The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-21
False Constructions, He Says. Have
Been Placed on HIS "History Ok
Christianity in the Apostolic Age"
CANNOT CHANGE HIS VIEWS
FOR THEY ARE IN ACCORD WITH
THE CHURCH's TEACHINGS.
Neither Can He Consistently With
draw from the Ministry--Winona
Working Hard for Next Meeting.

| MINNEAPOLIS, Minn., May A.-Dr A.
c. McGiffert, of the Union Theological SEM
| mary, by letter presented his Compliments
| to the Presbyterian General Assembly to-
| day and refused to comply with the request
OF last years assembly. That request WAS
| that he should modify his attitude on doc
| trinal matters expressed In his "Christian
Church In the Apostolic Ages" or else with
draw from the church. Instead OF modify
| ing his views, he declares that he is IN ac-
cord with Presbyterian doctrine on all vial
points and declares he cannot withdraw.
The language of the letter is so courteous
that many OF the conservatives In the as
sembly Joined the liberals in a2plauding IT.
| The committee on bills and oysrtures. DR..
| Wallace Radcliffe, chairman, Will pass on
| the letter. Members of the committee admit
| the letter Is exactly what IL should not be.
except for its courtesy, but the spirit of the
committee and OF the whole assembly Is
| such it Is hard to say what viii be DONE
| There will be careful consideration by the
| committee and a heated debate In the as
| sembly on the report. In the end the assem-
| bly, 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.. McChnert.
| which meanE heresy trial.
DR. MGIFFERTS LETTER
| DR.. McGiffert's letter is dated New York.
| Nav Is. 1t follows:
Dear Brethren-At the meeting OF tie
| General Assembly held in May. 1885. acti ~
was taken in reference 10 q oook entlI "a
| "A History of Christianity in she Apoete uc
! Age of which / am the author, ana -
der date of Sept. -, isss. Waving at lhls
| time all questions. of constitutional xns
and order, 1 have thought 1t proper to sook
| on that action in the light of friendly advice
| from Christian brethren, in which light, IN
| deed it would seem 1t must have been
rarded thus. the action evidently requires
no response from me nor did the assemply
| intimate in any way that the response wae
either expected or desired. But II Is my
wish to be governed entirely. by the spirit
| Of Christian fraternity, and therefore take
this opportunity of informing the nretnren
| together in the first General Assembly since
| the action was taken, which j nave 1ouno
my duty to be in view Of the fraternal coun-
aThe action of the assembly, as well al
| the oyertures from the Presbytery OF Pitts
| burg on which that action was based. MAKE
gether with the spirit and purpose OF my
1 book as whole, have been seriously misap-
pretended. Such misapprehension ! sincere
| ly regret and L wish here emphs s.cai:y TO-
| repudiate the false constructions that nave
been placed upon my book in many quar-
$50 far as my views are concerned, they
| have been and remain. as l believe, IN ac-
| cord with the faith of the Presbyterssn
Church and of evangelical Christendom IN
| all vital and essential matters. and there
| fore cannot feel IL is my duty or even my
| right in justice to myself and 70 my oretn-
| ren and to the church OF our divine Loro
| and Master. in which am an office bearer.
| TO withdraw from the ministry OF .he Pres
byterian Church. In taking TINS Pos,aaon, Pa ,,s %
| OF duty. L desire to say that 1 recofnlxo
gratefully the spirit OF Christian kindness
| which animated those who joined In the ac-
| ton of the last assembly. and appreciats
| the devotion the truth and the concern
| for the welfare OF the church which prompt-
| ed their action. j desire TO say also that
| / Weld to no one in my devotion 70 the
truth and in my concern for the welfare OF
"Praying for the blessing Of God upon the
| church universal and especially upon thaS
| branch OF 1t I'm which was born ana oreo
1 and whose interests / have mostly deeply
| at heart, am respectfully and fraternany
yours. a - M rirr EN-
Most OF the morning was devoted 20 dis
cussion of the committee report on ministe-
rial relief presented yesterday. At present
Presbyterians give only eik cents per capita
| annually for this purpose. which was shown
| to be far too small.
Greetings were sent to the General As
semblv of Southern Presbyterian Church.
| in session in Richmond. Va, and to the
Cumberland assembly at Denver
The assembly commended the plan OF the
hoard of freedmen to raise $4,000 between
now and Monday night over 30 teiesrapho
| appeals have been sent out
| This afternoon the commissioners sis'eo
St. Paul.
FIGHT FOR NEXT MEETING PLACE.
The fight for the next place OK mee,ns
has apparently narrowed TO con'es'
tween Walnut Hills Church, Cncinnsu' an"
~
~ the cincinnati church, stated to-day that
=. ,,,oula nress the invitation. The Winona
lake people are very eager to get the ss-
samb,v at their Presbyterian Chautauoua
orce more. and would like to make IT the
permanent meeting place. Cincincau 10
somewhat handicapped by the fact that the
nastor Of the Second Church or that city.
the Rev. Dr. Z. Trumbull Lee, and It's most
nrominent member, Elder Alex. Mcdonald.
president OF the Standard Oil Company. are
directors CT the winona corporation ana
have Joined in the invitation 10 meet az
that place
Among the delicate matters with which
the General Assembly will have 70 deal -
the case Of Herman Warszawiak, the re-
formed Jew. who caused the Presbyteriano
of New York so much trouble two years
ago. March 81, 1891, he was suspended from
the Fifth-avenue Church. New York. on
charge of gambling. Warszawiak. who
claims that he is innocent. has been fixhtinx
for vindication ever since. The case has
been back and forth between the synod ana
the Presbytery OF New York without any
relief for the accused man. who claims fh.t
he Is the victim Of select coterie Warsrs -
WAX Is here and appeals directly to the as-
: -taE- peiIeh and thu Esfth-axenw