New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-05-15
HERESY TRIAL AWAITED
DIR. W. D. Grants Case to Come
Before General Assembly
Union SEMINARY UNDER Bni.
Orthodoxy of Two Professors To
Be Considered at the Meet
ing in Atlantic City.


ing in Atlantic City.
When the General Assembly Of the Pres
hvterian Church meets on THURSDAY morn
ing. May IS, in Atlantic City, II will have
before It heresy trial. an inquiry into
the orthodoxy of two theological professors
and answers to the inquiry whether the
nresbyteries Of the assembly are prohibit
ing candidates for the ministry from study
ing at institutions disapproved by the as
sembly.
The fact that the only institution dsap-
proved by the assembly is the Union Theo-
logical Seminary, in New York. of whose
hoard Of trustees Robert c. Ogden is presi-
dent. that the clergymen whose orthodoxy
e questioned are the president and lead
ing professor Of that seminary and that
the pastor OH trial for heresy is graduate
Of Union Seminary centres attention upon
that institution at this time.
Following the trial Of DR. Briggs. a pro-
fessor of Union Seminary in 1898. the Gen
oral Assembly at its next session issued a
delivcrance to the effect that students for
the PRESBYTERIAN ministry. whether receiv-
ing aid from the Board OF Education or
not, should consult their presbyteries be-
fore changing their church relation or the
school in which they were pursuing their
studies that the presbyteries had the priv
lege Of directing their education within
reasonable limits. in schools approved by
the General Assembly. and that they We're
Ia prohibit their attendance at institutions
OF learning It disapproved. Similar deliv-
IL
1926. 1896 and 1897.
New York Presbytery Rebels.
II is understood that the majority Of the
lresbyteries have informed the executive
commission. which has been prosecuting
the inquiry. that they are following the di-
rections Of the assembly. but that few
believe that a presbytery itself has ths
right 10 say where us candidates shall
study The New York presbytery at its
meeting in April answered frankly that
students under our care are permitted 20
attend the Union Seminary when they 50
desire. with the distinct understanding that
they are there to pursue the studies re
quired in our Presbyterian standards and
discipline. and that the faculty report At
stated times as to the diligence of the stu-
dents"
The feeling IN the New York Presbytery
Is divided the majority holding that a can
oidate for the ministry should lie allowed
70 pursue his studies wherever he chooses
end stand or fall for licensure and ordina-
ton upon his ability 10 answer the ques-
tons propounded at the examination. The
minority stands for the deliversnoes Of the
assembly. To avoid unnecessary and long
continued friction. a modus vivendl was
tshlished in 1905. which resulted in the
which the Presbytery quotes
IN IS answer 10 The commission
Or. Browns Position Challenged.
The case ~ the members - NJ Union
Seminary faculty tho Rev. Dr. Francis
Brown. president 81 the seminary. and Pro
fessor william Adams Brown. professor -
systematic theology. was started hv an
overture ~ the assembly prepared bv tho
Rev william J.. AfcFwan. of the Third
Church II Pittsburr presented 20 the Pres
hytery of Pittshure The overture states
the position 81 the General Assembly n ref
erence 10 the fundamental doctrines 81 the
Church-the inspiration. integrity and au-
thority Of the Holy Scriptures. the virgin
birth NJ Jesus. His yicarious atonement
and his actual bodily resurrection.
The overture calls attention 80 an article
by President Brown. which appeared IN
THE Harvard Review and another in
"The Southern Review" which articles tho
overture says. ARE apparently in direct
contradiction 20 tho truths declared essen
tial and necessary. and the publications
aforesaid seem 70 be In defiance If the nu-
thority Of the General Assembly anC the
promotion Of truth throughout all the
churches under iis care" In view ~ these
facts the assembly IL asked "to mako in
Guirv concerning tho articles aforesaid AMI
to take such action ss In SIS wisdom NAV
best preserve the authority % tho said as
sembly and secure the purity Of It's confes-
sional doctrines in the preaching and teach
ing throughout the bounds Of the churches
under its care"
While the Preshvterv ~ Pttshurg NJ
special meeting. on the motion ~ the Rev
Or. Henry u. Lindsay. declined 20 adopt
the overture IT had In tho mean time been
approved by two presbyterieF. the West
Jersey and the Iowa. The fact that the
important Presbyterv OF Pittgburg declined
10 stand sponsor for the implied hcresy
against the Union man lessons materially
the force Of the overture. These Overtures
will 80 10 the committee on bills and over
lures, Of which the Rev Dr. Charles Little
will he chairman. One ~ three things may
be done by tho assembly on the report ~
this committee Following the action OF
the Pittsburg Presbytery without passing
Indictment upon the contents 81 the over
ture. II may be dismissed. or the articles In
question may be- condemned as heretical
withou, passing Judgment on their authors,
or the Presbvtery Of New York, Of which
the professors are members, may be direct
ed 10 pursue the inquiry. or even 10 bring
charges against the clerFymen and place
them on trial While II is dangerous To
forecast a probability. 1T is safe to infer
that the third measure Will not be adopted.
Or. Grant Charged with Heresy
The heresy case Is against the Rev. Or.
William T. Grant. OF Northumberland.
Penn, "A graduate OF Union In the class or
81 The charges against Or. Grant are
similar 10 those contained in the overture
against the professors The case was tried
by a judicial commission OF which John G.
Bible students IN Pennsylvania, was moder-
ator. The verdict. which was taken after
the case has been heard AZ intervals dur
ing the winter. was in favor OF DR.. Grant.
Fortv-eipht votes were taken on the vari-
ous points at issue and forty-one were in
favor OF acquittal. The prosecuting com
mission. composed OF the Rev. J. w. kirk,
the Rev. S. G. Dickson and II. VI. Ninkley,