The sun., 1900-02-23
NOW HUNTING FOR RERET|CS
DR.. Birch appeals to the As
sembly in the McGiGert
Affair
CASE TO COME UP IN MAY
The Appellant is the Stated Clerk of
New York Presbytery Which
Body Lately Refused to
Consider the
Matter.
CASE TO COME UP IN MAY

New York, Feb. 22.-The Mail and
Express says: When the general assem-
bly, Of the Presbyterian church convenes
at St. Louis in the middle of May, it will
be confronted with the alleged heresy
case of Rev. DIR. Arthur G. McGiffert,
professor Of church history in the Union
Theological seminary, this city. Rev. Dr.
G.. w. +. Birch, stated clerk of the New
York presbytery, who preferred charges
Of heresy against Professor McGiffert in
the presbytery at the January meeting,
has appealed from the action of that
body and will carry the case to the high
est ecclesiastical court.
| In bringing Professor McGiffert's case
| to the notice of the general assembly DIR.
| Birch means to settle this veNcd question
! for all time. There is no appeal from the
| decision Of the higher tribunal. 1t is un-
derstood that DIR. Birch bases his appeal
on the action Of the presbytery in re-
| fusing to put Professor AlcGiifert on trial
and III dismissing the case.
| When the New York presbytery meets
on March u. it will receive officially no
tcc of Dr. Birch's appeal to the higher
body. DIR. Birch, as stated clerk of the
| presbytcry, will then send on his own ap-
peal to Rev DIR. w. H. Roberts of Phla-
delphia, stated clerk of the general as
sembly. DIR. Birch had his choice of ap-
pealing either to the New York synod OF
| to tile general assembly.
DIR. Birch was seen in the law Office pf
Colonel j. j. McCook, warm personal
friend of his. by reporter and asked
whether he would take an appeal Al
though the appeal was even then i'll his
pocket, the doctor evaded any direct re
ply. He did say, however, that he haL
absolutely refused to discuss the McGif
fert case from the start and that he pro
posed TO ''let the other side do the talk
ing"
Dir. Birch waited until the last minute
before he disclosed his intention of enter
ing an appeal. The law of the churcl
provides that all appeals shall be made
within ten days after the meeting of thu
presbytery. The session Of the presby
terry, which refused to entertain Dr
Birch's charges against Professor Nc
Giffert, was held on Lincoln day. Tn
vote stood 80 for putting Professor Nc
Giffert on trial and 71 against.
What the Outcome May BE.
What the general assembly will d
with the case is largely a matter of con
lecture. That body may send the cas-
back to the New York presbytery wit
directions that Professor McGiffcrt b
tried; it may decide to try the professo
itself, or it may order the presbytery t
drop his name from its roll
The action of DIR. Birch is PRACTICAL
the same rs that which he took in tn
heresy case of Rev. DIR. Charles Briggs
now an Episcopal clergyman, the onl
difference being that he takes this NOV
on his own account and has no committe
on prosecution with him from the presbi
terry. BY DIR. Birchs making this appe:
n he renders it obligatory on the part of tn
presbytery to send representatives to III
general assembly to defend the action {
the former body.
The publication of Professor McGi
fert's book, "A History of Christianit
In the Apostolic Age" some time NJ
started the alleged heresy proceeding
The presbytery, by the decisive vote {
rs to 2T at the meeting held on Dec. Il
q 1899, voted to disapproye of certain II
teranccs in the book. 1t was decided thi
any trial for heresy would prove detr
mental to the best interests Of the churcl
and the presbytery let the matter drol
When DR.. Birch brought his heres
charges against Professor McGilfert ;
the January session of the prcsbyter.
the conservatives, who disapproved {
the thcologian's views on certain que
tions, but who did not care TO drive hi
out Of the church, could easily have vote
II the allegations down if they 50 desired.
But in order to leave no loophole q
which DR.. Birch could base a possb
appeal it was thought best TO let Il
matter go over to the February scssi'
and then end the case in Il legal and fin
manner. AT this meeting Rev. DR.. Hon
ard Agnew Johnston counscled le
radical treatment of Professor AlcGi
fcrt's alleged hercsy than by a trif
which presupposed the casting out Of Il
doctor from the church if the charg
were proved Dr. Johnston is said
have criticised Or. Birch for bringing q
charges. Rev. Dr. John Foy Of the Bib
society opposed Dr. Johnston and We
into the merits Of the charges.
Dr i'irch resides nj Gil East One lin
dred and Thirty-siNth street, and is pa
tor Of il church in the Broliy. Profess
s. MeGifiuit's home is III pclham Mnnt
Every indication points to the McGitfC
!. case averShndowing the interest mn
Il Tested III The Briggs ease some fine agc