The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-10-03
'ME0nyF|ELD CASE
h'TBE TAkENUP
Baptist Pastors Plan TO Bar Il Fron
Convention, Leaving Guild Board
TO Take Action.

There will be no washing of soiled
linen In the Baptist state convention
to be held In the North Baptist church
the week Of Oct. II, II the Detroit
Baptist Ministers conference can pre-
vent II. and that this organization Win
use every effort to do 80 was appar.
ence for the season. Monday morning.
In the schoolroom OF the Woodward
ave. Baptist church.
The refusal Of the Baptist Guild
board to take the responsibility OF
definite action In the case of the Rev.
Frederick Merri6eld, director OF the
Baptist Students Guild In Ann Ar
Dor, against whom charges have been
made by "old line Baptists that he
was teaching false doctrines to the
students under his care, was brought
to the attention Of the conference By
the Rev. T. w. Young. In his report OF
the state convention program. which
Is to be held In his church.
PRESSURE might say threats--has
been brought to bear upon the CON
vention program committee, that the
Merrifield matter be given place for
discussion In open convention, on the
regular convention program" said DIR.
Young. The guild board has declined
TO act In the matter and Its members
wish the convention to stand In judg.
ment. Such a course, believe, would
be the most harmful thing we could
do and ! appeal to the Detroit Bap-
list conference members to stand unit
ed I'm an effort to have this matter adj
justed In some other way, and by
every means possible to avert, Its en-
trance into the doings Of the approach,
ing convention. The convention, a. q
matter OF fact, has no right to discuss
the matter, anyway. Whatever may
be the opinion and sympathies of the
individual members OF this body on
the alleged charges against Mr.. Mer.
rifield, for the good OF all concerned
we should stand together In this case
and prevent it's discussion In open
convention
DIR. Young's attitude had the warm
support OF Pastors Fixes. Cutler, Cal
pin and others, who scented bitter
controversy on doctrinal lines u the
matter came up. Following prolonged
discussion. the conference decided the
best course to pursue was to present
a resolution In the convention making
Il mandatory for the guild board and
not the state convention, to act In
the course of the discussion, some OF
the "old line" ministers present de-
plored the fact that Ann Arbor - =
hotbed of heresy Of ell sorts. agnos-
ticism, infidelism and what one called
"Wenleyism."
DIR. Galpin spoke In defense Of M.
Merrifleld, whom he declared TO oe
"A man whose purity OF thought and
action might be that OF = young giriv
and whose religion n that Of sweet,
christianity, while DR.. Cutler said ne
thought the exercise Of "Chr1etian
common sense" would solve al dtmcuI-
ties connected with The Waetor.
The salary OF the director G. sne
guild In Ann Arbor b paid ~ me
hoard of state missions. whereoe y
really should come under the admin
istration OF the educational commie-
tee and I think the coming convepr
ton will see change made 70 the
latter" said DR.. Fixes. MT. Merrr
field is splendid fellow Whatever
his ideas on higher criticism may %
and I'm strong on the faith OF my lore-
fathers, too.
In connection with the approaching
convention, DR.. Young stated aoor1
600 delegates we're expected and askeu
that all Baptist churches, In the city
do their share toward entertaining the
delegates for bed and breakfast
The conference voted to send a iet-
ter to the Rev. Herman c. de An
guerra. former pastor of Ciinton-ave'
church. now In his old home In Rocnes-
ter. N. Y. expressing their love. conn
dence and admiration for him as a
Baptist minister and Christian man.
II developed through statements maae
by the Rev. Myron E. Adams, that M.
de Auguera left Detroit much discour,
aged over the lack OF support gwen
him by the board OF trustees Oh oiin'
ton-ave church.