New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-26
DIR. M'GIFFERT'S CASE.
CREATED AN EXCITING DEBATE IN THE
PRESBYTERIAN GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
mr. SHAW AND JAMES YEREANCE CON
rRAprcr EACH oTHER-TEACHINGs OF
DIR. M.GIFFERTs BOOK REFERRED
~ Nyru vOpK pRFSBYTFRY.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.


TO NETWORK PREsBYTERY.
ley TELEGRAPH TO THE TRrBuNEl
Minneapolis. Mimi, May 2o-Ihe frespE' ei'a"
Church has taken another important step lor-
ward In the path which 1t has been pursuing
since 1891 when 1t refused 10 approve the re'a-
zion Of DR. Briggs to his new chair in Union
Seminary. BY a unanimous vote 'he oe"ei a.
Assembly to-day adopted two reports from its
Committee on Bills and Overtures' oo'n OF
which were presented by DR.. Wallace Radcliffe
=, WASHINGTON. The Arst affirmed the position
y, the Church upon the fundamental doctrines
of the Church and enjoined upon all the
churches and Presbyteries Loyalty 10 defend and
,ro,ect Them. Concerning Professor McGinerts
views. as expressed in his book which has oeeh
,.rrned heretical this action was taken.
..The Assembly notes the population by Ut
ucci1ert Of the Interpretation placed upon MS
u,tersnces in said book as being not IN accord
WITH the standards Of our Church, and his as
sertion Of the devotion to the truth ana MS
concern for tie welfare Of the Church. ana "hi'e
accounting the same as sincere the Assembly,
r.,ar,beieas rease,-ts It's deliverance or 1870
,,,dannine the statements OF said DOCK as
n.,ne such as to Justify the Interpretation 30
repudiated."
There 1vere men in the Assembly who woulo
haye hean Glad to have had this end the matter
hut there were others. and the great ma)or"y
n, the Assembly. who would not submit 10 such
q disposition OF the case. The committee HseH
was divided Twelve members, headed by Dr'
Radcliffe recommended that the teachings OF
the book be referred 10 the New-fork fresoS
terry. for such disposition as In It's judgment t"e
nsocs Of the Church and the purity of doctrine
may require. ~
Fight members headed by Professor Ben
iamin Lewis Hobson, professor or Apoioge'cs
IN the Mccormick Seminary in Chicago, recon-
mended that the NewYork Presoytery shouIo
he directed TO appointed a committee 10 CONFER
with DIR, McGiffert and ~ possible 10 secure his
withdrawal from the Presbyterian ministry or
10 place him on trial for heresy.
ANIMATED DEBATE
The majority report was adopted but not
until one Of the most exciting debates IN the
Assembly since the reunion thirty years ago
had taken place. Or. Radcliffe pleaded for his
report and DIR. Hobson for his, and speeChes
we're made alternately by men favoring each
report Finally the Rev. Dr. John bal'om
Shaw a personal friend Of Dr. McGiffert and a
director OF Union Seminary in which Dr. NC
cinert IL a professor. rose to speak. There Is
bIv than Dr. Shaw A one OF the men who
favored the election Of Dr. Sample. his ad-
dress in his support permeated with
brotherly kindness and a manifest desire 10
have past Issues forgotten that he carried the
house with him subsequently by his Sunday
sermon and his clear-cut. eloquent address on
the BOARD Of Aid for Colleges and Academies
and his earnest appeals in behalf OF foreign
missionaries. in whom he IS deeply interested
as o member Of the Board Of Foreign Missions
he had made for himself a name that will long
be fragrant in Minneapolis
II was some time before he could speak. so
great was the applause which greeted him. His
hrst words called forth another round Of ap-
plause that threatened to lessen his five minutes
time materially He said: Il voted with all
my heart for the deiverance just adopted by
the Assembly. and ! believe that the Church
stands upon the fundamental doctrine there laid
down I have read Dr. McGiffert's book, and I
am free TO say that II panied me exceedingly;
II almost grieved me. l have no patience with
IT, There are many good things in 1t, but more
that are not good. approve the majority re-
port and | say, brethren, give us time, and you
will hasten the rapid passing away Of this book"
POINTED QUESTION TO DR. SHAW.
DR. William McKbbin, who had made a speech
In favor OF the minority report directing the
Presbytery to take definite action regarding
DR. MoGffert, then arose and said in tone
that went through the church like an arrow:
why then. DR.. Shaw. do you as n Union
Seminary director. retain its author IN a pro-
fessors chair in the seminary"
A dozen members were on their feet at once,
and the voice of Dr. Radcliffe was heard above
the din: Mr. Moderator. Mr.. Moderator. that
is not fair. l protest against personal questions
Of this character"
Dr. Graham the Vice Moderator was in the
chair and after some pounding with the gavel
succeeded in restoring order. DIR. Shaw insist
ing that the interruption should not be taken
from his time. Then he said: There are rela-
tons in life in which finds himself AT
times which It is impossible to explain in de-
tail in the brief time at my command"
The applause which greeted this answer was
wenigh deafening Dr. Shaw had won. and not
lost by the interruption. Then he continued:
81 approve the majority report for three rea
sons. First-You can trust the Church. espe
ciay after such deliverance as we have JUS
made. Wait until 1901 and you will see the re
suit OF this action. Have patience. Second
You can trust DR.. McGifert. 1 said to him re-
Gently. DO you believe absolutely and unQuali
fedly in the Deity OF Jesus Christ? and he re
piled without hesitation, I do"
Professor Hobson raised a point OF order, an(
again confusion reigned. DR. Shaw saying: g.
leave all that out. We can trust DR.. McGffert
He is not such a man some that we have hat
TO deal with. Under the pressure of this deliv
erance to-day feel sure that he will leave tn
Church II he does not ] feel sure that. unde
the wise pressure OF friends. he will walk out
but brethren. leave him free TO do so. Don
threaten him. Don't thrust sword at him
Let him be treated as a
"Third-You trust the Presbytery Of New
York. No uncertain sound was given by tina
Presbytery some years ago. Let US be free t
act now. and in the glow OF the new spirituat
that has come upon us under the baptism Of tn