The Washington herald., 1912-06-02
UNION SEMINARY AGAIN.
With the New York PreEbytery, 1T
May De Involved in Heresy Case.

With the New York PreEbytery, II
May De Involved in Heresy Case.
Into the Presbyterian General Assem-
bly,. recently convened in Louisville, her
esy charges in two forms seemed very
likely to come before the close OF the
three weeks session. Union Theological
Seminary. New York, which produced
the Briggs and McGifert heresy charges.
and in one case trial. came forward
with a third. The Rev. DR.. William
Adams Brown. Roosevelt professor Of
systematic theology at Union, has writ
ten another book, The Christians Hope"
and in it old line Presbyterians are
finding much which they say contra
diets the Westminster confessions I'm
rest is general. Presbyterian periodi-
calls are filled with letters to their edi-
tors.
A second form was an overture. backed
from half a dozen presbyteries. asking
General Assembly to look into lesson
helps issued for children in Presbyterian
Sunday schools. These helps are edited
by the Rev. DR.. J. R. Miller. for many
years a close confdant Of John Wana-
maker, and are published by the Presby
terian Board OF Publication, one Of the
three great Official boards OF the Presby-
terian Church. Nevertheless, presbyteries
are declaring their comments to contra
vene much of the confessions. Some
charge them TO be Unitarian, and COM
pare them with the instruction given at
Union Theological Seminary.
The Rev. DR.. William Adams Brown
comes Of the wealthy and socially prom
inent Brown family Identified with New
York banking circles for many years
and with the Rev. DR.. Charles H. Park
hurst's Church. As Prof. Briggs years
ago attacked the Pentateuch. Prof Nc
Giffert later and now Prof. Brown at
tack the Gospels, especially st. Johns
Gospel. The attack OF the Assembly at
Louisville. II attack come, is likely to be
upon the New York presbytery. A COM
mittee Of the assembly. appointed last
year to bring about better relations with
Union Seminary II possible, reported
at Louisville before the assembly ended.
Union Seminary holds no Official rela-
ton to the Presbyterian or to any other
church, and the Presbyterian Church has
forbidden presbyteries permitting candi-
dates for the ministry under their care
pursuing their studies at Union.
It Is charged that New York presby-
terry has lodged the rule by not making
men candidates. It knows them to be at
Union. and intending to come to It to be
licensed. But they are not candidates
and come only after they are through at
Union. CnueT TINS pLdLls anu Will WHAT
are charged to be Ienient examinations. a
stream Of ministers is going into the
Presbyterian Church from Union Semi
nary many Of them, so II Is charged. un-
certain in their beliefs in the Virgin
Birth. the bodily Resurrection OF Christ.
and the inspiration Of the Bible, save in
spots. A petition went up from vari-
Gus presbyteries TO Louisville to dissolve
the New York presbytery, and 50 pre-
vent the passage OF this stream.
Former Union Seminary professors who
wrote books and brought on heresy
charges, one OF them stirring the whole
country. were Prof. Charles A. Briggs,
now an Episcopalian, and the Rev. DR..
Arthur c. McGineTt, now a Congrega-
tionalist. Both were Presbyterians to be-
gin with, and both fought hard against
expulsion. The charge is openly made
that wealth and social influence are play
ing their part Presbyterian weeklles
are confining utterances to letters in pri-
vate the controversy is on in earnest. A
noticeable change Is in terms Formerly
the word ''heresy" was openly employed
Now the term used Is error"