New-York tribune., 1919-03-18
Professor at Union Theo-
logical Seminary Must
Face Church Inquisition
Sympathy for
Lenine Is Alleged
Defence Is That He. Merely
Asked Suspension of
Judgment on Soviet

Bolshevsm has caused schism in
the Methodist Federation for Social
Service, of which the Rev. Harry +.
Ward, professor of Christian ethics in
Union Theological Seminary, is the
head and front.
Professor Ward will undergo an in
QUESTION ordeal on Monday next at the
weekly meeting of the Methodist
preachers, at $50 Fifth Avenue
Professor Wards critics hold that
he is an 'upholder of Bolshevism and
an apologist for Trotzky and Lenine.
The professor, in effect, says that he
never has taken any stand one way or
the other on Bolshevism; that his mind
is open, and that all he has said or
written is practically to ask that judg-
ment be suspended on Trotzky and
Lenine until the evidence is all in.
When asked yesterday about the
coming session before his brother
clergymen on Monday next, he said:
at is not true that am an apologist
for Bolshevism. / have rot taken a
position on the subject. | am open
minded about it, and ask that judgment
be suspended until the evidence is all
In. | protest against the interprcta-
ton placed upon my words by various
opponents. My views have been greatly
distorted. / shall state my case before
the preachers meeting on Monday
next"
Clergymen Oppose Views
Asked if his views were shared bv
the members of his federation-such
men as Bishops F. J. Mcconnell and
bishop Herbert Welch - Professor
Ward said:
II have not heard from either of
the bishops you mention. Nor have |
sufficiently canvassed the members of
the federation to know how they stand
ward me-"
prominent, Methodist clergymen are
cut in the open against Professor
Ward, and will be on hand at the meet
ing next Monday to ask him questions.
The Rev. DR.. Daniel Dorchester, for
twelve years professor of economics in
Boston University, where until a year
or two ago Professor Ward occupied a
teaching position substantially like the
one he now holds in Union Theological
Seminary, said yesterday that he was
opposed to Professor Wards attitude
toward Bolshevism and Socialism.
In discussing Professor Ward DR..
Dorchester said:
professor Ward is purely and SIM
ply a Socialist and agitator. He is not
an economist. He never has had sound
economic groundwork for his theories.
The Methodist Church never will follow
him in his socialistc propaganda.
Quotes Wards Writings
"In The Christian Advocate Of Feb
ruary 20, 1919, in a statement signed
by him mself, Professor Ward in defining
the 'Bolshevist Rule had this to say:
"'The aim of the Bolsheviki is clear
ly the creation of state composed en-
tirely of producers and controlled by
producers. This is manifestly a Scrip
tural aim'
Il vehemently protest against any
such definition coming from an in
stitution allied with Methodism. There
is nothing about Bolshevism that is
scriptural. Bolshevism is a gigantic
conspiracy against the peace of the
world
I'VE have on record the testimony
of the Rev. George A Simond, of the
Methodist Church, formerly at the
head of our missions IN Petrograd;
Ambassador David Trancls. and of
John Ward, labor leader of the Bri-
tish Parliament. They concur in say
ing that Bolshevsm is a conspiracy
against the peace and orderly govern
ment of the world. Many Socialists
have assumed that labor is the sole
source of value, but economists have
demonstrated that labor is only one
of the several sources of value Cap
talism has been an essential factor in
business progress and, despite it's linn
itations and evils, it is better than
any substitute in sight
Justification of "WiId Theories"
There is running through Pro-
fessor Wards bulletin, with its ex-
parte presentation and literature, an
explicit justification of the wild the
ories, loose reasoning, and frenzied
desires for a social revolution, by
violence if necessary, which are so
hurtful to the cause of labor and
dangerous to society"