New-York tribune., 1910-01-07
AFTER DIR. ROBERTS
CALLED THE PRESB Y
TERT4N POPE"
Stated Clerk SAID to Hold
Nearly Sirty Other Offices
His Resignation Urged.
[By Telegraph to The Tribune. !

by Telegraph TO The Tribune1
Pittsburg, Jan. 6.-Opponents of the
Rev. DR.. William Henry Roberts, of Phil
adelphia, stated clerk and treasurer of
the Presbyterian General Assembly, who
is styled by them the Pope of the Pres
byterian Church" came out In the open
to-day with a demand that he resign his
place as treasurer. as we'll as many of
the other posts he holds in the Church.
In addition to the two high Offices
DIR. Roberts holds nearly sixty other
places of trust in the General Assembly.
The Pittsburg Presbytery is almost
unanimous in indorsing the attack.
which was started by the Blairsville
Presbytery. There will be no let-up in
the fight, it is said. until DR.. Roberts
surrenders. Arrayed against DR.. Rob-
erts are said to be most of the Presby-
teries of the United States.
THE Presbyterian Banner" the official
organ of the Church. openly insists on
the dethronement of the treasurer. The
issue of to-day says:
We have been receiving a large num-
ber of communications from ministers
and elders of the Church, giving their
views on the SepdrdJlO OF IneSe TWO
offices. In every instance they say the
separation should be made, and use very
emphatic language on the subject One
prominent minister in the West writes
us a strong private letter, and says he
will write a letter for publication if we
request it. A prominent elder. VINO is
banker, expressed surprise that business
is being done it is being done by the
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church. One of the most distinguished
laymen in the Church, and a large giver
to its benevOlences, spoke with some in
dignation when he learned the state of
affairs.
Another leader in the Church said that
the separation of these offices is meas
ure that COmmends itself to every bus
ness man at it's mere mention, and that
no other argument should be necessary
to secure its adoption. If the Presbyterian
Church is going to retain the support and
the respect of it's business men and large
givers, it cannot trifle with this thing,
but must put it's business on a business
basis, and that right speedily.
The Blairsville men publish in to-day's
issue of THE Banner a vigorous attack
on DR. Roberts, which will be sent all
over the United States. They charge
that at Denver, when the matter of fore
ing DIR. Roberts to abdicate was before
was not good policy for him to take part
in the discussion. but that he tried,
nevertheless, to influence the Finance
Committee against recommending the
separation of the offices.
He is taking part in the discussion
now" THE Banner" continues. "as the
advisory committees letter plainly shows
that he is behind the present attempt to
stem the tide which is flowing so
strongly toward the BIairsville over
ture"
The committee is headed by John Cal
vim Silsley, Tho made a sensational at
tack on DR.. Roberts. in his presence. on
the platform of the assembly a Denver.
The other members of the committee are
the Rev. DR. Charles Schan. pastor of
the Greensburg Presbyterian Church. and
the Rev William L. Mcclure. pastor of
the Presbyterian Church of Jeanette
Over their signatures this committee
gives a list of the sixty church offices
held by DR.. Roberts. after which they
summarize as follows: Holding fifty-six
church positions of various kinds: hold
ing membership in thirty-fve commit
tees, boards. etc; holding eleven chair
secretaryships; holding six treasurer
ships: holding one professorship.
They assert that no other churchman
in the world ever held so many offices
as DR.. Robt -. and point out, incident
ally. that many of them pay good
salaries