The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-05-27
Dr.. Grant Exclude d
From Pulpit Of Pres
byterian Church.
MAY RECANT AND
BE REINSTATED
Charges Against Him Are Sus
tained by Overwhelming Vote
OF General Assembly-Held
to Have Preached Doctrines
Contrary to Word
of God. i'I

<htioHliC lily, ~. ~ May 2b.-The
Presbyterian General Assembly to-day
adopted by an overwhelming vote
report OF tho judicial commission find
ing the Rev. William d. Grant, d. D.,
OF northumberland. Pa. guilty of hnv-
Ing taught doctrines contrary to the
Word OF God as contained the Bible
and the Presbyterian Confession of
Faith" and suspendinG him from cx-
eNcising the functions OF a minister
OF the church until he can convince
his own presbytery that he has re-
nounced the errors he has been found
to hold
The cases against the Rev. William
Adams Brown. D. D.. professor in Union
Theological Seminary. and President
Francis Brown. OF the same institute.
were dropped by the assembly.
resolution that "all ministers are
adm onished TO avoid any utterances
calculated to disturb the peace OF the
church was adopted.
The commission held DR.. Grant to
be guilty under the rules OF the Pres
byterinn Book of Discipline, and tho
commission recommended that Dr.
Grant be suspended from exercising
tho functions OF minister OF the
Presbyterian Church until such time
as 'he can convince his own presby-
terry, that of Northumberland. that he
has renowned the errors he has been
found to hold and 70 satisfy the pres
bytery OF his purpose to no longer
teach them"
Adopted without Debate.
motion to adopt the report and
conArm the Judgment OF the commits
Hion was put TO vote in the assembly.
and was carried overwhelmingly with
out debate. There were only few
scattered noes"
A Though the decision was at hrst
crushing blow to friends of Dr.. Grant,
the judgment which leaves 1, IN to
his own presbytery to reinstate him.
that body having already. uccuitted
him once. and being obviously favor
able TO him. somewhat took the sting
out of the apparent harshness of, the
verdict. It was pointed out by his
friends there is nothing to prevent
Dr. Grant from appealing to his pres.
oytery at It's very next meeting, and,
by making a statement recanting any
4 views that might be taken to attack
the basic doctrines OF the church. be
reinstated within a short time Curl
ously enough, the word "heresy" was
never used In the report of the com
mission either in the summing up or
In the final jud gment
DR., Grant was present when the re-
port OF the commission was read
~. 4.
Before a vote was called for his
counsel. Dr.. ]. Gray Bolton. OF Phila-
delphia. asked to be allowed 10 read a
statement for DR.. Grant. DR. Bolton
not being member of the assembly.
his request was declared out of order
by Moderator Carson. The statement,
which was in the nature of an afirma-
ton OF faith in the great doctrines of
the church. follows:
Few men hp,.a unNara5
their beloved church as I have sur
fered for the church OF my fathers.
reverently and lovingly bow to its de-
clsion do now affirm. as have
many times affirmed during these pro-
ceedings. my unqualified faith in my
blessed Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ,
In His deity. virgin birth. resurrection
and mediatorial work. and in the SCRIP
lures OF the Old and New Testaments
ms the infalliDle rule OF faith and love
have never knowingly taught any
thing contrary to the above declara-
tions.
Subject to Misconstruction.
During this meeting of the assem-
bly, have met some of the most con-
. spicuous young workers and speakers
In the church, who are not ordained
ministers. one of whom said in my
hearing that he had left the seminary
day as am now experiencing. Some
OF tho statements have made in my
articles, can row see. are subject TO
misconstruction. bur If l cannot preach
the great doctrines of grace. as given
us In the New Testament. in the Pres
byterian Church, ought to leave her
ministry: but 1 trust 1t shall be my
privilege and Joy tc continue to pro-
claim those doctrines as long as God
y shall give me strength to do So"
In sustaining the charge that DIR.
Grant had In writings and sermons.
Y discredited the deity of the Lord Jesus
Christ, the commission found that in
his teachings DR.. Grant had failed to
ascribe to the Son of God all the at
tributes owing to Him which could not
belong to the hottest and wisest of men,
Sustaining the charge that DR.. Grant
had in writings and sermons discred-
tied the doctrine of Christs mediato-
rial office, the commission found that
4 he had advanced ideas tending to
weaken or disparage faith in such
doctrine, or the need of 1t.
i5iH Impugncd Truth of Bible.
In sustaining the charge that Dr..
Grant had disseminated Views discred-
iting the Holy Scriptures as the
{. actual Word of God. the commission
!. found that he had at various times
Simpugned the veracity of the Bible
teachings, and had made sta tcments
which tended to divest the words of
, holy writ OF their authority. After
stating that DIR. Grant was undoubt-
4 eddy guilty of an offense under the
u rules of the Book of Discipline. the
x report said: 4r
Il While the commission does not
question tho right of any man to In
terpret the scriptures as he pleases.
4 yet we do not think he should teach