New-York tribune., 1910-05-25
ALL DAY ON HERESY TRIAL
Presbyterian Judicial Commits
sion Hears Long Arguments.
SYNOD'S ACTION DEFENDED
Licensing of Union Seminary
Students Upheld-Roosevelt
Sentiment Applauded.
rRy Telegranh to The Tribune

all day to-day before the judicial commits
sion of the General Assembly. Three hours
were given to the three cergymen from
New York-Drs. Fox, Buchanan and
Shearer-representingt the seventy men from
the Presbytery who complained against the
synod for approving the action of the Pres
bytery in licensing the three Union Semi
nary students and ordaining two of them
The same length of time was given to Drs-
Bonner, Bailey and Forbes, who appeared
to defend the synod. The commission then
took d recess until tomorrow morning.
when an hour will be given for the COM
plainants to answer. The commission will
then formulate it's judgment, which will be
submitted to the assembly.
In the hearing to-day DR.. Fox gave an
back to 1895. when the Presbytery asked the
General Assembly to instruct it as to its
duty concerning certain students applying
to be taken under its care. In reply the
assembly instructed and enjoined the Pres
bytery not to receive under its care for
licensure students who are pursuing or pro-
posing to pursue their studies in theological
seminaries respecting whose teaching the
General Assembly disavows responsibility.
Reference was then made to licensing, in
June of last year. the students in question
and the ordaining of two of them
Would Not Tolerate Doubt.
The speaker said the only matter before
the Assembly now is Mr.. Blacks ordina-
ton AS "a modern witness to the virgin
birth of Christ DR.. Fox cited the quota
ton from Professor Briggs, which was
mentioned in The Tribune yesterday. and
then called attention to the fact that the
p--eu ubx-tar nd ted m record letter
Mr.. Black in which he does not say
whether or not he believes in the virgin
birth of Christ, the raising of Lazarus, the
miracles of Christ in general. the resurrec-
ton of Christ's own body or the supreme
authority of the Scriptures.
DR.. Fox made a deep impression upon
the commission by the calm presentation OF
his statements. Concerning the doctrines
Just mentioned, the miracles of the death
OF Jesus and His resurrection from the
grave. DIR. Fox said:
Upon these the whole Church of Christ
is founded; by the proclamation of them
the Church as been built up. The Church
cannot tolerate in any of its ministers
either the denial or the least shade of
doubt as to these foundation truths with
out disIoyalty, not only to its own stand
ards. but to the Lord Himself, who has be-
come man. died Oh the cross for the sins of
men and is risen again for their justifica-
ton
DR.. shearer quoted from the Apostles
Greed, the catec!1ism, the Lords Prayer.
the action of the general assembly and the
Scriptures to show that a belief in the
virgin birth is essential to the Presbyterian
system of doctrine.
Hopes for Broader Ministry.
DR.. Shearer called the attention Of the
assembly to the fact that the written
papers prepared by the candidates preced-
ing their examination ARE ambiguous and
could easily be indorsed by ritschlian.
ssebalIian' or any other 'modalst.' 4" His
next point was that the ordination of Mr.
Black should be nullified by the assembly
and he should re-examined before ordina-
ton
Dr. Buchanan in his argument referred
TO his personal relation to the examination
OF the students, quoted his view concerning
the minimum of belief that students should
have on the essential doctrines, discussed
the two examinations, and mentioned his
kindly feeling toward the young men while
reEretting that their belief in the standards
of the Church and the teachings of the
Bible differed so wildly from the views held
by himself and, as he believed, the assem-
bIy. He expressed his belief that the re-
suit of this trial would be "a broader min
istry in it's true teaching of the Word of
God and in it's entire conformity to the
standards of the Presbyterian Church"
Action of The Synod Defended.
In behalf of the synod DR.. Bonner dis
cussed the main question of the complaint
and. reading from magazine published by
one of the complainants, showed that men
of high standing in the theological semi
naries of the denomination were attacked
as well as young men just coming out or
+be seminary. This he did to show the
policy of the complainants. 1t was his
Judgment that if a heresy trial were to be
brought by the complainants they should
select some man in the pastorate or in one
of the Aseminaries who held their views.
Personally he would favor del1verance py
the assembly on the doctrines under review
Dr Bonner held the ground tnat IN an eA-
animation of young men for the ministry
much depended upon the point OF view OF
the examiner-quite as much, IN TACT, as
upon the point of view held by the candl-
date-and. further, that the personality OF
the candidate should be taken INTO con-
sideration-
SYNOD in dismissing the case.
Statements of Complainants Denied.
nr Forbes spoke in behalf Of the New
YORK Presbytery. and denied the state
r,an+s of the complainants that the young
men were not in sympathy with the doc
,rines of the Presbyterian Church lie
nuoted from the statement of Mr.. Fitch
1,bo ayowed his adherence TO evangelical
christianity. and added that he had not
denied the virgin birth of Christ, His bodily
resurrection or the raising Of Lazarus. He
had simply recognized the critical difficulty
attaching to these accounts. Concerning
tho second person in the Trinity Mr.. Fitch
had said:
II believe in Jesus Christ S the Divine
Son of God, the one in whom God has
nreuneIy present and who sacrificed Him
self for us; and 1t is my one desire In life
To bring men to such knowledge of Him
that they may accept Him as their Saviour
and Master.
Mr. Black wrote TO the presbytery: In
NV life 1 desire to preach Christ to men
that they may be persuaded TO come TO
Him from their sins; that they may know
Him in truth and love Him with their
whole hearts. and that they may take Him
as their Lord and Saviour"
Permanent Finance Committee.
In the assembly to-day the committee on
bills and overtures. 10 which the question of