New-York tribune., 1900-01-09
HERESY TRIAL LIKELY.
FORMAL CHARGES To BE PREFERRED
AGAINST DIR. MGIFFERT.
THE REV. DIR. BIRCH GIVES NOTICE AND
THE PREsBYTERY APPOINTS A DAY
TO HEAR THE SPECIFICATIONS.

THE PREsBYTERY APPOINTS A DAY
TO HEAR THE SPECIFICATIONS.
Notwithstanding the efforts to prevent an
other heresy trial in the Presbyterian Church
here which have marked the case OF the Rev.
Dr. A. c. McGiTert up to the present time. the
Rev. Dr. George W. F. Birch. one OF the chief
prosecutors in the famous trial which resulted
in the expulsion OF the Rev DR.. Briggs from
that communion. gave notice at the regular
monthly meeting OF the New-York Presbytery
yesterday afternoon that he would prefer formal
charges of heresy against DR.. McGinert. and
the Presbytery appointed next Monday at ?
o'clock as the time for hearing the charges.
This action forces trial OF the Professor
on the charges which were virtually made
against him in the General Assembly OF 1898.
on an overture from the Presbytery OF Pitts
burg. The General Assembly in 1899 referred
the whole question of DR.. McGihert's alleged
heresies 10 the Presbytery OF New-York. that
body having primary constitutional response
bility. and the Presbytery one month ago decided
by vote of IS to % that the best interests OF
the Church would be subserved by disavowing
the teachings of DIR. McGifert and letting the
matter drop. At that time no charge OF heresy
had been made against the Professor The
attention of the PresbyteriaI courts had been
called to the teachings OF his books in
earnest manner. but nobody had actually made
charges" 1t was rumOred last week that the
charges were to be made formally. and with
formal charges OF heresy preferred the Presby-
terry will be compelled either to try DR.. Nc
Giffert or to request the General Assembly to
do So
Yesterdays meeting was held in the Old First
Presbyterian Church, and when DR.. Birch arose
and served his preliminary notice on the Pres
bytery there was a heated discussion. Some OF
the liberals in the body opposed making the
charges, on the ground that the Presbytery had
by an overwhelming vote thought best not to
try DIR. McGinert Owing to the rule Of ths
Presbytery that only the clerk may give out
for publication the proceedings in executive
meetings, the details OF the debate could not
be learned 1t finally decided to hold a sps-
cial meeting next Monday afternoon, when the
preferring of the charges will be the first order
Of the day and DR.. Birch viii have the floor.
CHARGES NOT GIVEN OUT
DR.. Birch last night declined to give out
copy of the charges against Dr. McGinert, OF
even to indicate what they will be. as they ara
not officially before the PresbyteTy till he offers
them next week, but he said that he was not
following the specifications made in the resO-
lutions adopted last month. and was not con-
fining himself TO the complaints Of the Pitts
burg overture. He will make public the charges
after they have been presented next week
of church history in the Union Theological
Seminary. and the Pittsburg Presbytery. in
complaining TO the General Assembly OF 1898
concerning his writings, said:
In this volume CA History OF Christianity IN
the Apostolic Age') the New Testament Is very
guidance is ascrbed to its sacred writers. the genu-
ineness OF more than one+aah q5 me oPcHs s cUI %
tualy contradictory teachings are declared 10 D9
of faith and practice is set aside Further in said
book great Distinguishing PT9eiPleS Of 6,I {ae ~
evangelical Christie ldorl, are denied The said
scandal, It treats with open contempt the obli-
cations by which the author and all other Prespy-
testament that has ever been made by an ac-
crediied teacher Of the Presbyterian Church in
America.
THE TEACHINGS CONDEMNED.
Among the teachings of DR.. McGinerts book
condemned by the Presbytery last month were
the following:
FirstThe theory that the sacrament It ot 1.-THE the
himself on the last night Of His earthly life as a
memorial feast CPage 9s, 1oGtnoIg{ Tl,4 c.s-sr s-5
the Book Of Acts were % not %Et5sn M & ~ S bur sfs
probably the work Of some unknown writer a
Third-The theory that the apostolic autnoFsnIp
of the Fourth Gospel is uncertain, and that IT may
sonny 9nTye eEie0f eRte91:y PAGE 6iS5
Fourth-The view that Jesuss emphasis. OF fsish
phasis not His personality, but Of His message.
devotion TO- and service Of God. the essential
sufficient condition OF an eterndi HLe VA
blessedness in heaven. Gage SO1
DR. Birch and the other ministers who are be-
ueved TO be with him in bringing the charges
of heresy probably have other charges to add
TO these.
The prosecuting committee in the Briggs
case, which afterward took the case on appeal
to the General Assembly and had DR.. Briggs
declared hereticaI consisted Of Or. George W F.
Birch who now leads in bringing charges
against DR. MCGiffert; the Rev. DR.. Joseph J.
I.ampe and the Rev. Dr.. Robert F. Sample. with
Elders John ]. Stevenson and John J. McCooK-
There was considerable speculation yesterday
afternoon as to the probable action or the Pres
bytery next week. The liberals are sun N the
majority and can refuse 10 entertain the
charges the ground that ehterIalnlng mem
viii be inconsistent with the action taken last
month.
MAY GO TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
Everything considered. 1t is thought probabls
that the action taken will be something which
will take the trial TO the General Assembly.
The experience of the two recent heresy trials
has been that the General Assembly is the body
which finally disposes of heresy cases. as the los
ing side invariably appeals The New-York
Presbytery viii not he likely. II is thought. TO
take such action as will bring about a trial here.
to be followed by another at the General As
sembly. WIKI Dr. Birch prosecutor DR.. Ne
Gifert is pretty c'Ttain 10 be tried in some court
of the Presbyterian Church. unless he with
who know DR.. Pirch best The action OF th6
General Assembly in sending the case back 10
the NewYork Presoytcry Was said at the time
TO have been taken on account or an understands
ing that he To withdraw quietly.
4UERIC4N RIGHTS IN CHINA