tracts or leaf
let's. which pious enthusiasts distributed
among sinners. on the theory that per-
chance the seed Of Gospel truth might take
root In their stony hearts. In those days
when the amount OF reading obtainable by
the people was comparatively small. some
OF these leaflets attracted great and wide
spread attention. and the society was able
to report many spiritual conversions as a
consequence OF their publication. All OF
them contained warning to the sinner OF
the awful doom that awaited him In the
life to come: and numerous instances were
recited where drunkards. blasphemers. and
other depraved characters were suddenly
turned from the error of their ways by the
casual reading OF such little leatiet. These
tracts and the subsequent larger publica-
lions Of the society were all based on the
orthodox and Calvinlstic theory OF rewards
and punishments In the future life. The
word hell had not been expunged from the
orthodox vocabulary. The absolute and in
fallible truth OF the Bible as directly In
spired by GoD was questioned only by
infidels. from whom all religious believers
turned with horror.
Now DIR. FIELD accuses the reports OF the
Tract Society Of suppressing the truth. be-
cause they do not tell that prime cause OF
the recent decline in its business Is simply
the opposition OF one OF It's officers TO doe
trines which ialsify both the spirit and the
letter Of the publications OF the society dur
ing the whole OF the sixty-nlne years OF its
existence. Stranger still. his charge is we'll
founded. The explanation Of the decrease
in the income OF the society last year was
not SO much the hard times as the course
pursued by the Rev. DIR. SHEARER. the FL
nsnelal Secretary. in attacking DIR. BRIGGS.
According 10 DR.. FIELD. DIR. SHEAREn was
the man at the bottom OF the BRIGGS per-
secution:" and accordingly he made him
self so obnoxious TO a host of influential and
wealthy friends OF the society. that they
have withdrawn their support" Among
this host DR.. FIELD enumerated particu-
larly Mr.. MORRIS X. JEsUP. Mr.. JOHN
CROSBY Brown. and Mr.. ID. WILLIS JAMES,
three very rich and liberal Presbyterians OF
this city; and he said. with an authority that
cannot be disputed. that they are represent
alive OF many others who have expressed
their disgust at SHEARER's methods and
their determination TO withdraw all finan-
eial support from the society" The highest
authority OF the Presbyterian Church has
condemned DR.. BRIGGS as hereto. and
sentenced him to suspension from the min
istry until he shall make recantation; but
when . Presbyterian ofiicer OF the Tract
Society opposes him as a hereto he Is
warned TO hold his peace, under the
pain OF punishment at the hands OF Pres
byterian wealth.
It appears. then, that the friends Of DR..
BRIGas are determined to starye his enc
mics into submission; but II they succeed
IN their purpose. what are they going 10 do