The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-11-17
ACTION ON
M'GIFFERT.
His case Left to General
Assembly.
REFUSED TO QUIT THE CHURCH.
OF the Essential Points of Faith Sub
mitted by the Committee He Only An
nounced Unqualified Belief In One.
Some Against "a Heresy Trial.

NEW YORK, Nov. 14.-The case OF
Prof. Arthur O. McGiffert of Union
Theological seminary. who is charged
with holding views that are at variance
with the doctrines OF the Presbyterian
church, came before the New York pres.
bytery and was referred to the general
assembly. A committee was appointed
last June to confer with Prof. McGiffert
and prevail upon him to withdraw from
the church, or at least modify his views,
Meetings have been held, which Prof.
McGiffert attended, but he steadfastly
refused to recede from the stand he had
taken on certain church matters saying
that he had been misunderstood. The
general assembly prepared expressly for
Prof. McGltfert's case an outline of the
fundamental principles of the church.
Those were:
First-That the statements of the
Holy Scriptures are absolutely truthful,
!. Q. free from error when interpreted
in their natural and intended sense.
Second-That in Jesus Christ there
were two whole, perfect and distinct
nature, the Godhead and the manhood
being inseparately Joined together in
one person without conversion or con-
fusion, SO thbt he was IN no particular
liable to error.
Thlrd-That the Lords Supper was
instituted by the direct and personal
act of Jesus Christ to be observed In
his church unto the end of the world.
Fourth-That God justified men by
imputing the obedience and satisfaction
of Christ to them;. they receiving and
resting upon him in all his righteous.
ness by faith, which faith they receive
as the gift OF God.
1t is only the last of these statements
that Prof. McGitfert accepts as it stands
The committee to whom the matter
was referred was composed of Rev. DIR
Robert +. Sample, chairman; Rev. DR.
John B. Shaw, Rev. DR.. r. II. Booth
and Rev. DR.. John q. Bliss, and the fol
lowing elders: William Magic, Oscar
E. Boyd and Titus B. Meigs. Mr. Boyd
was the only one of the committee alb
sent at meeting of the committee held
just previous TO the meeting Of the
presbytery.
The report was vol lminous. It's es.
sence was that the case should be re-.
ferred to the general assembly which
meets in st. Louis next May The re.
port was accepted and ordered to be
printed for private distribution among
the members of the presbytery, and
made the order Of the day of the Decem.
ber meeting.
AT the conclusion of the reading of
the report Prof. Francis Brown, Rev
DR.. Howard Agnew Johnson and Rev.
DIR. Henry Van Dyke read suggestions,
in which 1t was advised that the contro.
versy over Prof. McGiffcrt be dropped.
DIR. Johnson's paper was heard first,
then Pro-, Browns S ana DR.. Van Dyke s
and they were in substance alike. DIR.
Van Dyke said that, while majority
did not agree with Prof. McGiffert, the
wisdom Of a heresy trial was doubtful
and might result in harm to the Presby-
terian cause. In view of preparations
for series of Presbyterian revivals in
this city this fall and winter, the post
ponement of the discussion of the sub.
Ject and the reference to the general as.
sembly is thought desirable.