New-York tribune., 1909-07-09
FITCH CASE TROUBLE
Minister Says Harsh Things About
Chi alpha of Union Seminary.

The Presbyterian clergy and laity Of this city
very much aroused over the discussion Una !
has attended the action Of the Presoytery III
licensing and ordaining the Rev George A. FITCH
one of the three graduates OF the Union TheoloscSI
Seminary who have given some rather hperal
interpretations of Presbyterian doctrine OF late.
The Rev. DR.. John Fox who has led fhe ORTHODOX
opposition and who drafted the two protests
against the Iicensrre and ordination of Mr.. Fitch
made a statement yesterday in explanation OF MS
attitude The Rev. DR.. Daniel s. Gregory VINO
has been closely associated with Dr. FOX IN the
opposition. and who gave out strong statement
10 the newspapers after the meeting OF the FreS
byter3, on Wednesday evening has brought doWh
upon his head the wrath of those who have con
troled the action of the Presbytery.
He said yesterday that he doubted whether MI
Fitch would have been ordained without ahother
examination in theology If full meeting of the
Presby ytery had been held He said that the motioh
70 ordain Mr.. Fitch Wednesday evening was MADE
after 2 six-hour session of the Presbytery on june
a. when only twenty-five persons were present
and that no notice of the ordination was sent 10
the members of the Presbytery. and that most OF
them did not know that it was to be held. Only
nineteen members present at Wednesday
nights meeting he said.
AS future action OF the Presbytery. DR.. Fox
said that committee would be appointed 20 re-
port the Presbytery's side of the question at later
date. His own protest, signed by four ether dis
senting members, he said. represented only one
side In speaking of last Wednesday nights meet
ing. Dr. Fox said
The meeting OF the Presbytery perfectly
quiet. orderly ard good tempered throughout No
body was excited angry, and far saw
nobody hit the table with his fist or otherwise
msconducted himself. The differences of judg-
lnent, Il is we'll known. radical 1t battle
of principles, and of persons. much less Of
personalities, and each side treated the other with
entire courtesy.
Il had the honor to offer formal protest. which
the Moderator ruled was entirely in order and Or.
Francis Brown, who conducted the debate the
other side, Courteously made the motion that the
protest be admitted to record. Those who left the
Presbytery at the conclusion of its formal session
and before the ordination took place did after
they had, by vote of the Presbytery, at their
request. and without any disrespect either to the
Presbytery or to Mr.. Fitch been excused from
further attendance at the meeting"
Another prominent member of the Prezbytery
when asked if the attitude OF the Presbytery Of
this city indicative Of a general change in
doctrine throughout the denomination In this coun-
try. said:
NO; it Is purely local The Presbytory Of this
city Is controlled by the Chi Alpha Society Of tho
Union Theological Seminary. The society is made
up OF some of the professors of the seminary in
"ludinE pr. Francis Brown, and certain Of the
cally elect among the Presbyterian clergy of this
city. They place the favored graduates of the
school assistants in the churches where their
members pastors and in that way extend the
influence of the society. They are just supreme
in the Presbyterian Church OF this city Chicago
University is among the Baptsts of Chicago Their
meetings secret. and nobody the outside
knows anything about them.
The Rev. Or. Francis Brown. president OF the
Union Theological Seminary when asked about the
society refused to make any statement further than
20 say that it existed. He laughingly added that
the author of the statement hattered the Union
Theolosical Seminary