The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1909-06-11
HERESY CHARGED.
BaptiStS Attack University
of Chicago Professor.
HIS BOOK DECLARED OBNOXIOUS
Ministers Say He Flouts Belief In
the Bible and Calls Miracles
the Refuge of Ig-
norance.

uOldlCGs
Chicago, June Sat Il meeting of
200 Baptist pastors here Professor
George Il. Foster of the University of
Chicago, whose writings, denounced
by some as "a bitter Indictment of the
Christian religion before the bar of
skcpicism," have narrowed the clergy
Of Chicago, was called on by the Rev.
Dr. tombstone Myers. pastor of I'm
manuel Baptist church. to withdraw
from the Baptist ministry and to yield
up his ordination papers.
The fire of criticism was directed
chiefly at Professor Fosters recent
book. "The Function of Religion"
which was declared herctiCal.
This motion was put ut the confer
ance of the Baptist executive council.
md only the objection of one man,
Professor A. X. Parker, who. like Pro-
University of Chicago, prevented the
eviction of the author of "The Func-
ion of Religion"
Professor Parker prevented action
~ calling attention to constitutional
provision preventing action without
weeks deliberation. The case accord
ingly was postponed until June IA.
II want to say now that I'll he here
next week to present the same mo-
don," said DIR. Myers.
1t was after Professor Foster had
oeen characterized as "an undesirable
Baptist" and as a teacher who "tloutcd
the Bible, would dethrone the church
and defy evolution" that the effort to
eject him from the councils of the de-
nomination was made.
"Professor Foster declares" said the
Rev. w. A. Mathews of the Tabernacle
Baptist church in the course of n re-
view of the recent book penned by
Professor Foster, that one who calls
himself a believer in the Bible is a
knave.' Then. thank heaven, I am a
knave."
May I ask how that word is spell
pd|' interrupted Professor Parker.
"K-n-a-v-e." replied the speaker.
eff you will pardon the correction"
observed Professor Parker. Il have
the book In my hand, and the word is
spelled naive"
professor Foster states in his
book" continued Mr.. Mathews, that
God did not make man in his own
image. but that man made God in his
own image. He says we are not fallen
angels. but developed animals. He says
that miracles have always been the
refuge of ignorance and that modern
technic must take the place of magic
wonder what he means by modern
technicT
He declares that science has under
mined the trinity. OF course that is in
his own mind. He says that Jesus was
Il child of his time and that to copy
Jesus is to kill the soul. He makes
that the book of humanity is greater
than the Bible.
The title of his book should have
been Religion Without Christianity.
He is guilty of the supreme conceit of
ranking himself as greater than Christ
He styles our grand old book as the
'petritied remains of the Christian re-
| ligion.'"
While Mr. Mathews was speaking
the situation was tense. The auditors
leaned forward to catch every word
of the proceedings.
Through it all Professor Fosters sew.
enteen-year-old son sat with flushed
checks and shining eyes. At last, un.
able to restrain himself longer, he
:Ose 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 at,
tention to the interruption.
When the motion was made to eXpel
Professor Foster, there We're cries OF
Second it"' from all over the hall.
After the meeting DR.. Parker said
that whatever action might be taker
by the preachers would not affect Pro
fesSOr Fosters relations with the Uni
versity of Chicago.
This conference has nothing to dc
with the university" he said. 1.-TWO
thirds of the university's trustees are
Baptist laymen, but they could not
vote to eXpel a member of the faculty
except on moral grounds"
Study.
Histories make men wise; poets
witty; the mathematics, subtle; ma
tural philosophy, deep; moral, grave