New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-13
|OR. FOX AND DR.. J0WETT
CLASH At PRESBYTERY
Differ as to Dr.. WyIie'S Paper
Defining Local Attitude to
Church at Large.
VIEWS OF BOTH ON RECORD
Fifth Avenue Pastor Not Present,
but Clergy Adopt His Views,
Bible Society's Secretary
Alone Dissenting.

The New York Presbytery held lts last
meeting yesterday before the summer
vacations. The chapel Of the First Church
was well filed. The Brick Church Sc
cured permission to call DIR. w. =. Mer-
rill from Chicago. DR.. Jesse F. forpes
resigned from the pastorate OF the
Adams Memorial Church and DR.. D. D.
Mcmillan from the New York Church.
The death of the Rev. DR. James Cham-
bers was announced.
The Rev. DIR. David g. Wylie. pastor
of the Scotch Church. who presenter 'he
resolutions at the recent General ASSEM-
hlv at Atlantic City asking the restora-
tion of harmonious relations with Union
Theological Seminary. presented paper
concerning the attitude # the New YORK
Presbytery toward the General Assem-
blv and the church at large. The paper
was pacific i'm the extreme, hut it was
not allowed to become the united action
Of the Presbytery.
II recognized Differences of theological
opinions in the Presbytery, but asserted
that within the zone Of evangelical
Christianity" there should he unity.
DR.. Wylie had conferred with the Rev.
DR.. John Henry Jowett, pastor Of the
Fifth Avenue Church. about the paper
and il met his hearty approval AS Dr.
.Jowett was to sail for England yester-
day he sent a statement for Or. Wylle u
present with his paper. and this ne
did.
4 motion TO adopt the paper was
made and vas about n he put without
discussion. when the Rev. DR.. John Fox.
the secretary of the American Bible
Society. rose to counsel delay He
wished to have il printed. distributed 10
the members Of the Presbytery and dls-
cussed i'm October. But the Presbytery
was in no mood for delay. and the paper
was adopted. with Dr. Fox as the sole
dssenter.
Later he wrote out his reasons for his
action. which became part Of the min
utes of the meeting.
| II seemed significant 10 members OF
the Presbytery that DR.. Jowett's first
public utterances in the Presbytery
should meet with the hearty indorse-
ment Of every member present except
Or. Fox. The single negative vote
served to accentuate the practical una
nlmity of the Presbytery in the question
of evangelical Christianity. Union Som
mary professors and directors voting
enthusia sticaly for the paper of one
who is ranked as one OF the stlftest
Calvinistic preachers in the city, In or
out Of the Presbyterian Church.
The Presbytery's Sentiments.
The following is DIR. Wylie's paper:
| Whereas. For upward Of generation the
| New York Presbytery has been the centre
| Of earnest and at times sharp theological
discussion, ana
Whereas, The recent General Assembly.
| though of one mind I'm regard 70 the doc
| trines of the Presbyterian Church and OF
evangelical Christianity, nevertheless mani
| Tested in a remarkable manner truly gen
erous and broad minded spirit. this seems
! a fitting time for the Presbytery 10 give
assurances TO the officers and members or
our churches and TO the Church al large
i'm regard 10 the position II occupies with
respect TO theological doctrines.
Let il he said that the New York Pres
bytery is the centre OF a great community
where seas meet and where men from dif-
ferent parts Of our country and of the
world. with great variety of tempera-
ment and training. are brought into close
personal and ecclesiastical relations. This
being so. il is quite natural that. as in the
Apostolic Church, some differences OF Opin-
ion should arise between earnest men. and
this has been the case In this Presbytery.
However. the Presbytery of New York
Is strongly Of the opinion that outside the
zone Of evangelical Christianity there is
abundant room for our theological differ
ences but that within the limits Of evan
gelical Christianity there should be unity.
and we are confident that In this Presby
terry such is the case.
In order. however. 10 reassure any VINO
have been or are now disturbed by reports
of proceedings in this Presbytery we put
ourselves on record as being in complete
harmony with the doctrines Of the Presby
terian Church. set forth In its Confes-
sion and deliverances. We have been. we
are and shall continue to be loyal Pres
byterians of the evangelical type and true
TO the best traditions Of our Church
I'm conformity with our ordination VOWS,
II is our steadfast purpose to study the
peace and purity Of the Church and 10
maintain that unity of doctrine and of
purpose that - not only desirable but alb
sci utely essential II we. i'm this great met
ropoitan centre, are TO meet and solve the
serious problems that confront us.