The evening times., 1896-10-26

Chicago, Oct. 26-Rev Frank Buffin-
ton Vroonan, pastor OF the kenwood Pres
byterian Church, declared yesterday that
Proetstantism, and Catholicism, too, Tor that
matter, had failed or their purpose The
foundation or all religion. he claim ed, f,
was excellent, but the latter gay practices
were contrary to the teachings OF Jesus
Christ and i'll direct contradiction OF Chris
tianity.
Rev. Mr. Vrooman's sermon was inspired
days ago at the hands of the Presbyterian
Synod. For several years he had been a
minister of the Congregational faith and
was respected and exceptionally inteiii-
gent member OF it's church councils. Euro
pean study and travel sharpened his in
teilect. and soon after his return to this
country was assigned to u ministry in
Worcester and later in Boston.
vERGING ON HEREsY.
His sermons were always interesting for
| The reason That the ideas embodied therein
were liberal even To the verge OF religious
heresy. The field OF congregatioDaiisIn af-
forued him but u limited scope. and he sought
Chicago i'll order that he might give free
utIerdnCe To his thoughts and cUnuuct his
work according 10 his own advanced ideas.
According 70 his HotiOnand consistent with
his view he decided that as "a Presbyterian
he could accomplish his mission a. d clergy
man with greater satisfaction to himself.
He maGe application to the Chicago Pres
bytery for membership, and was admitted
| TO the ministry by u vote of 6S to %.
Rev. Dr. W. 5. Z. Bryan, of The Church OF
CnXernuf nd HarriaE .IShn-
SON opposed the acceptance OF Rev. Mr..
Vrooman, and the latter was presented
to the synod for final decision. By the vote
Of that body Nj. VrooIGan was re ejecued and
the decision OF the subordinate council re-
yersed.
But in tue meantime, Rev Mr- yrooman
iad been made pastor OF the kenwood Pres
bytcrian Church, and succeeded in winning
tue esteem and confidence OF his flock.
According 10 tue decision OF the synod,
itnoE becomes tie duty OF the congregation
70 Choose between the pastor ana the theO-
logians who compose the synod.
gACRIFICED THEsYNOD.
Mr.. Vrooman has not yet been officially
notified that bis views are not In keeping
with the tenets of the Presbyteran faith,
and his resignation Is expected. but he has.
nevertheless, been appIised OF the fact
from unofficial sources. Practically lie
has been expelled, and in consequence the
attendance at tue kenwood Church was
even larger than usual yesterday morning.
IL was expected that the young minister
" ould simply touch upon the action of the
synod incidentally during his sermon, but
he surprised even his closest friends by de-
voting his entire discourse to an indirect
but unmistakabie attack on the methods
OF the ministers OF the faith " hicn had
expelled him. No names were mentioned,
and never once was the case ofthe speaker
referred to directly, but the drift of his
thoughts ani the tOTs- % his remarks ere
ated a smallsizcd sensation.
In substance Rev. Mr.. VrOoman admins
tered a rhetorical VOID thraShIng to the
syroi, which may create as big a senSa-
tiuu as the utterances of Rev. DR.. Briggs,
accused of heresy. The Foundation of Pres
bvterianism. he said, was solid as con
structed by the reformers, but prejudice,
bigotry and intolerance had visihly weak
euad the entire Christian church.