The San Francisco call., 1910-10-23
SYNOD STARTLED
BY RESOLUTIONS
San Francisco Theological Sem
mary Goes on Record for
Unrestricted Teachings
Especial Dispatch TO The Call

SPecI0I OLSpdiCh 10 ne NdiI
FRESNO. Oct. 22.-Members of the
Presbyterian synod of California and
Nevada, which is now in session in this
city, were surprised today when it be-
came known that prior to the meeting
here the faculty of the San francisco
theological seminary passed resolutions
favoring unbounded liberty to the
faculty of that institution in prose
cutting their duties. The action was in
substance a prior reputation of the
action taken by the synod. which is
seeking to establish certain limits with
in which the faculty may teach.
DAY GIVES VIEWS
DR. Franklin Day today issued q
statement regarding the effect the de-
cision will have on the Presbyterian
church His statement, in substance,
is as follows.
Personalities aside. the proceed
ings in the synod of California on
FRIDAY October 21. mark an I'M
portant stage in the progress of
thought along biblical lines on the
Pacific coast. Every movement has
its critical periods. Advance in
new fields of investigation means
that many rough roads must be
travelled. Established systems may
command the easy assent of salts
fed adherents, but new systems
gain ground only by the hardest.
II is we'll that it is so. Truth claims
the enlistment of mans deepest
spiritual purposes, and the forth
putting of his most strenuous in
tellectual energies. Her rewards
are for the men who give up all for
her sake She hides her secret
from the intellectually lazy and from
the morally insincere.
SEES WAVERING FRONT
study of the vote. reveals a
wavering front at times in the
ranks of the opposition: This ap-
Jonah. The minority gained 60
votes over it's original go and won
a-signal vote. that is, $50 men af-
firmed that a theological teacher
has right to teach that the story
OF Jonah Is or may be parable,
while 10! held that he is true to
when he presents it as literal
record of historical facts. This or
other similar features OF the vote
show that some minds at least were
uncertain how far their opposition
TO critical views should extend. On
further examination of the facts
it is probable that these men, and
in time still others, will reach the
point where they can stand on the
same platform of liberation with
the pioneer band of 80.
SEEKS GREATER FREEDOM
Surely that the mind was made
for truth cannot forever bar its
free entrance. We may confidently
hope that the ecclesias stical liberty
won by Christian scholars in Eng
land Sotland, Canada and the east
ern sections of our own country
will not long delay its coming to
our western coast. where. strangely
enough. the paradox presents itself
of church more conservative as
a rule than may be found else
where. surrounded by conditions
that in other spheres-poGtica1
literature education-make for the
greatest possible freedom.
Among the speakers at the morning
session today was the Rev. w. D. CAM
of Los Angeles, who took occasion tc
dwell at length on the lack of suitable
young men for the ministry.
Rev. DR.. Fisher of San Francisco
read a new report on church erection
while Rev. f. A. Doane spoke on the
Presbyterian orphanage.
Marriage and divorce was discussed
at the session this afternoon. At the
business session this evening DR.. S. $
Brush OF Alameda lectured on ''The
Passion Play" Long Beach has beer
decided upon as the next meeting place
in 1911.