The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-02-24
\ UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR BE
COMES Too HETERoDOX
AND Is BUSTED.
THE GRAND JURY REPORTS
THAT GARBAGE CASE BROUGHT
AGAINST THE CITY COUN-
GIL DISMISSED.


Dwight way in Berkeley has just passed
through a storm that almost wrecked it,
and even now the strictly orthodox men,
bers of the flock and the aged pastor shake
their heads in q melancholy way when the
events of the past few months are re-
ferred to.
The story is one involving the name of
scientific and learned professor in the chair
of entomology in the University of Califor-
MIA, and brings up in glaring light the
old-time oppOsites of orthodoxy and hetero-
doxv.
The little church has always been a quiet
place of worship, and no thought of the
stormy times it has Just passed through
had ever disturbed the worshipers. A few
months ago young student, named w. G.
Maxwell presented his letters to the
church. He became a regular attendant,
but soon it was reported that he had
broader ideas than most Baptists are
usually. supposed to have. The report got
to the ears of the pastor, Rev. w. C.
Learned, an aged Baptist of the old school.
An investigation was set on foot and young
Maxwell was called before the deacons and
closely questioned. His views on religion
were found to be too profanely heterodox
for the deacons, and it was decreed that he
be turned out of the church. The decision
created considerable Indignation, for Max
well was popular young fellow and num-
bered many good people among his friends.
One person in particular took up the
cudgels for the student and resolved to die
lighting for him, and he went down with
him, but not without struggle. This
ally was no less parsonage than Professor
Charles W. Woodwork, who is regarded
as one of the brightest scientific lights in
the big university at Berkeley and is pro-
worth Is Harvard man OF perhaps 40
years, and has been at his present post for
three years past.
He sided with young Maxwell. His DO
sition did not surprise his friends for he is
known as man of broad views, but it did
shock the strictly orthodox people in the
congregation of the little church. and it
may yet result in tearing it asunder. There
were many stormy meetings and scenes at
which the little church was shaken to its
very foundation.
The conflict reached the congregation,
and the women folks took a hand. At one
meeting in particular it is stated that one
sister OF the church became so infuriated at
another sister for reporting what the first
sister had been saying that the lie was
passed, and the odious word itself was
used in all its nakedness. The result was
that battle with bare hands was immi-
nent, and the meeting broke up in confu-
sion.
That the Professor had many friends
there was no doubt, and many ladies sided
with him. He thought his stand we'll
taken however, and finally issued the fol-
lowing circular, which was put in the
hands of every member 1t is as follows
OBJECTIONS.
| To the wording of our declaration of faith l
maintain:
| That the absence of error is only true of the
spirit and not of the matter of the Bible
That the trinity are only three OF many
manifestations of God
! That the fall of man was only from child
! ish innocence, not from true holiness.
That the death OF Jesus like the Jewish sac
! rifice, only saves symbOlically.
That the righteousness of faith is not i'm
puted to us, but is faiths outward manifesto
| ton.
That the Christians special providence con-
| sists OF his new environment
| That baptism is not prerequisite to church
| membership nor to the Lords supper.
/ The circular had no other effect on the
orthodox of the little church than to fan
| the flame to a whittier heat, and finally the
professor was dismissed from the church
| to keep company with the student whose
cause he had battled for so bravely.
| He is defeated, but not at all dismayed
! In conversation yesterday he said he still
called himself an orthodox in his Baptist
| belief He believes in evolution, like Pro-
lessor Harper OF the Chicago University,
who also calls himself an orthodox Bap-
tist
In speaking of the divinity of Christ
| Professor Woodwork said that he believed
| that Christ had the divine spirit nearer
| perfection than any other man, and he
added "but l think he had two parents -
! The pastor, Rev. Mr.. Learned, was seen
yesterday. He regretted very much that
| TOW ., aho1 no
but he would not say word touching on
| the trouble on either side.
The matter stands in Just this position
now: The orthodox people are masters of
the situation, but the people who call
! themselves "broad" insist that the professor
is right and the professor himself is per-
| fectly satisfied with his position. He be-
lieves firmly that time will vindicate him.
Inside the church the congregation is still
| talking about the matter, and there are
some brothers and sisters still saying I'M
kind things of one another.
The Report Out at Last.
| After nearly six months of investigation
! the Grand Jury has rendered its final re-
port. In its main features it reads:
. To the Hon. F. B; Ogden, Judge Of the Superior
| Court Of alameda County: The Grand Jury APP
| pointed by you September IL, 1894, begS leave
| to submit the following final report
! We find that the Board of Supervisors has let
| contracts amounting to thousands OF dollars
without any real competition, apparently for
| the purpose OF favoring some particular person
! or persons.
We condemn the practice OF employing men
! to perform services which the officers of the
| county are paid to perform themselves.
| Over $500 was paid for listing mortgages
| for the Assessors office, which work, we have
| ascertained, could have been done for $500.
! Many more instances might be mentioned,
| but we believe the preceding cases will be suffi-
| Gent to show the extrayagant measures adopted
| by the Supervisors in transacting the business
| OF the county. The several members of the
| Board OF Supervisors appeared before us and,
| upon being Intercepted in reference to these
matters, plainly informed US that had this bust
| ness been their own it would have been con-
| Quoted in more careful manner.
The Offices of the Sheriff, Recorder, Tax Col
lector, Treasurer, Assessor, Superintendent of
| Public Schools, County Clerk, County Auditor,
| District Attorney and Public Administrator
were found to be conducted in business-like
| manner and barring few Irregularities in
some of them, which can be easily remedied,
| were entirely satisfactory to the jury.
| We condemn the present system OF consta-
| bles employing numerous deputies for the pur-
| pose of arresting men whose only crime is
| seeking employment
| The County Jail we find in good condition,
| but the City Prison is a disgrace to any civil
| lied community and should be put in good