The Detroit times., 1915-05-08
Ousting of McAlfie
from Mission Board
Cause of Trouble
VICTORY FOR FOES
OF SOCIAL SERVICE
Leaders True to Ideals
of big Business"
IT'S Said
BY THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.

by The RELIGIOUS HAMblEH.
A bombshell has been thrown into
the Presbyterian church In the u. s.
A. by the sudden ousting of the Sec
rotary OF the Board Of Home Mis-
sions. Joseph Ernest McAfee. who
has been personally notified by the
president OF the board. the Rev.
Wilton Merle Smith. that the board
will not re-elect him to q secretary
ship,
The dropping Of a secretary, more
or less. is In itself a small matter;
but this particular case 10 recog-
nized by all sides as the crisis in a
conflict OF two powerful forces
which are contending for control OF
the Presbyterian denomination. On
one side IL extreme conservatism
reactionism is the name its oppo-
nents give it-which processes to be
jealous for orthodoxy and evangel.
lsm and on the other Is the pro-
gressive element In the church
which favors social service. rural
| church conservation, and co-opera.
ton with other denominations.
The outcome will be struggle
In the general assembly, which
meets this month in Rochester, that
may possibly be more serious than
the great contests over revision OF
the creed or union with the Cumber-
land church. For two years past
the affairs OF the home board have
kept the denomination in q turmoil.
II was thought that a compromise
had been effected by the dropping OF
Charles Stelzle and his department
from the board.
The mutterings throughout the
church over the loss Of Stelsle. who
was responsible for the introduc-
ton OF the social service idea into
all the leading denominations. and
the rapprochement OF the church
and the workingman. had not died
down before this second radical &C.
| ton was taken.
For McAfee has been the fore.
most personality in effecting work
| ing cooperation OF the various home
mission bodies OF North America.
He has spoken audaciously-for a
board secretary-about the waste OF
mission money in foisting competing
| churches upon small communities
| Nor has he minced words In point
| ing out the wickedness Of promot.
ing UNCONVENTIONAL rivalry at the
expense OF Christian efficiency and
cooperation. Likewise, he has ad-
vocated the approach OF the church
toward the great social problems of
the time. including the industrial.
Thus he, like Stelzle, has incurred
the antagonlsm OF that element In
the church which attacks what II
says are tendencies toward social
ISM" and which insists that the
church must adhere strictly to
preaching the simple gospel" All
innovations for reaching the masses.
such as the Labor temple. In New
York city, are resented by this wing
Of Presbyterianism.
The ugliest phase OF the matter
is the allegation. openly made by
the social service men. that II is
not real for evangelism or ortho.
doxy that animates the leaders who
have at last got" McAfee and
Stelzle. but devotion to the old
ideals OF big business"
They point out that the two most
relentless foes OF social service In
the Presbyterian church. Or. VII.
ton Merle-Smith, pastor OF the fash.
ionable Central church, New York
city. and Dr.. Maitland Alexander,
the present moderator OF the gen
eral assembly and pastor OF the
First church, OF Pittsburgh. are both
wealthy millionaires." they
say-and allied with corporate In.
terests which are opposed TO having
the church Identified with the cause
OF labor and social unrest
The most vigorous attacks upon
the social service phases OF the
home boards work have been made
b va small paper published in Phil.
adelphia, THE Presbyterian" which
by q small paper published in Phil
ganda by little group of wealthy
and conservative Presbyterians
Mrs. William Thawr the mother OF
Harry Thaw. was long the principal
contributor to THE Presbyterian s"
maintenance, but since the heavy ex-
penses OF the famous trials, IL has
been necessary for others to co.
operate. II Is reported In Presby.
terian circles that Or. Maitland
Alexander, who Is connected by
marriage with the Jones-Laughlin
Steel works, OF Pittsburgh, is now
one OF the financial hackers OF The
Presbyterian"
simultaneously with this crisis in
the Presbyterian church's admins
tration OF home missions has risen
another. in a way related 10 II. Sec.
Rotary McAfee has stood, publicly
and radically. for the most advanced
form Of comfy and cooperation. He
has startled many congregation
by his stigmatism of the sins OF
overchurching In small towns, and
- ~o~~Alv<~ v>S~.t~a &~~A. u~>~>s-