The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-05-21
UNION SEMINARY
PRESIDENT BITTER
IN MAKING REPLY
Difficult to Keep Temper When
He Thinks of Sensa-
tional Report
CONTROVERSY IS
BROUGHT TO CLOSE
On Motion Question Of Hercsy
Goes Over to Next Year.
Committee to In
vestigate

controversy which, for the past two
days. has been rife within the ranks
of the Northern Presbyterian assem-
bly, regariing the Union Theological
seminary. of New York, was brought
to sudden close late this afternoon.
with the adoption OF a motion by DR..
Mark A. Matthews. that committee
of seven be appointed to investigate
the charges Of heresy against the
seminary, and report at next years
meeting.
DIR. Matthews proposal was ac-
cepted almost unanimously by ris-
ing vote. Immediately after the ques-
ton was settled. the commissioners
Joined in singing Praise God from
Whom All Blessings Flow
This action was taken in the inter-
est of harmony, after an acrimonious
debate in which the temper Of the as
sembly was evidently against Union
seminary and its alleged teachings.
Defends the Faculty.
DR. Francis E. Brown, president OF
the seminary, spoke for two hours in
behalf of the faculty and directors.
DIR. Browns manner was almost defi-
ant. and this was plainly resented by
a majority of the commissioners
The substance Of his speech was
that the seminary considers itself an
institution separate from and inde-
pendent Of the asse mbly: that 1t will
pursue its own program without dfctA-
ton from the assembly, and that +
the assembly does not approve this
program. then negotiations looking to
of relations between
the assembly and the seminary might
as we'll he terminated.
He remarked, i'm the course OF hin
reply to DIR. r. G., Monforts sensA-
tional charge, made Monday after
noon, that the seminary Is teaching
Hindu philosophy under the gnise Of
Christianity. that the charge is untrue,
and unfair. and that he found Il ex-
tremely difficult to hold his temper
when he thought of 1t. He again re-
minded the assembly that the SEMI
nary was not present on its motion:
but that the whole procedure was
initiated by the assembly ITO invite
us to friendly conference, an4r. then
to meet US on your threshold with
that report, would be like using
club on your guests" said DIR. Brown.
He grew bitter when he came to COM
ment on the arraignment Of William
Adams Brown. professor of systematic
theology in the seminary.
That criticism was most unjust and
luawarranted." declared President
Brown. Professor Brown is one OF
the most ardent, earnest and sincere
Presbyterians In this assembly, and
so to attack his religious principles
was cruel. and not supported by any
evidence. Terms were used that never
should be used by one Christian in
reference to another Christian, or to
any human being.
THAT reference, too. to Hindu
yAh a al Nr, q 90 Acf =
simple trayesty. / find Ii most DIM
cult to be calm at this time. / don't
want to lose my temper, but such un-s
just and unsupported charges have
been hurled at this seminary that re-
straint il not wholly possible.
Stories Are Scurrilous.
I'm regard to- the students going
forth from our seminary, l want TO
deny the scurrilous stories which have
gone forth about the country. There
Ia not single man from the semi
nary who has been licensed by pres
hytery. who has denied his belief in
the atoning work Of Jesus. the resur-
rection Of the Lord, and the other
fundamental doctrines concerning
which we have been accused of lack
of faith
In conclusion, DIR. Brown told the
assembly, frankly, that the seminary
preferred the negotiations to termi-
nate.
The debate continued all afternoon,
the sentiment of the assembly being
plainly against the seminary Finally
DR.. Mark Matthews. after confer
ence with the leaders OF both factions.
introduced his motion for a special
committee to consider the seminary
question. and report, next year, and NJ
was carried.
The feature OF the United Presby-
terrain assembly was the adoption. lAte
this afternoon, of resolution intro@
duced by Professor John A. Wilson.
who occupies the chair OF Church his
tory in Pittsburg Theological semi~
nary. calling on the president Of tho
United States to forbid teachers tn
government schools to wear reliEiOua
garb Of any kind whatever. Th14S
resolution was drawn especially tNs
attack the practice OF Catholic priests
and nuns wearing their Karb IN g0x@a
eminent. especially Indian. schools II
RELATIVES OF VICTIMS or
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