New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-15
TIE PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

|
Several important questions will come up for
discussion in the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly, which Is to begin It's sessions at Winona,
| Ind, on Thursday next. Chief among these
will be the alleged herrsy Of Professor McGif-
| fert, minister Of the Presbyterian Church and
n professor In the Union Theological Seminary
Ordinarily the consideration Of such mntter
would De undertaken first by the Presbytery
of which the supposed hereto Is member
But the NewYork Presbytery has failed to
notice the controversial statements In Dr. Me
Gifferts book. either because 1t Is not sure that
they are open to ecclesiastical censurc or be
cause 1t hestnted 10 introduce a Few element
OF bitterness into the Tresbytery. which has
been seriously rent by the Briggs contro-
versy. Many members Of the New-York Pres
bytery. however think that the seminary pro-
fessor should he called to an account. and they
will welcome a discussion Of the matter in the
General Assembly. This will be brought about
by the recent action OF the Presbytery Of Pitts
burg. which voted to ask the General Assembly
to entertain n charge Of heresy against Or. Nc
Glffcrt. The latter however. will not want de-
tenders and apooglsts in the General Assembly.
SO representative Presbyterian minister as
Or. IIcrrick Johnson. after making an elaborate
analysis Of Or. Mct;ifert's book In "The New
York Evangelist" gives It as his conclusion
that while the latter ''mny have exposed himself
80 severe and mcrltcd criticism he IL not open
ito the charge Of having tossed to the winds
'the fundamental doctrines OF the Gospel Of the
"SOn OF God"
Another matter that will provoke earnest dis
cusson In tho Assembly will be the report Of
the Board Of Home Missions involving the
question Of removing the main office Of the
Board from this city to Chicago. II will be re-
membcrcd that the proposition 10 sell the cx-
pensivc building OF the Board on the corner Of
Fifltavc. and Twentictl-st. came up in the
General Assembly last year. but final action
was deferred. Many PresbytcrianS still believe
that the erection Of such an expensive building
was serious mistake. and they viii renew the
effort to get rid OF it; but the probabilities are
that the effort will not succeed. as most good
business men ARE said 10 believe that the build
ing il destined ultimately TO he n first class in
vcsmcn from a business point Of view.
The relation OF Union Seminary to the Pres
byternn Church. first brought into question by
the alleged hcreiical views of Professor Briggs,
will probably come mp again in the Assembly.
Not only will this question be involved IN the
discussion Of Professor McGffer,'s views, but
II will also be suggested by the ordination Of
DR.. Briggs as an Episcopal clergyman, soon 10
take plnce. and his declaration that he VIII
continue TO hold his professorshp In Union
Seminary. The present position Of this agrees
sve divine. by the way, Is not without an ele
ment Of humor. He Is. In fact. the object Of
n double bombnrdment. Prcsby tcrlan and Epis
copal. The Prcsbytcrinns are asking him how
he. as an Episcopalian. can continue TO hold n
professionally which demands Of him that he
shall hold the Presbyterian faith and poli'y
and tcnch nothing contrary 10 the same. And
the EpIscOpallans AT least some OF them
want 10 know how he can become an Episcopal
minister while pledged to hold and teach Pres
byterianlsrn Says The Living Church" Epis |
cOpaD. We confess 10 a feeling of consider |
"able anxiety over the addition 10 the Church |
"of body II men. however learned and emf |
"nent. who follow the lines Of Drs. Briggs and |
Shields" Unless he resigns his professorshp |
in Union i Il altogether likely that DR. Briggs |
will lnd that he has Jumped out Of the Pres |
bvtcrian frying pan into the Episcopal fire |
one thing ia certain. His continuance In the |
seminary will greatly strengthen the number |
OF those IN the Presbyterian Church who be |
Hove that the seminary has lrftcd away from |
its Presbyterian moorings. and that 1t should |
no longer receive the support and sympathy Of !
the Presbyterian Church II some such dec
laratlon rs this should be- made by the General |
Assembly bitter and rcgretiablc dispute
would ~ once arise as 10 the right of the
seminary 10 retain moneys given to II as n Pres
bytcran institution