New-York tribune., 1909-10-05
BLACK CASE TO SYNOD
Up AGAIN IN PRESBYTERY.
Formal Protest FoHo7cs Totc in
Faror of Ordination.

Protest 70 the New York and New England
Synod regarding the acton Of the New York
PTesbytery yesterday deciding ordsn the
Rev. Archibald Black and install him as pastor
of the Bedford Park Presbyterian Church on
October "A has been filed ny number of conserva-
tves, who have heeu obiectiug to the theological
opinions of the young man since the question of
licensing him a preacher came up, in Mav This
step was decided upon last night after the Presby
terry in fall session At the First Presbyterian
Church. 18th street and Fifth avenue, had voted
not to require second examination of Mr. Black,
who is a brother of the Rev. Dr. Hugh Black,
before his ordination
Nr. Black George 4. Fitch and John a. Steen
found at the first examination, in the spring,
TO hold questionable views i'm regard to the Pres
byterian Confession of Faith and Scriptural in
depreciation. Although these views were
planned later TO the Presbygery and the young
men were accepted and licensed by that body on
June a, the Hteralists continued object and
yesterday, when the question Of ordainiug Mr..
Black. the only of the three who remains
within the New York Presbyterys jurisdiction,
came up, they insisted that he should not be or
dained without another examination.
The ma jority OF the Presbytery said they We're
satisfied with the theological attitude OF Mr.. Black
and argued that II his examination in June had
satisfied the Pres5ytery Sufficiently to license him
to preach and he had received a call TO d church
in the mean time. further examination would be
supcrfuous and waste Of time They pointed out,
too that il was customary to ordain preacher IS
soon as he licensed.
The leaders of the minority I'm the Presbytery
were the Rev DR.. John Fox, secretary of the
American Bible Society: the Rev Or. Walter u.
Buchanan pastor Of the Fourth Avenue Church;
the Rev. DR.. Henry 3. Elliot, retired minister and
tie oldest known graduate of New York University,
he having been In the class Of '43 Or. Daniel 5
Gregory. and Mr.. Abbott. who is an elder in the
Scotch Presbyterian Church.
Immediately after the vote of the Presbytery
that NIr. Black should not be required 10 submit TO
another examination. Dr. Fox filed the protest with
the stated clerk, the Rev Dr. Jesse F. Forbes i
recited these salient items of complaint
That tn. Presbytery had violated the spirit If
not the letter q t4e church form OF soVernIneRt
TIaJ they had accepted as a substitute for an
examination TO- the ministry an examination for
THAT this examination revealed serious departure
Thar there may he no doubt the objections % the
candidate are repeated as follows; he rejected
the nfaIlibility and supreme auth2Flty or tae
scripture "a tlsL1lul ls - ~ ri @ bir,b' T
doubted the raising Of Lazarus from The dead, he
doubted the actual phys resurrection Of the
poqE rom m No '4s in t o airctoT f the trYh
than 10 indicate this agnostic position
The protest was signed by ten members Of the
Preshytery. In al there arc about thirty who
stand against the majority. The membership Is
two hundred and forty. The synod is composed
of delegates from all the Preshytcries IN New York
and New England and meets once year. The
next synod VIII be held at Johnsrown, \. Y.
October 70, five days after the ordination Of MI
Black
The first protest was filed June a against tine
licensing OF AIessrs. Black Fitch and Steen- Nlr
Steeu has gone West. and ON accoune of Ar.
Fitch's desire TO leave -he United States for China
early in July he was ordained on July after
vote ny the PresbyteTy. Another protes- was made
against his ordination without further eXamina-
ton while the third protest before the Presbytery
was made yesterday against the ordination of Nlr
BLACK A committee composed of the Rev DIT
William r. Richards chairman; the Rev. Dr.. An
thony H. Evans of the West Church and James
T. Ware was appointed 10 make an answer 10 ii.
In his answer 20 the protest against the licensing
of the three young men June II, Dr. Richards
said he had obtained from the examining COM
mittee a list Of questions intended To draw from
the candidates q fun confession Of their faith.
These questions related 10 rhc Scripture God, the
TRINITY the moral s.ate of man at creation and
the effect of sin upon mankind. the person ana
nature of Christ. the incarnation, the work OF
Christ the resurrection, salvation the work of the
Holy Spirit justification, sancthcation, heaven,
hell and the relation OF the preacher 10 all this.
Then Dr. Richards said;
TO the majority Of the Presbytery these questions
were answered with fair degree of intelligence,
fhoroughness and accuracy. Each of the candi-
s.Tae was ouesuoned as TO his adoption of the
teachings OF the confession and they satisfied the
majority of the Presbytery that they We're IN sub
agreement with Us as 10 the vital doc
They anirIned their belief in the eternal Sonship
Of Christ, but We're not prepared 10 take posi-
tion in regard u the virgin birth, although they
did not deny it,
DR. Richards concluded that the knowledge Of
the young concerning the essential doctrines
was thorough and accurate. and that they have
their acceptance of and belief
them since. that their views or the virgin birth
indicated rather an unfinished consideration Of
the subject than position OF disbelief in it,"
Then he said
While we sympathize with the protestants in
their zeal ana the purity of their faith. are
instance
CcptiOn % the facts.
The temperance committee of which the Rev.
James H. Farr. pastor OF Christ Church, is chair
man. reported that IL had found deplorable con
dition regard 90 the enforcement of the Sunday
cos.s low The res ignation 1f the Rev Or. j. Ross
Stevenson, who "as pastor OF the tlth avenue
Presbyterian Church years, and has been
called To the e. own Memorial Church IN Balii-
more. was accepted. II was also ordered that the
Rev Harvey g. Furbey be permitted - accept 4
can 10 the First Union Presbyterian Church and I
biz insJallati@ss - set tuI October ~