The sun., 1916-08-28
THEOLOGIANS SPLIT
OYER CITY TEMPLE
London Pulpit Call to Rev. DIR.
Newton Of Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, Is Cause.

Religious weeklies OF this country and
England are divided on orthodox and lib
cral lines over the call Of the Rev. DIR.
j.. Fort Newton OF Cedar Rapids. Ia. to
the passionate Of City Temple. London
and It's acceptance by him.
The orthodox Christian Of London
charges sharp practices behind the call,
and protests In the name Of the Noncon-
formists Of England. while the Continent
OF Chicago. a Presbyterian liberal organ.
comes to the defence Of the Iowa Uni
yersaiist. saying he has a vital message.
Calls had been extended to and de-
clined by the Rev. Dr. Hugh Black and
the Rev. DR.. John Henry Jowett. both
OF this city, but both British by birth.
The Christian says:
announcement that a church meet
ing held at the City Temple had given
a unanimous invitation to an American
| liberal preacher to become the minister
OF the historic church will surprise no
one. We do not remember a case In
which a ministerial call has been so
obviously engineered by means OF skilful
newspaper paragraphs as this one. The
thing has been quite openly done. and
everybody knew what this newspaper
putting meant. And most people. we ven
ture to think. will estimate the cali at
its true value.
Evangeiical for 900 Years.
but there Is another side TO the mat
ter. The City Temple occupies a unique
position IN the Free Churches. II Is TO
Nonconformists what ~. Paul's is to
. z "a. ,.s. thap "a
local church. II vs. "A sounding board for
| Nonconformity. For nearly 800 years its
pulpit and that of its predecessor has
been evangelical. The ministry Of Dr.
Parker was famous throughout the world.
Mr.. Campbell provided a disastrous inter-
Jude with his vaearies. and In the end
left the Congregational body.
Free Churchmen as a body have some
rights In city Temple, The Church has
a trust deed. The question is whether
the building II to become the home of a
liberalism which is akin to Unitarian
ism, or whether 1t IL to remain a great.
broad evangelical centre. And 1t would
be we'll TO know how many persons in
vited Or. Newton to the pastorate 4;
whether these are representative
OF the Free Churches or whether they
represent "A clique OF people determined
to enthrone liberalism at this centre"
Built IN Iowa Conversation.
The Continent explains that the Rev.
Or. Newton. who IL not Yet 40 years old.
built up n large Cedar Rapids congrega-
ton. and concludes that to do so he must
have a more vital message than IL
thinks Universalists are supposed 10
have.
II explains h la an element In City
Temple. London. disappointed AZ not
getting either the Rev. Dr. Black or the
Rev. DIR. Jowe;t. saw newspaper notices
OF the Iowa preacher and called him on
the basis OF them.
Other religious wcek.ies In England
and this country are charging II To lie
a part Of a liberal propaganda that is
using summer engagements to get liberia
men into orthodox pulp!ts. and by suct
means permanently locating some o.
them. while In the vacation season get
ting In as much liberal theology as pos
sible.
The puipi. OF CITY Temple Is REGARDED
as one OF the greatest in the world. 4
feature - weekday sermons. after n,
manner Of Trinity. Grace n othel
churches In this city. including the Br!cl
Church in Fifth avenue.