The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-05-26
M,GIFFERT HEREsY CASE.
Committee Divided and Three Re-
Ilu.osor, IN

ports Presented to Assembly.
WINONA LAKE, Ind. May 25-Ths
much discussed book. "a History of Chris
tianity in the Apostolic Age" by Prof. A
c. McGiffert d. D., of the New York Pres
bytery, was put before the General AS
sembly of the Presbyterian Church to-day.
An overture from the presbytery of Pitts
burg precipitated the matter by charging
the author, who is professor in the Union
Theological Seminary, with denial Of the
fundamental doctrines of evangelical chris
tendon. The overture has been in the hands
of the committee several days. Three re-
ports were made and thirteen members of
the majority, headed by DR.. Sheldon
Jackson chairman of the COMMITTEES,
recommended that the assembly take
no action. but allow Prof. Nc
Giffert to explain his position or retire
from the Presbyterian ministry. The first
minority report Endorsed by six members
and signed by w. S. Plumer, asks that the
matter be referred to the New York Pres
bytery for action and settlement. The sec
ond, signed by one member. Francis
Brown, recommends no action, but con-
dennis the alleged erroneous teaching OF
Prof. McGiffert. The assembly postponed
action on the reports until Friday. During
the day reports from the board of foreign
missions and the board of mission publica-
tions were read. The latter report. which
was adopted, provided for a single mis-
sonary p, blcation, with editorial offices in
New York. under the management of Rev.
William H. hubbard, of Auburn. N. Y, and
with the supervision of a committee of I'VE.
The McGiffert case came before the as
semby late this afternoon on reports from
the committee on bills and overtures. The
majority and minority reports are prac-
tically identical except for the final para
graph. The text of the majority report is
as follows:
Paper No. l. referred to this committee by
the assembly. is an overture from the Pres
bytery of Pittsburg calling the attention or
tional Theological Library entitled "A His
tory Of Christianity IN the Apostolic Age,
the author of which. Prof. A: Z. McGi1ert.
d. D., a member of the Presbytery or New
York and overturing the General Assembly
to adopt such measures In regard thereto
as shall be conducive 20 the churchs pur-s
ity, peace and honor, ana 10 the mainIen-
ance of the authority of the oracles or God.
To these overtures we recommend the fol-
lowing answer:
pure doctrine represented by the overture
from the Presbytery of Ptttsburg, and Is 1T
self now, as always, profoundly concerned
for the maintenance OF the faith. 1t en-
joins upon all its ministers special care in
these times of doubt and even denial OF
things which the church holds sacred. to
distinguish as clearly as possible from all
forms of error the truth of God as revealed
in His word and Interpreted In the stand
ards OF our church, and IN particular con-
stantly to endeavor. whether in preaching
or teaching, by spoken or written words, to
present the positive truth so distinctly and
SO attEactively that men snall understand It
Scriptures which are the word of God NAV
be everywhere accepted and believed as the