The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-03-16


suit as yet. Union Seminary, famous
through the Briggs and McGiffert contro-
versies and always a storm center, was
started independently of any religious
body. 1t was helped by progressive Pres
byterians of the east, especially those of
New York and Brooklyn. and always held
to able scholarship and modern Views.
Sometime after the getting together of
the old and new school Presbyterians,
Union allowed itself to hold official rela-
tions with the General Assembly. Then
came the Briggs trials, resulting in Prof.
Chas. A. Briggs going to the Episcopal
church. and the seminary going back to
it's position of independence of any as
sembly control
Since Professor Briggs was at his prime
in Union there have arisen in Union pro-
fessors who are charged with biblical
criticism and modernist views said to be
far and away in advance of those held
by Professor Briggs. Indeed, the eminent
theologan whose name made the contro-
versy known all over the world, is now
classed as conservative. The Rev. DIR.
Francis Brown, who is Unions president;
the Rev. DR.. William Adams Brown,
professor, not related to the president but
coming from the wealthy Brown family
of New York and Newport, and Prof.
AllluI y. Alt1iiltlt, ilOW tOuSltSdtiUl1dl-
ist against his will, but no longer Pres
byterian because of controversy over his
writings, are the leaders not only in I'm
ion seminary, but also in the higher critic
circles of American theology
So far as can be learned, nobody seems
to think that Union seminary, its profess
sors or trustees, will change their instruc-
tion in the slightest particular. Union
has plenty of money, one of the finest
,1lr r.&e-
enrolment of students than ever before.
The question that came before the COM
mittees of seminary and assembly, at
their initial session, was not stated in
that form but was really whether the
Presbyterian church stands ready to take
in Union seminary as it is, higher criti-
cism to date and as it may be in years
to come. The feeling of some committee
members was, If their unofficial utter
arces are to be relied on, that perhaps
there has been theological wrangling
enough, and that the time for a peace,
any kind of peace, has arrived
The Presbyterian Stand
Conservative Presbyterians are saying
that IL stand for the Bible as it 10 and
for Christ as Lord and Saviour and not
as mere man, is ever to be made, now is
the time to make it. They declare they
are ready to fight to the limit. By their
opponents they are classed as old fogys
and out of date. They are said to be old
men in years and ways. The fact seems
to be. however, that there are two schools
of thought, in which are young and old
men. That a theological war is just
ahead is freely predicted Presbyterians
of both ways of thinking say they de-
plore war, that of the theological kind
most of all. but like the heroic Balkans,
they will take up arms if they must. The
stake is the Bible as it is, or as it may
be made over, man-made part striken
out, God-made part left in. The fight is
over what in it is man-made and what
God-made. Interest is intense throughout
the. country.
10000 Spiritualists in New York
Spiritualists find a long sought boon
in electricity for the fitting up of
seance cabinets and the photographing
of spirits. In their efforts to bridge
|'tEe gulf that separates exact science
from psychic science they are even
protecting the medium, preventing
when possible frauds by them, and en-
couraging people who possess medium
qualifications to develop them. That is,
educated mediums the same as educated
ministers. In this educational work
electricity is found to be long de-
sired help.
Spiritualists of New York and vlcin-
ity numbering about 10000, although
only about 1000 actually enroll in con-
gregations or societies, plan the erec-
tion of 100000 temple, located near
Central park, the chief feature of which
will be a psychic room, wherein Is to
be assembled such electric outfit for
spiritualist demonstrations as exist no.
where else in the world. About $4,000
is in hand already toward the perfect
temple that is to be. 1t is claimed that
,..1 I.
chic room is in use, the prejudice
against spiritualists will so disappear
that many of the 10000 now not en-
rolled members will come in and join
the societies.
There are about 100000 spiritualists
in the whole country, it is claimed. 1t
is also claimed by their leaders in
Washington, where is the national
headquarters, that within the past two
or three years marked progress has
been made in spiritualist demonstra-
tIons, and in enrolling in the societies
many who formerly remained out of
them. In way the proposed new New
York temple will be national In its
scope and work
Methodists' Higher Criticism
Methodists have on hand higher
criticism tempest that is altogether
too large and too fierce for the tradi- /
tiohal teapot. An attack has been made
upon publications of the Methodist
Book Concern which has headquarters
in New York and Cincinnati, and branch
concerns in Chicago and some other
cities Incidentally a book issued last
year by the Rev. DR.. George p. Mains, |
one Of the agents, is attacked. This
book sets forth. higher criticism of the |
Bible to date. and indorses to the limit |
the findings of the German critics, who |
lead everybody else to date in Biblical
criticism The book concern attacks
come from members of district confer |
ences. one of which has named COM
mittee to look into the character OIL
concern publications
Starting 25 years ago In Germany. |
and reaching America little later IN /
the famous Briggs controversy In the |
church, there has ragged 4 |
Biblical criticism controversy that at /
times has attracted marked notice. and |
at other times has been reported to be /
l. n.