The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-19

Teachings of several members of the
faculty of the Brigham Young univer-
sity of Provo, the most prominent Nor
mon educational institution, have been
SO much in conflict with the doctrines
Of the Mormon church that an inquiry
into the alleged heresy has been begun
by the general church board of educa
ton. The specific charges against the
university professors are that they have
been teaching evolution and higher crit
icism and that these courses cannot be
reconcilcd with the Mormon belief.
Carried farther, it is said that the
teachings of some of the Brigham
Young university Instructors are de
cidedlv materialistic and even hint at
the fallacy of the belief in divine in
spiration and direct revelation, cardi-
nal principles of the Mormon doctrine
Several of the professors are alleged
to have been uncompromising in their
teaching Of the subjects, and it is said
that practically every one OF the stu
dents takes the same stand as do the
teachers.
Three prominent members of the B.
Y. L. faculty nave been called to Salt
Lake before the general church board
of education to explain their views of
the subject. They arc DR.. Henry Peter
son. dean of the college Of education
of the chair of psychology Of the B.
Y. u. and DR.. r. V. Chamberlain, head
of the department of biology of the
B. Y. U. Other members of the fac
ulty are said to have taken similar
stand to that of these three professors,
and ii is possible that others may be
summoned before the church board.
Object to Darwinian Theory.
DR.. Chamberlain received his doc
tors degree at Cornell He taught bi-
ologv for four years at the University
Of Utah and for three years at the
Brigham Young university. He teaches
the Darwinian theory of evolution in
his instructions in biology aud ever
since he has been member Of the
faculty of the church school his posi-
tiou as an evolutionist has been the
object of attack for many of the prom
inent Mormons. although until recently
no marked opposition to his. teachings
has become evident.
In addition to the other branches
taught by them, the Professors Peter
son. who arc brothers, also have courses
in theology at the Brigham Young uni
versltv. In these courses, 1T is charged,
the brothers injected higher criticism,
and their instructions have been con
strued by some as "A direct attack on
the doctrines of the Mormon church.
Dr. Henry Peterson studied at the
University of Chicago and took post
graduate course and received a Doctors
degree at Harvard. Prof. Joseph Peter.
son received masters degree at the
University of Chicago. All three Of
the professors under indictment by The
church were originally members of the
Mormon church and. it is understood,
are still considered as members-pro-
gressivc members-of the church.
Although there has been dIssension
in the air for several months as the re
suit OF the instruction at the b, \. L.
declared 20 be AT variance with the
teachings of the Mormon church, the
matter was not brought TO II head until
the recent quarterly conference of the
Utah stake, comprising central Utah
county and western Carbon county. j.
b. keeler. a member of the B. Y. U.
faculty who is not in accord with the
teaching of DR.. Chamberlain and the
Professors Peterson, is president of the
stake.
Apostles Define Evolution.
Francis M. Lyman. president of the
quorum of the twelve apostles, and
Apostle c. w. Penrosc were the prn-
cipal speakers, at the conference. Each
spoke OF evolution and each opposed
the theory ms antaeonistc TO tho
teachings of the church. Since the pco-
Pile of Provo and the surrounding ter.
ritorv hail been for months question
ing the attitude Of members Of the Il.
Y. l.. faculty on this theory. the dee
mrations of the two apostles OF the
Mormon church were regarded as sig.
and they undoubtedly gave the
opposition to the b. Y l.. instructors
Il tremendous impetus,
At the conference session at which
evolution was discussed, Apostle Ly