New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1895-05-25
THr BOYCOTr or UNION SEMINARY

Tho action ~ the Presbyterian General As
sembly IN boycotting Union Seminary VIII. or
course please the conservatives In the Church;
for II f. n consistent and necessary result OF the
pollcv they have adopted toward that institution
ever since the teachings OF Professor Briggs came
into question Indeed. we may GO further. and
say that they could not honoraby have adopted
anv other course For, as they look at It, soul
DESTROYING errors are taught In Union Seminary.
errors which are not only contrary to Presby-
terrain theology. but subversive Of the teachings
Of Christ. And the only logical thing. therefore,
was for them TO adopt the resolutions which they
d,d I'm the General Assembly. These resolutions
instruct and enjoin the Prcsbytery OF Ncw-fork
and by implication. Of course, all other Prcsby
ferries mot 10 receive under It's care for ccnsure
students who are pursuing or propose TO pursue
"thcr studies I'm theological scmlnarics respect
"ing whose teaching the General Assembly dis
"ayows responsibility" The great majority for
the resolutions shows the strength OF the con-
servatlves in the present General Assembly.
while the adoption OF the resolutions themselves
nroves that the conservatives have the courage OF
their convictions. They are not afraid OF allenat-
ing the men Of wealth and intelligence who. ever
since the inception Of the struggle. have been
loyay standing up for Union. and who, 1t Is evil
dent. propose to continue doing SO.
What the liberals think OF the matter may be
inferred from an article In this weeks Evan
gest." what right" the writer asks, "has the
Assembly to say that the institution shall make
ANY difference in his reception? II he passes
satisfactory examination on the required topics,
at Is nobody's business whether he comes from
Drtn or
"proycd Union, or from Andovcr or New-Bruns-
"wlck. or from some monastery In Thlbct. To
"make their overture thoroughly consistent,
chose brethren should have included in it the
"oucstlon as to the approval by the Assembly Of
"thc college from which young man has grad
"ua,cd. and the public school in which he has
| "studicd The overture caps the climax Of all
"recorded narrowncss and intolerance. 1t would
"bc nm unbcarable outrage II 1t were not SO petty
"and pltiable" And he concludes by saying that
II the Assembly adopts such course, 1t twill
"plunge sheer down from the sublime Of injustice
(which has characterized some OF Its prcdcces-
'.sors, to depth Of the ridiculous. where 1t will
remain conspicuous and alone"'
Nevertheless, 1t will seem to many unbiased
ncope that the real victors In the contest are the
liberals and Union Seminary. Though yet mi
norty in the Church. the liberals are the growing
party as the conservatives tacltly admit, by max
ing such fierce and unrelenting war against
them. Young men are attracted to the liberal
camp and many Of the Church's wealthy sup.
porters have proclaimed their sympathes with
It, Now, while doubtless the nosurrendcr policy
of the conservatives has been dictated by loyalty
to truth as they see 1t, that policy will help the
liberals; for It will drive to their ranks many in
the Church who have no special sympathy with
liberal theology, but who believe that the ques-
tIons at issue ought to be settled by mutual com
promise and concession. And rs to Union Sem
mary, 1t Is evident that 1t will be able to do the
work 1t has been established to do much better
outside than inside the Church. For years Its
! teachings aud policy have been out Of harmony