New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-02-13
WON'T TRY DR.. MGIFFERT
PRESBYTERY THROWS OUT DIR. BIRCHS
CHARGES

STANDS BY ITS FORMER ACTION, AND SAYS
BRINGING OF CHARGES Is AN AR
RAIGNMENT OF ITSELF.
The New-York Presbytery. at the largest
meeting that IT has held in some time. in the
Old First Church Fifth-ave and Eleyenth-st..
yesterday afternoon decided by a vote of - to
80 not to try DR.. Arthur c McGiHert of Union
Theological Seminary on the charges Of heresy
preferred at the January meeting by the Rev.
G. ", F. Birch, the Stated Clerk of the Pres
bytery
The meeting was. usual. held in executive
session The Presbytery first disposed Of its
regular business including the call Of the Rev.
Dr. Babcock To the Brick Presbyterian Church
al a salary Of $4,000 and parsonage; the
severing at his own request Of the pastoral re-
Iations between the Rev. DR.. Bushnell. Of the
Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church, and that
church and the reception into the Presbytery Of
the Rev. w. A. Mckenzie, from Canada. TO be
come the pastor in charge of the Romeyn
I Chapel Of the Fifth Avenue Church.
The Rev Dr. Howard Duff1eld, Moderator,
solemnIy charged the Presbytery before it went
into session as court OF the Church. AS the
Rev DR.. Arthur c. McGifert had been cited to
appear and answer or make objections to the
charges Of hercsy at this meeting. DR.. DufieId
legal form, and asked if DR. McGiffert was in
the room. Dr.. McGihert did not rise, but the
Rev DR.. William Adams Brown, professor Of
systematic theology in Union Theological Semi
/ nary, announced himself as counsel for Dr.. Nc
Gifert
Dr. Dufield asked him if he had any objections
70 make to the charges against DR.. McGinert.
Or. Brown remained silent. DR.. Duf1eld then
announced as Moderator that If DR.. McGifert
had Obi ~fr-,-
was inherent in Presbytery itself TO object If it
wished 10 do so.
THE RESOLUTIONS
At this the Rev. Dr. Howard Agnew Johnston
arose and offered resolutions declaring in effect
that the action Of the Presbytery in December.
when it decided not TO try DR.. McGIfert for
heresey, but 20 disavow his teachings was suf-
fcient under the circumstances. and that opinion
Of the Presbytery now was that the charges
should not be considered. The resolutions are
follows
the ~6oS ma5T @ e Of tRe 2 eas6ng Of Of t6s @ R DT
= G McGI1ert- in his book entitled. "A History Of
terry Of New-York Tor such disposition as in its
Judgment the peace Of the Church and the purity
/ Of doctrine may require. and,
Whereas, This Preshytery, on December IS, 1929,
after a very careful CONSIDERATION Of the matter;
recorded is disc 2provai OF he teaehags referred
"a rro-ITaTS IN 7,5f-L ~ EsIis7-s5 -1- ? ~ ~
/ error and coqnselled and entoned all members OF
cal studies To- refrain from setting forth the dis
SbureE and -'i7 l " -o- 771 ~ --e ieSOS i a-
Whereas: This Presbytery by a vote Of . 10 2
feress nor Ihe neace Of the CF,Irr6 nor tbe rotec
ticn OF the purity OF It's doctrine calls for any
for beresv would work grave injury 10 he interests
OF the kingdom, and
80 " l4l - a q Us s II ne
seemed to him Inadequate has preferred charges
/ against Dr. MCCTiIerr which charges
same subject raTersed by the action Of PresbEtery
and.
- ~ .-1 = r7 t-e ledi.s an dr!alSIi-
49, " 's 1 VI. - 4 - az --a-s
ASSs17FT - 7qa1 n T-hf96 r9a Ts-r~- lF 5T.s5,[1
ters action IS to be made has expressed any jucg-
meIt as 70 its adeqCacy- and
Whereas. This FresbyJeTy is still Of the most
- -So5 S -c..o ---S S - ~ -,t, lsE mo- l
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and 10 5rofact 70 rbe T5rir '- of 7SCrt ne fo- "a
be it
Resolved, That the Presbytery cannot consistently
enter upon the further consideration Of the matter,
and EerePy cecines 10 take any -urJ1er acJloh re-
saIolAS l-e same,
There was point Of order al once that this
-.--9,,-i--, -,-o- ,.-- % ,~5a. NJ 7,-47.r7 d
49, "
I clueG th4t IL vas N order ana a long discus
sion followed. which was ended only by the call
z- orz NJ -te mem nare for the ..r,ray-io,s oas
90
'4oI' "il'9" vas caIIi7U DS d vote u ~ ~ 10
/ DR.. JOHNSTON CPTTTCISFS DR. BIRCH
N support or ms resolutions Dr johnston
made long speech in which he COunselled a
1aes 20 4f..f -,,,-,- 90 n, Nfcrefarr's allsga7
-eIVsS --al py Z iI44' "LlcH PlesUl[o==- e1lV
casting out Of Dr.. MCGifert from the Church
/ If the charges were proven He urged the need
- -ea,a -, .t. l,,,ob ;-.+.r,,f,,y a. rr,a oes.
~ 49,
the invitation of a man Of this city who is in
. terested in the welfare of the Church and who.
-,ro davs herora the -rareas were brought
-, - -.
as44IlsL ~ HlCeI-l-sT SpoAe o. o. I1LiiS 3i q IN