Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-05-24
M'GIFFERT REFUSES!
Gays He Will Not Leave Pres bv
terrain Church. J
WRITES A COURTEOUS LET FER

hended Hard to Predict What the gut
come viii BE as Everyone Is Tired OF
Heresy 0uarrels.
Minneapolis, Mimi, May 22.-Ir. f. L.
McGiffert Of the Union Theological SEM
mary, by letter, presented his coynph-
ments to the Presbyterian gener,I as
sembly and refused to comply with its
request of last year. That request was
that he should modify his a.tlpude on
doctrinal matters expressed IN MS
| Christian Church in the Apostolic
Age or else withdraw from theI church.
Instead Of modifying his viswa he de-
clares that he is in accord with Pres
| byterian doctrine on all vital points and
far from withdrawing. declares that ne
cannot withdraw. The language OF the
| letter is so courteous that mary OF the
conservatives in the assembly j,ined the
liberals in applauding it when the stated
clerk had read it, notwith startling that
DR.. McGiffert had refused. though most
| oourteously, to do the biddilg OF the
church. The letter was "a surprise, be-
cause it was believed that 1t would
be satisfactory. The committee on bills
and overtures. DR.. Wallace Radcliffe.
chairman, will pass upon the letter.
Tired OF HsYesy Quayieas.
An influential member Of the commit
tee admits that the letter is exactly what
It should not be except for It's courtesy.
But the spirit Of the committee ana OF
the whole assembly Is 80 fair thae 10
hard to say what Win be done. livery
Indy is ttred Of heresy luaJ'rsss and fac
tienaa troubles. Their will be careful
consideration by the con Inittee and d
heated debate ia the assembly what
ever the report. p. GseorGe W. r.
Birch Of New York, who instigated the
proceedings against DIf. Bgisss and
triad 70 Keep DR.. MsOdfkert out Of the
New York presbyter'. WILL take up the
oudgels against Dr.. Mcdainert. In the
end The assembly vii Ieither reassert
its position of last var & md let the mat
Der drop, or else ysoomSnend the New
Fork presbytery totake up the question
of expulsion Of II. McGanert, which
means a hsresy tnl. Most Of the morn
ing was devoted . a discussion OF the
report Of the conmftt1se on ministerial
relief presented ne day previous. At
present Presbytsdanf give only 61s
cents per capita mutually for this pur-
pose. which was shown to be far too
little.
Dr.. Mcsinert's Letter.
DIR. McGifrert, letter is as follows:
New York. Mayl H. 1870 the
General Assembly OF the Presbyterian
Church in the Inite{i States OF Ameri-
ca, in Sessiorf lat Minenapohs' MINI.
Dear Brethre, At the meeting Of the
general assenply held in May, 1898.
action was takeln in reference
to a book entitled "a History of Chris
tianity in the Apostolic Age" Of which
I am the author, and was communicated
to me by the stated clerk under date of
Sept. %, 1885. Waving at this time all
questions OF constitutional right and
order, I have thought 1t proper to look
upon the action in the light Of friendly
advice from Christian brethren, In
which light, indeed, 1t would seem that
II must have been looked upon by those
who joined in 1t.
By Christian Fraternity.
Regarded thus, the action evidently
REQUIRES ND response from me, nor did
the assembly intimate in any way that
the response was either expected or de-
sired. But 1t is my wish to be governed
entirely by the spirit of Christian fra
ternity, ard therefore take this oppor-
tunity of informing the brethren to
gather III the first general assembly
since the action was taken, which I
have felt my duty to be in view of the
fraternai counsel offered me. The ac-
ton of the assembly as we'll as the over
lures from the presbytery of Pittsburg.
upon which that action was baseo, made
II evident that many of my positions,
together with the spirit and purpose of
my book as a whole, have been seriously
misaprrehended. Such misapprehension
/ sincerely regret, and / wish here en-
phatically to repudiate the false con-
structfons that have been placed upon
my book in many quarters. So far as
nv views are concerned, they have been
and remain as l believe. in acord with
the faith of the Presbyterian church and
of evangelical Christendom in all vital
and essential matters.
Takes His Position.
"I therefore cannot feel that II is my
duty, or even my right, in justice to
myself and to my brethren and to 1.-The
church of our divine Lord and Master.
in which am an office-bearer, to with
DRAW from the ministry of the Presby-
teri an church. In taking this position,
to which am constrained by a pro-
fojnd sense of duty, ! desire to say that
/ recognize gratefully the spirit of
christian kindness which animated
those who joined in the action of the
last assembly. and appreciate the devo-
,aon to the truth and the concern for
the welfare of the church which
prompted their action. l desire to say.
,Rlso, that yield to no one in my devo-
zion to truth, and in my concern for
Che welfare of the church.
Praying for the blessing of God upon
1.-THE church universal, and especially
llupon that branch OF It within which l
was born and bred and whose interests
have most deeply at heart am re-
spectfully and fraternally yours,
"a. c. MGIFFERT."