Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1909-06-08
Is CRITICISED
Baptist Executive Council Discusses
Writings of Professor of Uni.
versity of Chicago.
DENOUNCED AS A SKEPTIC
Leader of Opposition Says He is an
Undesirable Baptist"
MOTION MADE TO EXPEL HIM
1t Also Called on Him to Withdraw
from Ministry.
IT GOES OVER UNDER RULES
This Constitutional Provision Was
All that Prevented the Motion
from Being Adopted by
Large Majority.
Leader of Opposition Says He is an
Undesirable Baptist"
oT1oN MADE TO ExPEL HIM
It Also Called on Him to Withdraw
from Ministry.
: GOES OVER UNDER RULES

CHICAGO. June Prot George II.
Foster whose writings, denounced as ~
bitter indictment Of the Christian religion
before the bar OF skepticisnl," have har-
rowed the clergy Of Chicago today was
called on by Rev. Johnstone Myers. pastor
Of the Emmanuel Baptist church. to with
draw from the Baptist ministry and TO
yield up his ordination papers, The fire
Of criticism was directed chiefly against
Prof. Fosters recent book, THE Function
OF Religion"
This motion was put before several
hundred preachers and church laymen
gathered at the conferences of the Baptist
executive council and only the objection OF
one man. Prof. A. X Parker, who like
Prof. Foster is an instructor at the Uni
versity of Chicago, prevented the immedi-
ate eviction of the author of The Func-
tion OF Religion" by practically unanimous
vote. Prof. Parker prevented action by
calling attention to constitutional proVi-
sion preventing action without a weeks
deliberation. The matter accordingly was
postponed until June a.
II want to say now that I'll be here
next Monday morning to present the same
motion" cried Or. Myers defiantly.
can Undesirable Baptist"
1t was after Prof Foster had been
charged as IAN undesirable Baptist" and
as teacher who would dethrone the
church and defy evolution" that the effort
to eject him from the councils of the
denomination was made.
Prof. Foster declares" cried Rev Mr.
Mathews in the course of his discussion
of the recent book penned by Prof Fos-
ter, that any man who calls himself be-
lever in the Bible is knave. Then, thank
Heaven, l am knave."
May L ask how that word is spelled?''
interrupted Prof. Parker at this point.
"K-n-a-v-e," replied the speaker
"If you will pardon the correction" OBJ
served Prof Parker, Il have the book in
my hand, and the word is spelled
n-a-i-v-e'
II want to say at the outset.'' said Rev.
Mr. Mathews, that as a scholar, have
the highest respect for Prof Foster was
pupil in the first class Of doctrinal apollo
getics. As a teacher and as a gentleman
| hold him in high regard. But in religion,
regard Prof Foster as an undesirable
Baptist.
Sensational Statements in Book,
prof Foster states in his book, The
Function OF Religion, which I propose to
review, that God did not make men I'm
his own image. but that man made God
in his own image. He says we are not
fallen angels. but developed animals. He
says miracles have always been the refuge
of ignorance, and that modern technic
must take the place of magic, / wonder
what he means by modern technic'
He declares that science has under
mined the Trinity-of course that is in
his own mind. He says Jesus was a child
oud fbot l..
kill the soul. He makes TRADE against
the clergy. He says the book Of human,
ity is greater than the Bible.
THE title of this book should have been
Religion Without Christianity He is
guilty of the supreme conceit OF ranking
self greater than Christ
He styles grand old book as the
'Petrified Remains Of the Christian Re-
ligion.'"
Situation Becomes Tense,
While Rev. Mr.. Mathews was speaking
his voice quivered with emotion. The
situation was al tense as has developed
in Chicago's church circles In many years.
The auditors leaned forward in their seats
and did not miss a word Through It all
Prof Fosters 17-year-od son sat with
flushed cheeks and shining eyes. The lad
shifted In his seat during the earlier part
Of the denunciation OF his fathers views
and at last, unable to restrain himself
longer he half rose and cried;
why don't you review the book. and
not the man?"
A buzz of excitement spread over the
room but the speaker paid no attention
to the interruption
When the motion was made TO expei Prof.
Foster there were cries of second II,
second IT," all over the hall.
After the meeting DR.. Parker stated that
whatever action might be taken by the
preachers would not affect Prof. Fosters
relations with the University OF Chicago
This conference has nothing TO do with
the university" he said, "two-thirds OF
the unversitys trustees are Baptist lay
men, but they could not vote 10 expel a
member Of the faculty without moral
grounds"