New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-05-16
Retiring Moderator Censures 1t
for 0rdaining Ministers Who
Doubt Divinity of Christ.
POLITICS GETS FINAL BLOW
The Rev. DR.. Stone, Dark
Horse" Elected Moderator
Plans for Union Opposed
by DR.. Matthews.
lBy Telegraph TO TIE Tribune.

Atlanta, May l5.--At the opening OF the
10Th annual meeting Of the General AS
sembly Of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States Of America here this fore
noon, the retiring moderator. the Rev.
DR.. Mark a. Matthews. OF Seattle. made
what was considered an attack on the
fresbytery of New York because Of its
ordaining to the Presbyterian ministry
young men. graduates of Union Theo-
logical Seminary, who did not believe in
the Deity Of Jesus Christ.
Ecclesiastical politics. as practised in
connection with the election of the pre-
siding officer OF the assembly during
recent years. eceived death blow this
afternoon when the Rev. DR.. John Tim
othy Stone. of Chicago. was elected mod
orator over four other formally announced
candidates for this honor. Not even DR..
Stone himself had received an intimation
that he was to be nominated for the
office, the idea being conceived by the
Rev. DR.. W. r. King. of Mon
mouth. Ill.,. and his nominating address
was seconded by W. T. Ellis. editor
afield OF The Continent" which has been
making an editorial fight against the
recent political practices at the annual
meeting of the assembly. DR.. Stone was
elected on the second ballot over the four
other candidates, whose names were
given in these dispatches last night.
Would Reject the Doubters.
The retiring moderator. I'm the opening
address this forenoon. in treating the
theme. THE Victories of Faith vs. The
( Failure Of Unbelief." said:
I'VE should change the ground OF our
objections to candidates for the ministry
who doubt or deny the Deity OF Christ.
They ought 10 be rejected not alone be-
! cause they doubt or deny per Sc the Deity
OF Christ. but because their denial is
prima faCie evidence that they have
never been regenerated No regenerated
man can doubt or deny the deity of
Christ. because you cannot doubt that
which you know. and cannot sincerely
deny that which is 10 you living. per-
sonal fact. No unregenerated man should
be permitted TO preach"
Or. Matthews said that the Church is
not performing its mission. and that ii is
playing at the business which has really
been assigned to IT, for, said he. ARE We
not merely recitlng essays and delivering
sermoneites with musical attachments?
Are We no, In a perfunctory way barter
ing in charity? And is II not true that
many Of us have been dealing In occult
isms and blasphemous vagaries?"
The speaker condemned the practice Of
the Church by which new organizations
have been added to the Churchs pro-
gramme. claiming that too much time
had been spent In manufacturing ma
chinsry This last attack is supposed to
have been directed toward the policy Of
the Board OF Home Missions. He claimed
that the elders OF the local churches are
not doing their duty. and that they are
disregarding their ordination vows by re-
fusing 10 visit the people In their homes
and urging them to deeper consecra-
ton. DR.. Matthews also refused to ac-
cept the plans which are now being made
FOR the union Of the various branches Of
the Presbyterian Church. claiming that
they would lead 20 nothing more than
mechanical organic union"
lie further claimed that the Church
should dlsarm the nations of the world
and make further war between them inn
possible by practising more virile faith.
The Rev. DR.. John Fox. secretary Of
the American Bible Society. arrived here
to-day from New York. and has already
begun the marshallng of the conserva-
tive forces OF the assembly for the fight
which he has been preparing to make
against the Union Theological Seminary
and which he hopes 10 nave come before
the assembly during the early part OF
next week.