The Washington times., 1916-05-19
PRESDYTER|ANS MAY
BURY HERESY CHARGE
But Matter Crops Up as Confer
ence Elects Or. Marquis
Moderator.

ATLANTIC CITY. May ls.-The
smolderinR fires Of the New York Pres
! bytery controversy flashed out unex-
pectedly when the one hundred ana
twenty-eighth general assembly OF the
Presbyterian Church elected the Rev.
DR.. John A. Marquis. Of Iowa, as mod
orator.
Altho the bitter feeling over the
heresy charges against the New York
Presbyterians was not expected to
REV. DR.. W. I. McEwen. OF Pitts
burgh. as Or. Marquis opponent. un.
covered IT, charging that the ship OF
the church Is In danger OF being torpe-
sS Ssa oy Is facins sri., With teachers
Injecting poison into the minds OF
young men In their care.
Ruling Elder Not Eligible.
Before the balloting started the nues-
tion was raised whether a ruling elder
could be elected moderator. The Rev.
Dr William II. Roberts. the stated
clerk, found. after reference to the
constitution. that twice an attempt had
been made to make ruling elders ell
gibIe, and that in both cases the Pres
byteries had overwhelmingly defeated
the overture. There was strong move
to put up a lay candidate. the names OF
John wanamaker. of Philadelphia. and
mentioned as men the assembly would
like to honor.
when II was found that such nomi-
nation was not constitutional. the nomi-
nsSn, ssstp f. R se R SS mso nS%
OF Montreal Canada: the Rev. DR.. John
A. Marquis president OF Coe College,
Cedar Rapids. Iowa: the Rev. Or.
George L. Robinson. OF Mccormick
w. L. McEwen. pastor OF tho Third
Presbyterian Church. Pittsburgh.
New Moderator Born In Penna.
Doctor Marquis. who is fifty-one years
old and a native of Pennsylvania. be-
came moderator at once. receiving the
gavel from the Rev. DR.. J. Ross Steven
son. the retiring moderator and presi-
dent of Princeton Theological Seminary.
It Is not expected that the Cincinnati
synod's overture in which an investiga-
ton and discipline of the New York
Presbytery is demanded will come be-
fore Monday, and there is a belief that
the matter might not be brought out OF
committee at all.
An effort is being made TO smother the
question in the committee on bills and
overtures. which is to receive the COM
plant Of the Cincinnati synod.
A hint that this may be successful be-
cause of a desire of conservative mem
bers of the assembly to prevent bitter
outbreak was made In the sermon
preached by the Rev. DR.. ]. Ross Steven
son. the retiring moderator. Doctor
Stevenson Is chairman of the committee
which will receive the complaint.
Doctor Stevenson Is urging closer
unity Of churches to take advantage OF
the opportunity of quickened faith In
religion. brought by the war. urged har-
mony in this assembly
This was taken as a notice from DR..
Stevenson that any attempt to bring a
bitter fight on the floor OF the assembly
would be defeated II possible.
The controversy Is over the licensing
by the New York Prespytery OF, three
graduates of Union Seminary who are
said to have declared their unbelief in
the immaculate conception and other
basic doctrines OF the church. The Gin
cinnati synod is presenting a bill to the
assembly asking that the New York
Presbytery. with It's 100000 of church
property and annual contributions to
church work of more than $2.OO0OOO, be
cut off from the church.