New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-06-06
DR.. GROVE on THE MGIFFERT CASE.
THE UNIvERsAIIsr PASTOR ATTACKS THE CON
SIsTENCY OF THE GENERAL AS
sEMBLY's ATTITUDE.

The Rev. Dr. w. s. Grove. pastor of the Univer-
salist Church OF the Eternal Hope preached yester
day morning on THE Presbyterian Dilemma. re-
ferrng 10 the OF DR.. McGlnert. He said In the
Of his DISCOURSE
The Presbyterian Church has ceased TO be ortho-
dox. 1t has not become liberal. II Is wandering
in the wilderness between these two places OF sal
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whist who shuts the pearly gate on Emerson. par
coin, ON the one hand t. the creed which all us
people are solemnly pledged TO believe and maintain
on the other hand the ablest scholars and many
wealthy pewh0lders who proclaim and uphold a
teaching which entirely subyerts the creed Ihesr
powerful that the Church is afraid TO deal with
them. The situation is embarrassing.
Apostolic Age" has forced the issue 1t has brought
the Church face 10 face with this simple question
Shall public teacher VINO denies the Fundamental
posnates OF Presbyterianism be allowed - remain
In the Pres9yterian ministry? II prominent on
Ger IN the United States Army or Navy should pun
lish his objections to the war, explaining that our
is IN the WT3ns and that SPANS MS caune e
mand II so many others were Of his mind that the
Government dared NOT remove him, fearing tnat
single instance OF discipline would hrins about a
general disruption OF the military forces We SHOULD
confess that our case Was weInign deSperate, pr
McGihtrt has driven the Presoyterian Church INTO
tina. awkward predicament The Churc1, IN General
our ,rincpIes must leave our ranks The General
Assembly said, not exactly in these words but with
II IL really bad that you have caused such dis
turbance' II our Government talked IKE that 10
on officer VINO was subveriinS - plan or war we
should readily understand that the Government had
little faith IN the strength. perhaps little faith IN
the justice. OF its position
II the Pittsburg IrcsDyteTy had said that Dr. NJ
GiTerts book "a most daring and thorougn-go-
ing attack on Presbyterian belief about the New
Testament" We could youch FOR the accuracy OF the
description Dr. McGineri has attacked. very much
after the order Of Admiral Dewey hat special
Interpretation OF the New Testament on which Pros
byte lianism IS founded. II pulls out The scaffod-
ing from under his own creed lie destroys tie su.
pernatural scheme for which his Church Is supposed
10 stand lie ahdndons Preshytcrians and goes back
10 the Gospel. ard breaches Chrisis own doctrines
that men shall reap what they SOW. get what they
earn. suffer out their crimes. depend on their
virtues. receive the punishment and the happi-
they worthy OF.
That the Presbyterian Church falls 20 condemn
Of its who thus dar!ngy condemned
rs own theology Is a scn OF the times. have no
interest In the matter except as IL j. sisn OF the
times II 1, some litilc and weak and obscure
denomination the would be different The Sig
nincant thing is that OF The largest one OF the
wealthlest OF the strongest. one OF the proud
est one Of the most selfsuficient OF the orthodox
bodies hcsitatcs 20 stand by IT'S creed
Who will champion the faith II Presbytcrians do
not? Certainly the Eplscopalians. over their
hospitablc door may read the sign "All hefeucs
arc welcome" What will become OF the faith II 1t
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