New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-29
they began that correspondence they should
have recalled the Hartford Convention.
mr. NGIFFERTS CASE.

DIR. MGiFFEhIS thcb.
Few Pnesbytertans. we imagine. Will be who'll
" satisfied with the action Of the General AS
sembly In regard TO Professor Mciinert. IL
will be remembered that for reasons satsfac-
tory TO itself the New-York Presbytery. OF
which Dr. McGiffcrt Is member and TO WHICH,
therefore. he ia amenable In the first nsmnce
for his views failed to take any action IN re-
gard 70 the charge that his book contains heret-
ical statements. Thereupon the PresDytery Oh
Plttsburg sent overture to the Generhl AS
sembly asking that body 10 take action. whlch
II has the right to do. by ordering the New-horK
Presbytery to try the accused man Inc Ten
era Assembly referred the matter TO the COM
mittee on Bills and Overurcs. which presented
three reports last Wednesday. The majority
report recorded its emphatic disapproval or GER
tain views in the book and suggested that DE-
McGlffert either reconsider these views or with
draw from the Presbyterian ministry. Or me
two other reports Of the committee one request
ed action by the New-York Presbytery and the
other did not but they both condemned Dr.
McGlffers views.
On Friday the reports Of the committee were
discussed by the General Assembly which al
most unanimously voted that DR.. Mctiiffert
must either reconsider the questionable views
SET forth in his book" or withdraw from the
PRESBYTERIAN ministry. The only other alter
native open TO him, In case he refuses 10 DO
either Is 10 demand a trial by the New-fork
Presbytery In this deliverance the Assembly
SAWS that Il desires the fullest and freest IN
"vestlgation and inquiry on the part OF reverent
"Christian students into the foundations or the
"Christian faith; but II deprecates everything
(which whether In its substance or In the form
"of its expression. needlessly disturbs the faith
"of Christian people" Now. the difficulty with
this disposition Of the matter is that, In effect,
though. OF course not in intention, 1t asks both
Or McGifrert and the Presbyterian Church TO
commit a distinctly immoral act The accused
professor was either honest or dishonest In
promugating the views under discussion. TX he
WAS honest he cannot reconsider them without
becoming dishonest: and, therefore. were he to
take this course the General Assembly Is on
record as willing to retain a dishonest man In
the ministry OF the Church Surely the brethren
in the General Assembly cannot have realized
the real character OF such proposition as that
or they would not for n moment have consd-
cred II.
On the other hand. II DR.. McGiffert put forth
statements in his book which ne did not at the
time believe an incredible supposltion-the only
thing for the Church to do would he to expel
him from his ministry at once The fact. OF
course. Is that whether his Views are or are
not in accordance with the creed OF his Church.
he has adopted them honestly and conscien-
t!ously In justice 10 him and 70 Itself there
fore the General Assembly ought to tnke that
FOR granted and address itself simply TO the
question whether the statements In his book
amount 10 denial Of the Presbyterian faith.
That question can he settled only by putting
the accused man on trial In his Presbytery
That such trial would not only embarrass the
New-York Presbytery not yet recovered from
the evil effects Of the Rrigg, trial, but might
probably nlso disrupt the whole Church may
10 admitted Rut this Is one OF the misfortunes
OF the case that cannot be avoided unless the
Church should admit that Professor McGif
tert's views nre within tho limits Of toler
ated opinion. which. apparently. II Is not will
ing 10 do.
Moreover. the declaration OF the Assembly
lnccts another difficulty into the case. II says
that IL desires "ths fullest and freest investga
ton and inquiry" ms to the foundations OF the
Christian faith. but by implication It declares
that men In the Church who engage In such In
qulry and Investigation must reach only con-
illusions that are In harmony with the doctrines
OF the Church. Under such circumstances how
can an inquiry be- full and free: Obviously II
cannot ms this very case OF Professor Mct'if
fert shows. He Is an honest and reverent Chris
tan scholar, and his sole aim has been TO get
ut the facts rs to the Apostolic Church. In
other words. he has done what the General AS
scmhly says It desires to have done. And yet
no has not been able 10 do so without exposing
himself 10 grave charges OF heresy and unbe
lief II would seem much more consistent for
the Church to forbid any Investigation OF It's
doctrines so long az It regards those doctrines
as lnfallbly and unalterably true.