The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1902-02-20
College Professor Who Expressed
Doubt of Divinity Of Christ
RESIGNATION Is H66EPTED
Forsakes Methodism But Thinks Policy He
Outlined Will Be Accepted BY All
Churches in the Near Future

lily paid the penalty for his recent
utterances upon the Bible and
has resigned from the faculty of
Northwestern university and
withdrawn from the Methodist
Episcopal church. His action in
leaving the faculty of the univer-
sity was taken to anticipate any
move on the part of the trustees
to expel him. His withdrawal
from the church, while voluntary,
was the result of expressions in
sermons and editorials in the re-
ligious press.
Professor Pearson will begin
lecturing within a few weeks and
will give his entire time hence.
forth to the propagation of his
ideas regarding Biblical interpre-
tation. He has offered his Evans
ton home for sale and probably
will remove from the suburb
next fall. In the meantime his
grown son and daughter will
withdraw their membership from
the Methodist church and later
become members of the faith
their father will espouse.
Professor Pearson resigned
from the faculty of the univer-
sity Tuesday night. At his re-
quest the executive committee of
the university board of trustees
met at the home of Trustee w.
A. Dyche, and after a short can
vas accepted the resignation.
Il knew that | would ncS be
allowed to prolong my connec-
ton with the university" said
Professor Pearson last night.
1t is quite true that no direct
pressure has been brought to
bear upon me to resign, but the
knowledge of inevitable expul-
sion made me believe this the
best way"
After the announcement of his
resignation became public Pro-
lessor Pearson went to DR.. w.
A. Macafee, pastor OF the First
Methodist church, and asked for
his church letter. The letter
will be allowed to lapse, and in
the meantime Professor Pearson
will look for a new church home.
He inclines toward the Unitarian
belief, but says that he will affil-
late with that sect which will al
low him the greatest liberty in
teaching his doctrina! ideas.
Both the resignation from the
university and the church are to
take effect Immediately. PROBES
sor Pearson says that with the
close of the college semester last
Friday he ended his long career
as an instructor in any Methodist
institution. He will be an at.
tendant at the First Methodist
church as long as he lives in
Evanston, or until he becomes
actively identified with some
other congregation.
! Charles w. Pearson was born
in England in 1916. Until he
was IA years old he lived IN the
provinces and attended school at
Woodhouse. Then he left home
as a sailor and went to Buenos
Ayres, South America. There
he engaged in mission work with
the Rev. William Goodfellow,
and at the latter's suggestion
} came to Northwestern university
and entered as a freshman in
} 1867. Graduating in 1871, he a.
: once became an instructor in lit
erature, a position he has hello
ever since.
In 1876, while teaching at Ev-
anston, he was admitted to tn,
, Michigan conference of the Meth
odist church, and obtained pas
torate at Bangor. Before he hat
preached a dozen sermons h,
found that he had many doctrina
doubts, and at the end of tn,
; year left the ministry.
> Cremated in Molten Gold.
SAN FRANCTSCO Feb IRA