New-York tribune., 1910-05-26
MAY REAFF|RM DOCTRINE
Urqe Presbyteries to Show More
Care in Examinations.
HERESY TRIAL is ENDED
Praise for Brotherly Spirit and
Tolerance-Row Over Temper
ance-Russia Condemned.
IRr reinzranh 20 III. Tribune ]

sion of the General Assembly to-day. the
compIainants closing their argument Inc
commission held two extra sessions. and IL
is probable that a Judgment VIII oe
reached and the matter carried TO tne
assembly tomorrow afternoon.
IT looks tonight as though the commiS
sion would satisfy itself. and probably the
assembly. with a deliverance reafnrfnins
the doctrines about which the young men
in New York had difficulties. ana urging
the presbyterfes of the Church TO exercise
care in examining students. lest critcal
theories be accepted by young men SEEKING
to enter the Presbyterian ministry. instead
of the doctrines of the Confession OF r dieH
Dr. F. E. Shearer, one of the commlttee
pressing the case against the synod. ana
therefore against the Presbytery, told the
commission that as the three ciersyIneh
representing the synod had practically
confessed Judgment and united in a plea
for the deliverance mentioned. he would
meet them half way and withdraw his plea
that Mr. Black should have his ordination
taken away and be required TO be exam
ined again.
DR.. Buchanan In his closing address ar
gued that the Presbytery Of New YORK
should be censured for licensing men who
were not prepared to affirm the doctrine Oh
the virgin birth. the resurrection or Laza-
rus and the bodily resurrection OF Cnrlst'
and because of it's rash act in orda1nins
Mr.. Black in the face of the protest OF the
large minority. Evangelical Chr1stlan1ty'
he said. as we'll as Presbyterianism. was
involved in this case
DR. Shearer said that when Mr.. Black
could not affirm his belief ''he should have
been counseIled TO tarry at Jericho until
his beard was grown" In speaking Of the
difficulty before those who were the COM
plainants in the present case. DR. Shearer
said that there were thirteen directors and
seven professors of Union Seminary VINO
by their influence were able at times TO
control the action of the Presbytery.
Dr., Shearer Causes Smile.
Referring TO the address OF DR.. Bonner
Yesterday that there were older men in
the Church who held views similar to those
for which the students were called into
question and that they. and not the young
men, should be put on the rail. DR.. Shearer
caused a smile by asking:
Have we not done enough in the New
York Pre.bytery along this line? Let him
call them 10 book We are dealing with a
specific case. Since the respondents have
virtually confessed Judgment you cannot
refuse to grant IT. but you ought to go
further and censure the Presbytery for fts
undue haste in ordaining Mr.. Black
DR.. Fox. who says that some Of his
friends take exception 70 the statement
that he is not the secretary of the Anert-
can Bible Society this week, though he had
no complaint personally with the way that
the fact was stated in the Tribune, made
the closing speech OF the hearing Once
during the argument he referred to mem
Der OF his family and was nearly overcome
with emotion.
He spoke kindly Of the spirit which pre-
vailed in the commission. but this, he said.
did not lessen his feeling that the students.
while sincere, did not possess that assur-
ance of belief which warranted their being
licensed. Referring TO DIR. Richards. of the
Brick Church. who answered the protests
made in the Presbytery, DR.. Fox spoke
tenderly Of him. and said that he rejoiced
in his translation into heaven" Dr. Fox
said that DIR. Knox. of Union Seminary. In
one of his recent books. had torn the Bible
apart. and in a prayer which he heard him
offer recently, DIR. Knox said: And now. o
Lord. thou knowest that when thou vert
on the earth there were many things which
thou didn't know. but which we know"
Presbytery the Goat"
DR.. Fox quoted President Warfield Of
Lafayette, who asked him why the COM
rnittee did not take hold of the goats in
New York and let The kids go. MY answer
was" said the speaker. that in this case
the Presbytery of New York was the goat"
The puzzled look en- the faces OF the COM
missioners did not indicate a thorough
knowledge of the slang phrase OF the day.
Dr. Fox told story of young preacher
who in walking around the platform fell
off. but quickly regained his position
His inference was that the young man
with his views could not stand squarely on
an orthodox platform, but that he had lit
tie difficulty in getting back when once he
had slipped off. He urged the commission
to be frank with the Presbytery of New
York. and say, Brethren. you have erred.
You have done wrong in this case.
''I know how hard It is to spank a well
beloved child But we need the strong
arms OF your majesty about US We have
our trials in this matter. I know what it
means to lead an unpopular movement
will not refer to the scurrilous statement
against myself I'm a religious paper Of re-
cent date. Brethren, supernatural religion
is now on trial at your bar
DR.. Dinsmore. the chairman Of the COM
complimented the representatives
of the two sides upon the brotherly spirit
which all had showed. Speaking afterward
of the matter, he said to The Tribune re-
porter that he had been in many trials OF
this kind. but had never seen men hold
themselves I'm control as these had.
Hiss Cannon's Name,
The Assembly waxed warm to-day over