The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-05-20

Jne controversy betweeN opponents OF
Union Seminary and the New York Pres.
bytery OF the Presbyterian Church has
been made more acute this year by the
action. a few weeks ago. of the New
York P~resbytery In licensing to preach
three Union graduates who refused to
affirm their belief In such important doc
trines rs tho virgin birth of Christ
and his bodily resurrection. The licens-
section Of the church.that the Cincinnati
P~resbytcry voted to ask the General
Assembly of the church. meeting this
week I'm Atlantic city. TO cut of the
New York Pre- sbytcry.
What In the essence OF the opposition
to Union Seminary and the men II
graduates? The question Is one of wide
and important concern to all church
men.
At the request Of THE SuH, the Rev.
John Fox. y. D., one Of the principal
opponents of the seminary. has written
an exposition Of the opposition's point
of view. DR.. Fox. who is secretary o,
the American Bible Society. asks that
II be made plain nat he has written
simply as a memb.r OF the presbytery
Of New York" Referring inquirers who
may wish more detailed information I,
two pamphlets, of which he Is the au-
thor ("Does the Presbytery OF New
York Need Visitation" printed in 1915,
aud "'Critical Scholarship Versus the
Bible" issued this year), DR.. Fox says
BY THE REV. JOHN Fox.
FIRST OF all, this Is not what a
famous soldier once said OF the larrn
| issue in politics, "a local issue On tn,
contrary. 1t IL brought to New York
and America from abroad. The advo-
Gates OF the higher criticism and the
new theology which really make the
substance Of the question. constantly
say that It 10 n world movement.
within limits they are right. There
has been growing In the word for the
best part of the century a movement
hostile to supernatural Christianity. Its
originators are mostly German and
Dutcn speculative philosophers M theo-
~logians. men of great erudition and
brilliant gifts. but who are convinced
that the Christian religion can be cx-
planned by the operation OF natural
forces and powers.
Germany has often led the world In
theological thought; sometimes for bet
ter. and this time for worse. \ whole
library OF literature has grown up OF
only in Germany, but now Ia England
and Scotland, where the seeds OF the
new notions about the Bible have taken
root.
young men from our colleges ant
I theological chools have gone to sit al
the feet of these masters and have OTTER
come back filled with the spirit of doubt
and dental. When they have not gon,
In tho flesh they have gone in the spirit
for European literature saturated witt
anti-supernaturalisn has fl.ed IN.
shelves and he lecture rooms of many
theological semin1ries.
says Originality Il Lacking.
Not an original idea $50 far as
know ever appeared in the Fresbyter,
OF New York 1t is all made in Ger
many or in Europe. This IL not said II
DISBURSEMENT OF the learning or cultur,
of the professors of the Union Seminary
but II IL "A simple matter Of fact tina
R.tschl and Harnack. for instance, an,
other German teachers have shaped tn
thinking OF some Of them. Harnack /
by no means the worst, but he Is IA
enough away from the old evangelical
position to make his name fairly usab h
as an Illustration.
The battle-ground has shifted from Tn,
New Testament to the Old Testament
from the Old Testament to the New
Testament, Just as the struggle In tn
trenches shifts now TO Belgium and nov
to the Nosges but II IL the same battle
essentially. II all reyolves. first OF al
about one question
lis the Il BILE a collection Of literature
more or less permeated with s~plritua
truth, but spotted throughout with error
not. only in minor facts but In the YER
auintessence OF its doctrines; or does |
from beginning to end ring with divin
authority in all its declarations?
1.-The churches Of God In all ages, tn
Jewish Church. the early Christian
Church, the medieval Church, believed
AND the great bulk OF our churches TO
day believe, the Bible TO be the word o
God throughout. Union Seminary vigor
ously denies this.
Among the two dozen or more Un!o'
students licensed during the last Ave o
Elk years one was found holding the oil,
theology. ] moved to license him. d.
Henry Sloane Coffin seconded the mo
ton with the remark But I am FIRE
to say ! am very sorry he II so ortho
dox.' Here you can see the real caus
OF division In the Presbytery.
THE attack on the virgin birth die
not begin In New York. There have al