Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-05-11
: FOR SUNDAY READING.
& All Sorts of Opinions.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MON SEMINARY STUDENTS
CLARED UNORTHODOX.

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UNION SEMINARY STUDENTS DE-
CLARED UNORTHODOX.
New York Evening Post.l
Four members of the senior class OF
Union Theological Seminary have been
refused ordination to the ministry by
the examining boards of their respective
denominations. OF these failures to
qualify. one occurred before the Worces-
ter central association of Congregations
al ministers. one before the Elizabeth
association of Congregational ministers
and two before the Westchester presby
terry The Evening Post Is enabled to
say that all were due more or less to the
so-called unorthodoX opinions of the
candidates..
In the Westminster presbytery the
doctrine of the atonement seemed to be
the main point of contention. The can
didates held the moral influence theory,
namely. that the saving element in the.
atonement lies in its revelation % the
love of God; this is, in line with the
teaching of Union Seminary. A faction
Of the presbytery held, on the either
hand. that the atonement means the
ransom of lost souls from an angry God
thru the blood of Christ. The candi-
dates We're pressed to modify their
view so as to include the expiation
theory. but without avail. Upon sew
eral other points, also, they failed to
qualify, and We're given six months to
reflect. The Elizabeth case, as report
ed, is regarded as still more interesting.
Here the subject of evolution was
touched on and the candidate seemed to
be much more fluent on evolution than
on theology. He was asked whether
revolution 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 lescn-
Diary origin. The point at issue seemed
toebe the ultimate source of authority;
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 candidates, and he
Was turned down
The Worcester case Was also a conflict
over the question of the ultimate APP
peal. whether to9the Bible or to cons
science. The candidate was unable to
find sufficient ground for a positive be-
lief in Immortality. aitho he would not
deny the possibility of Immortality. TIP
on being asked how he explained the
evident belief of Christ and Of Paul in
Immortality, he reslied that he did no.
feel compelled TO agree with Christ or
Paul al any point at which his co.lyic-
lions led in the opposite direction. IliY
p''si''oh s'ss''heu 70 ne WAT ~ rs heces-
try 70 s'las,te no. oiss sl9sellis.siohs
W, ,u : olie , ny, VIII tiis te"ei',hs o.
.iiiiss, 'he - iis'ia'' MINISTER is ne VINO
3, g' ~ i''S e'ie'a-
,io'' at'u ne siiouiu 'loe pe io'eeu 70 az
sep. .hose .ileoloH ,cai saos'1i'ies o. She
'.'iipsuies y. ssiiicl' ne can no. pe1ieNe.
Aceorains' y ny va - 'ss'sa = license .o
pleaeh' ana "as gwen siA months 70 re-
eat'''
DIR. THOMAS, RETROSPECT.
on the 6sth birthday OF Dr.. Thomas
he was requested, by members Of the
Peoples church to make his morning
address in Mcvican's. theater The
Story OF Life Retrospect In COM
plying with the request the minister tolG
of his expulsion from Methodism twenty
years ago. and pointed to the great
change which az taken place in the
church since then. He also spoke of the
creed which many presbyterians now
want to change as undermining the
foundation of justice.
In telling of the views which led TO his
trial Dr. Thomas said:
II could not preach to others what
was not true to rnysef. I saw a new
system OF truth arising. better, larger
faith and hope not burdsned With the
difficulties doubts of the old that 1
felt We're standing in the way OF souls.
A thousand times asked God to give
me the truth and as it came gave il;
to others believed The Methodist
church was large enough 10 permit this.
the sermons of those years We're.
published In the daily papers, Rumors
Of herssy-that Thomas vas not sound,
arose. A committee Was appointed,
charges preferred. MAS tried. con-
demned and expelled from the ministry
end the membership of the Methodist
church.
ION the first charge--disbelief liz the
inspira ton If the Bible-l was aequit-
tied.
The second charge related to the
atonement The Methodist idea is the
wrath theory that God was anGrr ami
jcould be placated cnly by the death Of
I his con. The Presbyterian church holds
to the Justice heory. that the death of
Christ was TO satisfy the claims of a
violated law Both rest upon the old
doctrine of the fall6of man and original