Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1899-05-23
.AE Will NOT Do EITHER.
Dr.. McGiffert Refuses to Withdraw
from Presbyterian Church or
Modify His Views.
SENDS COURTEOUS LETTERT0AssEMBLy


Declares He Is in Accord with Pres
byterinn Doctrine ON All Vital
PointS-Letter Referred to Conn
mittee-Disposition of Matter Un-
northumberland Debate Probable.
Minneapolis, Mimi, May 22.-Dr. A..
T. McGiffert, of the Union theological
seminary, by letter presented his COM
pliments to the Presbyterian general
assembly and refused to comply with
it's request of last year. That request
was that he should modify his attitude
on doctrinal matters expressed in his
Christian Church in the Apostolic
Age" or else withdraw from the
church. Instead of modifying his
views he declares that he is in accord
with Presbyterian doctrine on all vital
points and far from withdrawing de-
elares that he cannot withdraw. The
language Of the letter is so courteous
that many of the conservatives in the
assembly joined the liberals in applaud
ing it when the stated clerk had readit,
not understanding that DR.. McGiffert
had refused though most courteously
to do the bidding of the church. The
letter was surprise because it was be-
ieyed that it would be satisfactory.
The committee on bills and overtures,
DR.. Wallace Radcliffe, chairman, will
pass upon the letter. An influential
member of the committee admits that
the letter is exactly what it should not
be except for its courtesy. But the
spirit of the committee and Of the
whole assembly is so fair that it is hard
to say what will be done. Everybody is
tired of heresy quarrels and factional
troubles.
Disposition of Matter.
There will be careful consideration
by the committee and heated debate
in the assembly, whatever the report.
DR.. George w. F. Birch, of New York,
who instigated the proceedings against
DR.. Briggs and tried to keep DR.. Nc
Giffert out of the New York presby terry,
will take up the cudgels against DR.. Nc
Giffert. In the end the assembly will
either reassert its position Of last year
and let the matter drop or else recon-
mend the New York presbytery to take
up the question of expulsion of Dr. Nc
Giffert, which means a heresy trial.
The McGiRert Letter.
The letter of DR.. McGiffert is as fol-
lows:
eNew York, May 49, 1893. To the General
49,
!, the United States of America, in session
at Minneapolis, MINI.
Dear Brethren; At the meeting of the
general assembly held in May, 1898, the fol-
lowing action was taken in reference to
book entitled "A History of Christianity
in the Apostolic Age of which ! am the
author, and was communicated to me by
the stated clerk under date of September
%, 1898.
(1ere follows the action taken last May.)
NV aiying at this time all questions OF
constitutional right and order, I have
thoughtit proper to look upon the action In
| the light Of friendly advice from Christian
| brethren, in which light, indeed, 1t would
| seem that 1t must have been looked upon
| by those who Joined in it.
Regarded thus, the action evidently re.
| quires no response from me, nor did the
| assembly intimate in any way that the
response was either expected or desired
| But 1T is my wish to be governed entirely
| by the spirit of Christian fraternity, anG
therefore take this opportunity of inform
| ing the brethren to gather in the first gen
| eral assembly since the action was taken
! which / have felt my duty to be in view o.
the fraternal counsel offered me.
Regulates the Charges,
/ 1.-THE action of the assembly as well a!
1 the overture from the presbytery of Pitts
4 burgh upon which that action was based
| make 1t evident that many of my positions
together with the spirit and purpose of N,
book as a whole, have been seriously mis-
apprehended. Such misrepresentation
/ sincerely regret, and wish here emphat
/ tcally to repudiate the false construction
\ that have been placed upon my book Il
many quarters. So far as my views ar
concerned, they have been and remain, a
i ! believe, in accord with the faith of tn
Presbyterian church and of eyangelica
| christendom in allvital and essential mat
ters, and therefore cannot feel that 1T |
my duty or even my right in justice t
myself and to my brethren and to tn
church of our Divine Lord and Master, i
4 which am an Office bearer, to withdra,
4 from the ministry of the Presbyteria
church. In taking this position, to whic
am constrained by a profound sense G
duty, desire to say that recognize CRATE
fully the spirit of Christian kindness whic
animated those who Joined in the actio
OF the last assembly, ana appreciate tn
devotion to the truth and the concern fc
the welfare of the church which prompte
their action. ! desire to say also that
{, Yield to no one in my devotion to til
truth, and In my concern for the welfar
Of the church.
Praying for the blessing of God upo
!, the church universal and especially upo
!, that branch of 1t within which was Dor
and bred, and whose interests have mos
: |. deeply at heart,
II am respectfully and fraternally your
!, "A. T. M'GIFFERT.n
Decide on Chattanooga, Tenn.
Denver, Col, May 22.-Chat tanoog,
Tenn, has been chosen by the Cumbe,
land Presbyterian general assembl,
now in session here, as the meetin
place Of the assembly next year.
resolution providing that in future ii
) church shall make provision to pay IL
!, expenses of the assembly and that 4
: free entertainment for the delegate
shall be provided, was ruled out of o
! der by Moderator Halsell, but the ma
ter may be taken up later. Afterlistel
: ing to an address on Education b
! Rev. j. M. Hubbard, dean OF Cumbe
! land theological seminary, the assen
$ bly, resumed consideration of repor
d of standing committees.
~ T. al ID /.