Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-05-26
PREACHERS MIX UP
HOT TINE IN THE PRESBYTERIAN
ASSEMBLY.
DR.. MGIFFERT THE CAUSE
GRAY-HAIRED MEN DISPUTED LIKE
SCHOOLBOYs.
Fate of the Reca1citrant New York
Minister Will BE Decided by the
New York Presbytery-Tu-
multi Over Filing of
Two Reports.
DR.. MGIFFERT THE CAUSE


multi Over Filing of
Two Reports.
MINNEAPOLIS, MINI, May 25.-In the
hands of the presbytery of New York is
professor of church history in Union The
illogical seminary. New York The general
assembly of the Presbyterian church
steered clear. as it hopes, OF the rocks of
another heresy trial when it voted this
afternoon, after a fierce. earnest tumultu-
Gus and sometimes personal debate, to re-
fer the whole matter to the presbytery of
New York, for such disposition as in its
judgment the peace of the church and the
purity of the doctrine may require
When the bills and overturcs committees
report was announced this afternoon by
Vice Moderator DIR. l.. V. Graham, a pro-
found silence held over the assembly and
the packed galleries.
DIR. Wallace Radcliff, Washington, chair
man of the committee took the speakers
platform and read first that part of the
report on which all members of the com
mittee agreed. 1t was Il review of the
case and the statement of four funda-
mental doctrines of the churches which
Dr. McGiffert's History of Christianity in
the Apostolic Age" is held to deny.
Next DR.. Radcliff read the majority's re-
port, and then it was known at last that
there were to be two reports. This report,
which was ultimately adopted, left the
matter to the discretion of the New York
presbytery.
The minority report, read by DR.. Benja-
min Lewis Hobson, of Chicago, made it
mandatory upon the New York presbytery
to appoint a committee to confer with DIR.
McGiffert, and if he would neither modify
his views nor peaceably withdraw from
the church proceed against him in accord
ance with the provisions of the constitu-
ton of the churches. and that would have
meant heresy trial. Before taking up
the debate, the whole assembly rose as
one man and voted for the preamble on
which all agreed. From this scene of una
nimity, the aspect of the assembly was
soon changed to one of tumult.
Radcliffe started the Mill.
DR.. Radclif threw back his shoulders
adjusted his glasses, and with all his wei
known vigor. coupled with the keenest per
ception and close jointed logic, began the
discussion.
| Avoid trouble" Give Mr.. McGiffert al
opportunity to depart in peace,' were
| phrases that were CHARACTERISTIC of the
ease to the presbytery to decide" said DR.
| Radcliff; put the responsibility where /
| belongs; surely it will attend to IT.. lie
| the presbytery of New York attend to IT.
| own business in its own way. Do not orde
ii TO do so and so and make threats agains
| McGiffert.'
Continuing eloQuently in this strain, DR.
Radcliff concluded with these words:
THE time has not vet come Wnen tn'
whole authority of the churches should b'
exercised. When the committee of New
| York presbytery has acted and the pres
bytery, too. then there Will be ample tim
| for the assembly to review the case. | an
not moderate conservative, l am NJ
middle-of-t the-road conservative am
| Presbyterian Being relieved from all diff
| ferences and from all antagOnisms, we ar
all becoming Presbyterians. l ask you il
the interests of the presbytery of New
York. of general harmony, for the SAX
of the great and glorious peace of tn
churches, for the sake of magnificent op
portunites that lie before us-stronS ant
case simply where it belongs. permitting
In the fear of God the presbytery of Ney
York to attend to its own business"
Then Hobson Countered.
Dr. Hobson replied to DIR. Radcliff will
a speech which was a magnificent effor
from an argumentative point of view, bu
vastly inferior to DIR. Radcliffs in esfec
and eloauence. He called attention TO tn
fact that DIR. Radcliff had said that DR.
church did support and was not an aCtiv
pastor If that argument had any weigh
why send the case down to the presbyter
at all? The plain fact was that Dr. Nc
Giffert was a member of the churches, a
ordained minister who was under ohliga
tions not to preach or teach against tn
doctrinal standards of the church. Wher
was the threat in the course approved b
the minority? In any event If Dr. McGtffer
refused to modify his views or leave tn
church, there must he a heresy trial.
would be wiser plainly to say to DR.. Nc
Giffert: You are scholar; all honor t
scholars. but the Presbyterian church
no place for you. Go where you VIII b
more at home" It had been said that I
adopt the minority report would be to ru
n piowshare throught the New York pres
bytery. If such is the case and DR.. Nc
Giffert is stubborn. 1t Is only question I,
its work. 1t is said that Dr. McGihert wi
not fail to withdraw. May the Lord pu
1t into his head TO do So but In the NEAR
time here was the spectacle of the Erea
Presbyterian church sitting at the feet Z
an individual and begging him to go an
leave il In peace.
DR.. Hobson got along easily until he IN
dertook to discuss DR.. MCGifTerts theoloS
when he was sharply reminded by d.
Radcliff that the assembly had alread
was not conducting heresy, trial
yield that point" gracefully said the speak
er but moment later his time eXplred.
All Led for an Opening.
The leaders. having spoken. five minute
each was given to a host of eager talkert
i Ont of a wrangle as to whether n majorit
, or minority man should follow DR.. Hobsol
DR.. w. II. McKibben, of Cincinnati. 60
the floor.
''It has been said there is no unrest in I'll
church" he cried in thunderous voic
but before he got further DIR. Radcliff san
out that he had simply said that there WI
mo such serious unrest as had been b'
r lievcd.''
continued:
..Well. | say there is unrest In she churc
when in Cincinnati we have to issue
declaration of belief in the Deity of II
!, Son of God. II there Is no justification f.
., a judicial process when in Gods name vi
5 there he a justification?
''It is time to close up the ranks and fl
l. Presbyterians to march shoulder to shou
= der" said DR.. W. p. Merrill. of Chicago.
: member of the committee. The majori
f renort means harmony and union.
( Like a prophet of old, with bectling bro
:. and hoary hair and beard. DIR. Duulc
e Moore. of the presbytery of Pittsburg lif
= ed up the voice of conservatism. Il ha'
r read this book" he said. 1T is bad: the
are worse for some books deny the authe
= ticity of every one of the gospels. d
: McGinert questions only sixteen out
twenty-seven. The book" and the old ms
fore God Someone has spoken of the kir
tone of DR. McGifferts letter: 1t gives n
Il no encoura cement. II I had DR.. McGiffe
;, bnro I would knock that nonsense out