New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-01-16
FIVE CHARGES OF HEREsY.
DIR. BIRCH'S DETAILED ARRANGEMENT
OF DR.. MGIFFERTS BOOK.
QUOTATIONS FROM THE PROFESSORS
WRITINGS GIVEN TO SHOW THAT HE
IS NOT IN HARMONY WITH THE
PRESBYTERIAN STANDARDS

IS NOT IN HARMONY WITH THE
PRESBYTERIAN STANDARDS.
The Presbytery of New-York sitting as an eeclesi-
astcal court in the Old First Presbyterian Church
yesterday afternoon listened to the formal charges
of heresy made against the Rev. Dr. Arthur c.
McCafrert by the stated clerk, the Rev. DR.. George
w F. Birch, and thereupon cited Or. McGifert to
appear before it at the next meeting or the Pres
bytery February u, and plead
The Presbytery week ago decided to meet yes
terday TO hear the charges notice Of the fling Of
which had been given. Before DR.. Birch could be-
gin the reading at the meeting yesterday Dr.. How
ard A. Johnston arose TO question of privilege
and asked IL the Presbytery could not hear the
charges before going into judicial session and de-
eide whether it should go into such session. The
Rev. DR.. Howard Dufhed. the Moderator, ruled
that the charges of heresy could only be received
and read by the Presbytery court
Before the prayer usually offered going into
judicial session, the Moderator. the motion of
member instructed Dr. Birch. as stated clerk, to
put the minutes of the Presbytery that if Dr.
Birch, as bringing charges against DR.. McGiffert
should fail to show probable cause, he would be
liable TO censure.
DR.. Birch then proceeded to read the charges and
specifications against DR.. McGifert. They were in
a printed pamphlet of forty-six pages. There are
five charges with specifications under each, in
Guiding extracts from DR.. McGinert's book, "A
History Of Christianity in the Apostolic Age" and
from the standards of the Presbyterian Church
and the Bible, 10 show that the quoted statements
Of DR.. McC5iffert are heretcaL
The Rev. Howard a Johnston again made a
point of order asking that the charges be read by
title. He overruled. and he at once made
other point, asking whether case before the Pres
bytery a judicial body might not be referred d.
recty 10 the General Assembly unread, without
waiting the usual ten days required by the Book
Of Discipline. The Moderator ruled this question
Of order. stating that the constitution Of the
Church provides that when charges are preferred
against any person no action may be taken for at
least ten days, and the person charged must be
personally served with notice to appear and be
heard. This precluded any action, the Moderator
ruled
Again during the reading of the charges, which
took three hours the Stated Clerk interrupted,
this time by a motion to adjourn made by the Rev.
Dr. Francis Brown, Of Union Theological Semi
nary. This was not carried and the reading of the
charges was completed.
FIVE FORMAL CHARGES.
The forml charges were introduced by this
statement. signed by Dr.. Birch;
The action Of your body on December IS. 1899
with reference to the teachings of the Rev. A G
J. 81 ~ - +n r. 1S he das1 nth
in a constitutional manner, herewith present
for your Judicial consideration.
The five charges, with some or the chief spech-
cations, follows:
Charge II do hereby charge that the Rev. Ar
minister Of the Presby terrain Church in the United
States Of AmeTIca ana member OF the Pres3yI
doctrine Of the immediate inspiration by God and
qre as set forth in the Confession Of Faith and
the Scripture itself.
Under this charge are fourteen specifications. NIL
ing thirty-two pages Of the pamphlet and reciting
IN detail statements made by DR.. McGinert tend
ing to discredit the Holy Scriptures
Charge 2-I do hereby charge that the Rev. Ar
6aIT G9ShnSn McGnsT5 Poo4eiy denies 5ne run
Holy Scripture eonGfeTning Christ the Mediator by
earthly life was liable to err and did err =.
MeGifert, etc. publicly denies the fundamental
doctrine Of the Lords Supper as said doctrine is
set forth in the Confession Of Faith and the Holy
speotfcq tiop-In this that he teaches that it is
not absolutely certain that Jesus Himself insti-
tuted the Lords Supper and directed His disciples
Charge ~ do hereby charge the Rev Dr. A C.
MeGnert. etc, with publicly denying the funda-
the Holy Scripture concerning the justification Of
specifcation-In this that he teaches that the
justification of the believer before God is not by
wrought out by Christ but by the importation TO
him OF righteousness or righteous nature by Cod
charge 81 do hereby charge the Rev. Arthur
Cushman MeGifert. etc. with violation Of his
Jealous and FAITHFUL in maintaining the truths OF
the Gospel and the purity and of the Church.
seTnbIy. having called the attention Of Dr. McGif-
fert to questionable statements in his book, and
1899 said that many of my positions. together
with the spirit ard purpose Of my book as whole,
General Assembly Of 1899 having reasserted Its de-
hverance Of 1898 condemning the statements Of
said book as being such as to Justly the inter
ing. on December IS 1889 resolved that the teach
ings Of this book are in certain points erroneous
ne prsI NE Sbrcb m ITef5i4Fer+ nJ,r+be
sion Of which he Is aware but on the contrary as
serts that he has not changed his views as ex-
Specification I'm this the said Dr.. McGlfert
published in THE New. World" Of Boston Mass;
in March, 1893 article denying the authority OF
the Apostles the faith Of Christians and the
Institution Of the Lords Supper by our Lord as q
Specidcation SIN this thai Dr. McCsiHert pub
Iished certain inaugural address, September Is.
ciiabIe with the Confession Of Faith and Scripture
shown by citations therefrom.
EFFORT TO PREVENT CONSIDERATION.
At the close of the reading OF his charges Dr.
Birch moved that. in accordance with the consd-
tuition of the Church, DR.. McGinert be summoned
10 appear before The meeting OF the Presbytery
10 answer TO the charges. Or Johnston offered a
resolution that as the Presbytery after clearly
stating its attitude toward the teachings Of Dr. Nc
earnest and deliberate Judgment that a Judicial
{neFsaGre I eleratfoD az The chaTa and declines
further 10 consider the same the ground of its
action taken on Monday, December Is, 1893
The Moderator declared this motion out Of order,
Johnston appealed from the Chair, and me PTes-
e ezls5E' by vote OF % 10 a. sustained the MOO
Dr. McC5ireTt returnabe az lhe mex regular 1leet7
the charges, and DR.. Birch may answer him.
II was said by a member Of the Presbytery that
This action considering the plain unconstitutional
ity Of the molten cannot be considered as Inaeat-
1aS Inc az H. uberaIs are in clear majority
The reading OF the specifications is said TO have
matter in Or. McGIrert's book having been un-
2fter DR. McGiffert has been heard the Presby-
terry sitting q court may dismiss the charges;