The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-19
M'GIFFERT LET DOWN EASY.
PREsBrTERY UNWILLING TO FORCE
ANOTHER HERESY TRIAL.

Suggestion OF Drs. Van Dyke and Johnston
Adopted with som. Observation-Disclosures
Relieved to Have Thus Disposed of the
Matter-The End May Not He Yet,
The New York Presbytery at special meet
Ing took final action yesterday afternoon In
the matter OF DIR. McGiffert whose writings
have been said to be hereticai and contrary to
Presbyterian doctrine. In taking action the
Presbytery followed the suggestion OF two OF
It's members. the Rev. DR.. Henry Van Dyke
and the Rev. DR.. Howard Agnew Johnston. that
the Ptesbytery and General Assembly had vim
dicnted them selves OF being In sympathy with
DR.. McGlfierts utterances by making as much
OF a stir over them as had already been made,
and that heresy trial was an expensive and
scandalous thing. and that the best way out OF
the difficulty was for the Presbytery to record
It's disagreement with DR.. McGlrert and warn
others from following In his footsteps.
The resolution to dismiss further considero-
ton OF DR.. McGiffert and his works In this way
was adopted by vote OF rs to "a. An amend
ment refraining from direct censure OF DIR. Nc
Giffert and letting him down easily by Saving
that his views were not necessarily the views
OF the Presbytery. was lost by vote OF ~ TO
90. 1t seemed from tho conversation OF the
members aftor the meeting that while the
majority rejoiced that the Church was not TO
be racked by another hcresy trial there were
not few who thought the Presbytery's action
savored OF compromise with. II not
| OF surrender to. something great
deal worse than heresy trial. This
minority seemed to think that II was
, quite possible that the General Assembly may
not approve OF the way the New York Prssby-
| tory has disposed OF the McGifiert matter and
may do as IL did when the majority OF the
Presbytery was against trying Dr. Charles
| Briggs. and order the Presbytery to try DR..
, McGifert whether II wants to or not. IL a
| sufficient number OF Presbyteries petition the
| General Assembly to reopen tho McGinert
matter over the heads Of the peace-desiring
| brethren Of the New York Presbytery 1t will
| be done.
| When the Presbytery met yesterday the
| special order Of business before IL was. flrst,
| the report OF the committee to reason with DR.
| McCilffert and consider his writings: second.
the resolutions prepared by DR.. Van Dyke and
| DR., Johnston as n substitute for that report.
| and third. amendments by DR. Francis Brown.
! DR.. McGiifert's colleague at the Union Thco-
logical Seminary, ameliorating the slight
strctnres on DR.. McGIffert containsi In the
Van Dyke.Johnston .s sssola.tio9s The COM I'M
effect that as Drr. McGifrcrt refused to recant
| and refused to get out OF the Church volun;;
| tarily. the committee. therefore. recommended
| that the presbytery express its dlsapproval OF
| DR.. McGInert,,s ntterances and refer the matter
The Van Dyke. Johnston resol utons said that
the Presoytery specifically condemned certain
"a History OF Christianity in The Apostolic
| Age explained that It's dsapproya: OF DIR.
McGifrert's works did not prec;u 10 II from ac-
! Church and evangelical Christendom in all
action OF the last General Assembly taken in
connection with the present action oil the Pres
S guard ss bo OF the
question may affect the same: :" stated that the
Pres6ytsry was convinced that heresy trial
at the present time would work grave injury
to Chrsts kingdom and concluded thus:
"Presbytery counsels and enions all mem
engaged in critical studies. 20 refrain from set
ting forth the disarowed teachings ms II en-
'he Ssry az be
careful also faithfully to maintain sound doc
tIine and Loyalty to STUDY tho peace OF the
DR.. Brown wanted to amend these resolu-
t!ons by substituting statement OF wh4, the
minister Coniessionl for the statement Of things
N WHICH n. Prs,soytery DID not oe,,eSe taken
op the o decSrnson q OF Dr. mS
Giffer's writings u statement that the Pres
by.cry regret; That any u,eEsncs rs q Dr. Me:
iinsy ~ snbstiutins Tor the words the Pres;
o." the words the Prcsbytery having DO
sIared is doe,rina PHIIii,io1 and having die.
claimed all responsibility TOT. Browns
amendments were frat taken up and were dis
cussed for three hours. At the end OF that time
they were voted down, 81 TO ~.
The Rev. DIR. Bliss offered an amendment to
lutlons to max, II read as follows;
"Presbytery couns"ls ,and enlolns all men,
beers OF this body, and especially such as are
engaged in critical studIes, 10 refra'n from set
ting forth the dlsavowed teachings as II IN
dorscd by the Presbyt erian Church. and while
exercising the liberty OF scholarship. TO BE-
careful to distinguish between the theories Of
criticism and the certainties Of faith and also
faithfully to maintain sound doctrine and
Loyalty 10 study the peace OF the Church"
Against DR. Van Dykes earnest protest this
amendment was adopted. and in this form the
Van Dyke-Johnston resolutions were adopted
by a vote OF ~ tn ~. After adopting the rs-
port Of the committee as thus amended the
Presbytery adjourned for three weeks
The me beers. contrary to their usual custom,
stool about congratulating one another over
the outcome OF the meeting for nearly half an
Hour after the adjournment.