The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
BARRED FROM THE MINISTRY.
Four students of the Union Seminary
Declared Unorthodox.

Declared Unorthodox.
NEW YORK. April 2o-Four members
of the senior class of Union Theo-
logical Seminary have been refused
ordination to the ministry by the ex-
aiming boards OF their respective denomi-
nations. OF these failures to qualify. one
occurred before the Worcester Central As
ISOLATION of Congregational Ministers, one
before the Elizabeth Association of Con-
gregational Ministers. and two before the
Westminster Presbytery II is reliably
stated that all were due more or less to the
so-called unorthodox opinions OF the can
didates
In the Westminster Presbytery the ,ii,,,,-
trine OF the atonement seemed to be the
main point OF contention. The candidates
held the moral influence theory. namely
that the saving element in the atonement
lies in its revelation OF the love of God:
this is In line with the teaching of Union
Seminary. faction of the Presbytery
neid, on the other hand. that the atone
ment means the ransom of lost souls from
an angry God through the blood Of Christ
The candidates were pressed to modify
their view so as to include the expiation
theory. but without avail. Upon several
other points, also, they failed to qualify
and were given six months to reject. The
as still more interesting. Here the sub
ject of evolution was touched on and the
candidate seemed to be much more fluent
on evolution than on theology. He was
asked whether evolution was consistent
with the Holy Writ and replied In the
negative. He did not seem particularly
anxious to square his convictions with
Scriptural teaching. He even ventured to
explain parts of the Old Testament as of
legendary origin The point at issue
seemed to be the ultimate source of au-
thority; whether the ultimate appeal
should be made to the dictum of Scripture
or to rational conviction The latter was
the point of view of the candidate and
he was turned down.
The Worcester case was also conflict
over the question of the Ultimate appeal.
whether to the Bible or to conscience. The
candidate was unable to find sufficient
ground for positive belief in immortal
ity. although he would not deny the pos
sibility of immortality. Upon being asked
how he explained the evident belief of
Christ and of Paul In Immortality. he re-
piled that he did not feel compelled to
agree with Christ or Paul at any point at
which his convictions led in the opposite
direction. His position seemed to be that
it is necessary 10 square not ones specu-
laticLs, but ones life with the teaching OF
Christ: the Christian minister is he who
honestly purposes to serve his generation,
and he should not be forced to accept
those theological doctrines of the Scrip
lures in which he cannot believe. Ae-
cordingly. he was refused license to
preach. and was given six months to re-
cant.
Evidently. 1t is said Union Seminary Is
still producing 'heretics'' who believe that
a man should rely on his own rational con-
victions rather than any external au-
thority. This is the principle which forced
Prof. Briggs and Prof. McGiffert to leave
the Presbyterian Church: and 1t Is today.
the supporters of that side believe. COM
peIling some of our best young men to re-
main out of the ministry. The four men
who have been refused ordination are said
to be among the abIest and most earnest
members of the graduating class. All of
them stand on the principle on which
Union Seminary stands, that the ultimate
source of appeal is to individual eonvic-
ton. Their friends say that ii takes mem
tai strength to have an individual conyic-
ton" but here mental strength Is exclud-
ing men from the ministry. While ii places
lawyers and physicians high up in their
professions. In the sacred profession. they
say. the unfit survive. in other professions
ligion which is apt to result disastrously
for the latter
What is the difficulty: said a Union
Seminary man today. Simply that, in
the minist erial profession. the hit are
placed at the disposal of the unit. The
examination of candidates for ordination
to the ministry should be taken out of
the hands of incapable ecclesiastical bod
les and entrusted to the faculty of theo-
logical seminary. Either let the certiti-
cate of graduation from a seminary serve
as the sole credential necessary for ordi-
nation, let the faculty give a special
examination. The method would eliminate
the orthodox test, and also would ensure
a fairer and more thorough test of
las it is. questions are shot at the cam
didate from all quarters of the room, ard
tie candidate is expected to remain per-
fectIy cool and collected before body
Of some sixty men, two or three of them
talking at once, and all more or less ex-
cited. The questions are often idiotic and
the replies incoherent. The candidate is
expected to be informed on all points,
from the color of Adams beard to the lat
Est view of the atonement The scene re-
minds one of the haZing of a freshman.
Not until this ridiculous system is abolish
al will the ministry be raised to the level
IF other professions in efficiency. Young
men today force their way into the minis
ry in spite of, not because of their abil-
ty. What better cause can be found for
he present weakness of the professon2