The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-05-17
UNION THEOLOGICAL
DECLARED UM0RTH0D0X
Committee of Presbyterian General
Assembly Takes Action According
TO "Blue Book"
ALSO READ OUT OF CHURCH
Speculation Rife as TO Probable Effect
of Action Upon the New York Pres
bytcry--Lons q Storm Center.

New York, May 16.--Union The
| illogical Seminary of this city, storm
center for many years, has peen read
out OF the list of orthodox institu-
tons by a committee of the Preshy-
terrain General Assembly. This in
formation reached New York in what
is called the Blue Book issued for
use of commissioners to the assembly.
The same committee also read the
seminary out of the Presbyterian
Church.
This action has been reported be-
fore, but until the arrival of the book
names it had not been known that the
committee had read the seminary out
of the list OF Christian seats of sound
learning. Speculation Is widespread
now about the probable effect of this
action on the New York Presbytery,
and the course the forthcoming as
sembly may take toward ii.
Two Wears af Task.
The committee was named by the
Presbyterian General Assembly. and
Is composed of ciergymen and lawyers
who have spent two years at the task.
The committee was named to find out
whether there might not again be Of
icial relations between the Presby-
terrain Church and the seminary The
committee quotes from an official
statement made to 1t by the president
and secretary of the seminary d..
rectors. This statement sets forth
what the directors affirm Union
Seminary professors teach and Is.
therefore. officiaI IL is long and after
Ii Is finished the directors say they
do not regard II as a statement OF
doctrine.
whereupon the committee brings
this indictment:
There IL no mention by the Union
Seminary directors of the Bible as the
supreme and final authority in the
illogical controversy: no mention of
the virgin birth of Jesus; no mention
in particular that Jesus offered Him
self as a sacrifice to satisfy Divine JUS
tice and to reconcile us to God, no
mention of the body resurrection Of
Christ. nor of the working of miracles
by Him: all of which were declared
BY the assembly OF 1910 to be essential
doctrines OF the Word of God and the
Presbyterian standards.
1T has been cause of disturbance
and distress in some parts OF our
church" the committee continues,
that graduates of Union Seminary.
seeking ordination, have been exceed
| ingiy vague in their belief, or frankly
! agnostic or openly unbelieving con-
cerning these particular doctrines
which are declared TO be- essential
and necessary.
| Answers 10 the Defense.
/ The Blue Book" relates how Union
| Seminary, in a second statement. says
/ students who are not grounded in
| Presbyterian standards do not go be.
fore the Presbytery to be examined,
| and the contention is made that some
Presbyterian ministers have actually
been saved by the orthodox teachings
| OF Union Seminary, This statement
the committee treats with disdain,
I'm spite Of such contention many
graduates of Union have revealed
doubts in examinations that have
caused serious concern to great
number of devout and intelligent min
listers and elders"
! Authorities at Union Seminary re-
fused to comment on the Blue Book
report, The report WAS handed to DR..
Francis Brown. president of the Union
/ faculty, on Saturday and none of the
! professors or others of the faculty
! have had time to study II in detail.
II was declared. however. in behalf
OF The seminary, that the committee
report is an ex parte statement of
: those members of the General Assem-
: bly, who have opposed Union since the
! Briggs case. twenty years ago. In
support of this contention II was
pointed out that the report itself
makes no recommendation to the
General Assembly, hut simply attacks
wantonly the graduates and professors
of the institution.
The BLUE Book" report will prob
ably be considered at the meeting OF
the General Assembly of the Presby-
terrain Church in Rochester on Thurs
day. The report may be received and
no action taken upon il. The seminary
| will make no formal defense against
the report, but It's side of the meeting
may be presented through its friends
! in .ha aaxAnahly