New-York tribune., 1921-10-17
Church School
Staff Accused
OF Radicalisnl
Presbyterians Again Stirred
by Charges of Stevenson
Against Labor Temple
and Courses for Aliens
Names Durant and Abbott
Resenfs Socialist and Friend
of Emma Goldman Being
Sponsored, Attorney Says

Members of the Presbyterian Church
in this city again are engaged in con-
troversy regarding the management
and direction of the Labor Temple
School at 239 East Fourteenth Street,
which is supported by the New York
Presbytery.
The latest difference of opinion. it
became known yesterday, has arisen
from letter written September 20 by
Archibald Z. Stevenson, a lawyer, and
member of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terian Church, to the New York Pres
bytery, assailing the program of
courses to be given at the school dur
Ing the fall. MIR. Stevenson caused q
discussion last December when he pro-
tested against the use of church funds
and property for the dissemination Of
what ne termeed "non-P Presbyterian and
un-American doctrines"
Mr. Stevenson says his sentiment
represents that of number Of min
listers and elders of the church who
hold the view that the school Is teach
Ing socialistic and radical ideas out of
keeping with the tenets Of the church.
Critic Called Grumbler
According to the Rev. Henry Sloane
Coffin, of the Madison Avenue Pres
byterlan Church and president of the
Church Extension Committee. which.
together with the Home Missions Com,
mlttee, conducts the Labor Temple .
activities, Mr.. Stevenson is a Chronic
grumbler" and has not properly con-
sldered the facts
+. B. Chaffee, director Of the school.
says he does not believe Mr.. Steven
sons protest is representative and that
1t Will receive less consideration from
the Presbytery this year than his at
tack of last December.
In his letter, which, it is said, vir-
tually has been ignored by the Presby-
terry, Mr.. Stevenson crticizes the ex-
tension committee for the selection of
certain speakers, including Leonard D.
abbott viii Durant, George Soule,
Carl Van Doren and Spencer Miller ir.
1T would appear from this selec-
ton" says Mr. Stevenson's letter,
that the committee in charge still be-
lieves that the interests of the church
can be advanced by the employment of
men whose views on religious political
least, unorth odox
at may also be questioned whether
a school conducted by the persons
named in the Labor Temple announce
ment can be Of useful service in bring
ing the ideals of this government and
of the Presbyterian Church to the
alien population which that center
serves"
Refers to Emma Goldman
Mr.. Stevenson then describes Mr..
Abbott as an intimate friend of Emma
Goldman and Alexander Berkman, both
Of whom have been deported to Russia"
OF the other speakers to whom he OBJ
5ects, Mr.. Stevesons letter says, IN
part: "Whether Mr.. Soule should be
chosen as a mouthpiece for the Presby-
terians in this city may be determined d
by a consideration of his point of view
as expressed in the closing paragraph
Of his book, "The New Unionism, "
which gives very clear statement of
the object of new unionism to be the
seizure Of industries and the setting
of a Socialist commonwealth IN place
Of the government of the United States
"The selection of Carl Van Dorer
as the expositor of American ltera
ture, and Spencer Miller jr. to con
duct classes in the history of civiliza
ton, indicates the determination o.
your committee to select only teach
ers who entertain advanced views or
social and economic questions; tn,
former being an editor of The Nation,
a weekly newspaper which has con
stantly espoused the cause of all groups
who have opposed the government ant
the present social order, while thu