The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-21
THURS MINNEAPOLIS OFFICE,
III 20 WASHINGTON Az SOUTH.
ryu.Lox,. o-o6 =
Telephone 1896 il.


The feature of yesterdays session of
the general assembly of the Presbyterian
church at Minneapolis, and, in fact OF
the gathering up to date, was the read
ing of the letter addressed to the assem-
bly, by Prof Arthur c. McGiffert, OF
Union seminary. Prof. McGiffert's letter
was presented Immediately after the de-
| votionai and routine exercises of the
morning session had been disposed Of.
The text of the letter was as follows:
New York. May Is, 1870 the Cen
eral Assembly of the Presbyterian Church
in the United States of America, In SEES
sion at Minneapolis, Mtnn-Dear 81 en-
zen: At the meeting of the general as
semby held in May, 1898. the following
action was taken in reference to a book
eititled A History of Christianity In the
Apostolic Age of which | am the au-
thor. and was communicated to me by
the stated clerk under date of Sept Y,
1895: QHere follows the action taken last
May0
Waving at this time all questions Of
constitutional right and order, | have
thought it proper to look upon this ac-
ton in the light of friendly advice from
Christian brethren, in which light, in
deed, it would seem that it must have
been looked upon by those who joined IN
it. Regarded thus, the action evidently
requires no response from me, nor did
the assembly intimate in any way that q
But ii is my wish to be governed en- e.
1y by the spirit of Christian courtesy.
and L therefore take this opportunity or
informing the brethren gathered, in the
first general assembly since the action
was taken, what l have felt my duty to
be, in view Of the fraternal counsel Of
fered me.
The action of the assembly, as well as
the overture from the presbytery Of Pitts
burg upon which that action was based,
make 1t evident that many of my posi-
tons together with the spirit and pur-
poseTof my book, as a whole, have bean
seriously misapprehended Such misap-
prehension sincerely regret and wish
here emphatically to repudiate the false
constructions that have been placed upon
my book in many quarters So far as
my views are concerned, they have been
and remain, as 1 believe, in accord with
the faith of the Presbyterian church, and
of evangelical Christepdom in all vital
and essential matters, and l therefore
cannot feel that it is my duty or, even
my right, in justice to myself, and to my
brethren and to the church of our Divine
Lord and Master, in which am an office
bearer. to Withdraw from the ministry Of
the Presbyterian church.
In taking this position, to which | am
constrained by a profound sense of duty,
! desire to say that re cognize gratefully
the spirit of Christian kindness which ami
mated those who Joined In the action Of
the last assembly and appreciate the de-
votion to the truth and the concern for
their action. l desire to say also, that l
yield to no one in my devotion to tie
of the church.
Praying for the blessing of God upon
the church universal, and especially upon
that branch of it within which ! was
born and bred and whose interests l have
most deeply at heart, l am, respectfully
"A C. McGiffert.
LETTER A SURPRISE.
To many, to most, perhaps, of the COM
missioners, the letter was a surprise and
-,
general that DR.. McGiffert would COM
ply with the wishes of the church and
that the reading of his letter would be
the end of the whole matter, which the
presbytery of Pittsburg started a year
ago, in its protest against the theology
of DR.. Giffert's book, THE Christian
Church in the Apostolic Age
Fully to understand how far Dr. Nc
Giffert is from replying, the assembly
would have him, it is necessary to recall
what was done with his case year ago
The assembly then declared that it sym
pathized with the widespread belief that
1.-THE utterances of DR.. McGiffert are in
consistent with the teachings of Scripture
a. interpreted by the Presbyterian church
and by evangelical Christendom, and the
assembly stamps with its emphatic dis
approval all utterances in the book called
to its attention by the presbytery of
Pittsburg not in accordance with the
standards of our church, Then, after
speaking of the great need of harmony
and peace in the church, the assembly ex-
pressed itself as follows:
The assembly therefore, in the spirit CT
kindness no less than in devotion to the
truth, counsels DR.. McGiffert to recon
p slider the questionable views set forth in
his book, and if he cannot conform his
views to the standards of our church.
then peaceabiy to withdraw from the
Presbyterian ministry"
In other words, the assembly con-
demned the teachings of DR.. McGiffert 8
book, and asked him either to conform
them to the doctrines of the church or
leave if.
Now, after a silence of year, in which
he has had ample time for consideration.
DR.. McGiffert substantially affirms that
he canont change his views; that he has
been misunderstood and that he must de-
cline to leave the Presbyterian ministry.
The assembly made a request and DR..
McGiffert has denied it,
Yet the denial is made in such courteous
language and such an amiab,e spirit tina +
many of those who have no sympathy
with DR.. McGiffert's views applauded the
letter when it was read to the assembly,
not seeing at first that beneath the mild
language there was firm refusal to do
the bidding of the church.
FUTURE ACTION
The letter was referred to the commit
tee on bills and overtures, of which DIR.
Radcliffe is chairman
Just what the committee will do with
# is problematic. The prevailing opin
Ion is that when the committee reports
on the matter-which will probably be
next Wednesday morning-it will reas-
sert the position that last years assembly
took anent DR.. McGifferts views aasirlet
the matter drop at that
If 1t does not pursue that courses II
will probably take the radically different