The New York herald., 1922-10-20
PRESBYTERIANS SEE
SPLIT OYER FOSDICK
Recent Raising of Issue by
Church Authorities in
Philadelphia.
PLACE SOLIDARITY FIRST
Pastors Rally to Defense Of
Baptist Minister Who
Was Attacked.
PLACE SOLIDARITY FIRST

Distress was manifest among New
York Presbyterians yesterday for fear
that what already is being called "the
Fosdick case" may result in formation
Of distinct groups among conservatives
and liberals for the first time in the
history of the local church.
Regret was expressed by various
leaders that the Philadelphia Presby-
terry should raise the issue contained
in its complaint to the General Assem-
bly, that the preaching and teaching at
the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church,
were DIR. Fosdick fills the pulpit. should
be required to conform to the West
minister Confession of Faith.
Even among pastors Of conservative
leanings here intrinsic merits of such
an issue were deemed less important
than maintenance of church solidarity.
Pastors avowedly liberal, who vig-
orously upheld DR.. Fosdck in refusing
to accept the Virgin birth and other
portions of the Scriptures as historical
fact. were one IN attributing to the
Philadelphia meeting "a fundamental
blunder of thinking"
steered on Question.
Both schools of thought. according to
one pastor, automatically had seen to it
for years that the question was not
raised because of what he called the
bootlessness of the controversy. He in
dicated there are few thanks here to the
Philadclphians for raising II now.
Likelihood that the implied attack
upon DR.. Fosdick might develop into a
parallel for 'the Briggs case" OF thirty
years ago was secuted generally DR..
Fosdick is a Baptist. as one churchman
views it, and therefore not within the
jurisdiction of the General Assembly.
Furthermore. in the sermon Shall the
Fundamentalists VIM" on which the
complaint presumably was based. 1t was
held he had stated no beliefs of his own.
but rather put forward view of current
beliefs with plea for their toleration
The culpability Of DR.. Fosdick's own
beliefs, from Presbyterian viewpoint
therefore remains TO be proved, this
pastor said.
Such criticism of Dr. Fosdick as de-
veloped here yesterday was based upon
his having projected Baptist dispute
into Presbyterian ranks and for his
having gained it undue circulation by
Issuing the sermon in pamphlet form tc
invite discussion.
DIR. Van Dyke to Defense.
DR.. Fosdick found warm defender
yesterday in the Rev. Tertius Van Dyke
d. D.. son of DR.. Henry Van Dyke. pas
tor of the Park Avenue Presbyterian
Church, Park avenue and Eighty-fiftf
street Dr Van Dyke said. l.
mo one who knows DR.. Fosdick per-
sonally or as writer or preacher takes
any stock in the attacks that have beer
launched upon him by few persons. II
is significant that these attacks come
not from his own congregation or stu.
dents but from those who misunder
stand a sentence or phrase when lifted
from it's context. / believe that II his
critics would read what DR.. Fosdick has
written on prayer and faith and i'm
mortality and the life of Jesus Christ
| with honest minds any sincere question
| in their minds would be answered.
'He is Of vital importance to the
| church to-day because he breaches not
on dead issues but applies the Gospel tc
the needs of the present age. Any Ell.
deavor to interfere with his preaching
even on the part of those who. hold diff.
ferent personal opinions. can only arise
I from failure to comprehend his spirit
and purpose"