The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1915-05-29
A SEMINARY WITHOUT
DOGMA.

|
The General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in the United
States is i'll session this week at
Rochester, N. Y. One Of the most
important matters brought before
it refers to the status of the Union
Theological Seminary Of New
York which heretofore has been
recognized as a Presbyterian in
stitution.
1t seems that this Seminary has
departed from the straight and
narrow tenets of Presbyterianism
to such an extent as to make some
action on it's theological standing
necessary by the General Assem-
bly,. The report of a special com
mittee appointed to investigate
the matter was read by DR.. Mat
thews Of Seattle in which occurs
the following paragraphs:
"The institution today desires
no formal or informal relationship
with the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church of the United
States; feels no. constraint to
teach Presbyterian doctrine any
more than that of any other de-
nomination; gives no preference
to Presbyterian students. The
seminary is very glad to retain
friendly relations with the Pres
byterians or any other church that
will furnish students and accept
the finished product of the SEM
mary. pat,l
The, directors and the profess
ors who are connected with the
Presbyterian Church are very
glad to sit in the judicatories and
be members Of the board of the
Presbyterian Church, but they do
not feel under obligation to teach
or promote the teaching Of Pres
byterian doctrineain Union Theo-
logical Seminary. In brief, Union
Seminary, in teaching, spirit and
by direct and formal act, has
ceased to be theologically III any
sense a Presbyterian institution as
distinguished from any other de-
nomination"
In advocating the adoption of
the report DR.. Matthews charged
that the seminary authorities have
acted false to their moral, theo-
logical and legal trusts by obtain
ing money from Presbyterians for
the maintenance of an institution,
which, he says, does not conform
to the standards of the Presby-
terrain Church. He charged that
s., 1862 800 has accrued to the sem
mary, much of which was OBJ
tanned Ill response to an appeal
based on the ground that the in
Istitution was entitled to the fnan.
cial support of Presbyterians on
the claim that it taught the doe
trines of that church. DR.. Mat
thews said that the legal return
! of the money was not desired.
In a word, the Union Theolog-
zeal Seminary repudiates its al
legiance to the Presbyterian
Church and hereafter will teach
such a diluted form of Christianity
that it's graduates will be able to
fill pulpits in any Protestant de-
nomination and preach acceptably
to the people of that particular
Esect. It is hardly necessary to
point out that this will necessi-
tate the abolition Of all definite
dogmatic teaching except the So
called fundamentals of Chris
tianity. The religion of the Sa-
viour will be remodelled to suit
the trend of twentieth century
Professionalism and all Of the
hard sayings " Of the Gospel will
be eliminated with a view to har-
monizing their religious activities
This man-made creed must suffice
to satisfy the spiritual needs of all
who accept the leadership of the
graduates of this institution The
latitude of the Union Theological
Seminary towards dogma shows
the trend Of the sects in general
which is away from all dogma
land, logically, away from all
moral principles that derive their
sanction from the unchanging
truths taught by the Incarnate
God.