New-York tribune., 1919-04-24
Minister-Author Is Partially
Vindicated by Committee
After Charges Of Favori1g
|. W. W. and Bolshevism
Warming Issued to Editors
Church Conservatives Seek
to Carry On Fight and
Cite His Leaflets

The Rev. Harry F. Ward, professor
of Christian Ethics in Union Theologi-
cal Seminary, and the active head of
the Methodist Federation for Social
Service, whose book on the relation Of
the church toward social living caused
severe criticism by the conservatives
of the Methodist Church, has been
partly vindcated by the Book Com
mittec of the Method Church. At
the meeting of the Committee in Gin
cinnatti, whose official action will be
announced to- day, the Book Committee
reviewed" the action of the publish
ing agents Of the Methodist Church,
and reinstatcd the books blacklistcd by
the agents.
While this gives Dr.. Ward a clean
bill with his brother Meth odsts, so
far as one set of books is concerned
the committee cautioned the editors,
In general charge Of publications.,
against publishing articles which
might be interpreted as favoring Boil
shcvism or kindred theories.
IL against Lcnlnc
DR.. Wards printed Conclusions" in
bulletin issued by the Federation for
Social Service with reference to Boil
shevism, in which he said that the
"aim" Of the Bolshevik rule was
"scriptural," provoked n clash. on
March "a he made an address before
the Meth odist Preachers meeting at
the Book Concern in Fifth Avenue. in
which he disavowcd BoTsnevism Of the
Levine and Trotzky kind. Powerful
friends, including Bishop +. J. Nc
Conncll, aided him in his battle for a
restoration of his books to their
former standing. The action Of the
Book Committee removes the ban from
his graded lesson books, used by the
Sunday Schools OF the Methodist
Church, the Methodist Church South,
and the Congregational Church.
But there is more trouble brewing.
The conservatives are using against
Dr. Ward his alleged friendlicss to the
l. w. w. and similar organizations.
They cite the action of the propaganda
league of the !. w. W. in Boston, which
adopted set of resolutions commend
ing Dr.. Ward for his friendly attitude
toward the l. w. W., and the record
Df. Nard mas printed IN ono OF his
books, "The Labor Movcment,' in which
the following question and answer are
cited:
Question from an audience in Bos
ton)-Do you still advise us to obey
the law, or are we to join with the
man who said: 'To hell with the law"
Opposed Unjust Laws
Answer (By DR.. Ward)-It is q very
different thing to take a general at
titude toward all law and all courts
and to refuse to obey an unjust court
and an unjust law. l would never ad-
wise any man to obey any law or any
court which he believed TO be unjust
The conservatives in the Methodist
organization are wrought up over the
fact that DR.. Ward has promulgated
statement to the officers, members and
friends Of the Methodist Federation
for Social Service, in which he outlines
what he would like to do "for busy
preachers, teachers, writer's and social
workers." as follows:
Let them know the important things
that the Labor, Socialist, |. w. ". and
Non-Partisan League papars are say
ing.
"Give them the gist Of important re
ports on social and industrial matters
as soon as they are issued.
Summarize from time to time the
general unrest and particular local de
velopmcnts.
occasionally cndeavor to interpret
situations or movements in the light
of social teaching of Christianity"