Evening star., 1924-01-12
1880 PASTORS HIT
PRESBY1ERY RULE
Formally Protest Dictum OF
General Assembly That
Scriptures Inspired.

AUBURN, N Y, January Eff
teen hundred Presbyterian clergymen
have united in formal protest
against the dictum of the 1928 gen
eral assembly that the Holy Spirit
did so inspire, guide and move the
writers of Holy Scripture as to keep
them from error" and have signed
their names to a statement which,
they profess, is for the purpose of
uniting the whole Presbyterian fol-
lowing in the work of saving the hu-
man race. The statement, in part, fol-
lows:
by its law and its history the
Presbyterian Church in the. United
States of America safeguards the lib
erty of thought and teaching of it's
ministers At their ordination they
receive and adopt the confession of
faith of this church as containing the
system of doctrine taught in the Holy
Scriptures.
"This the church has always es-
teemed a sufficient doctrinal sub
scription for it's ministers. Manifestly
II does not require their assent to
the very words of the confession by
itself disclaims infallibility for it
self and earlier church councils in
the following words:
'NOt as InfallibIe Rlue."
IAN synods or councils since the
apostles times, whether general
or particular, may err, and many
have erred; therefore they are not
to be made the rule of faith or
practice, but to be used as a help
in both"
The formal relation of American
Presbyterianism to the Westminster
nc Sdtn nrr Of Cot =
adopting act of 1929. This anticipated
and provided for dissent by indi-
Etduals from portions of the con-
fession.
"Of the two parts into which our
church was separated from 1887 to
1870. one held that only one inter-
pretation of certain parts of the con-
fession of faith was legitimate, while
the other maintained its right to dis
sent from this Interpretation. In the
reunion of 1870 they came together
on equal terms, each recognizing the
other as sound and orthodox body
IA more recent reunion also is'sig-
niticant, that of the Cumberland
Presbyterian Church and the Presby-
terian Church in the United States
of America in 1906. This reunion
was opposed by certain members of
the Presbyterian Church in the Unit
ed States of America on the ground
that the two churches were not at
one in doctrine, yet it was consum-
mated. Thus did our church once
more eXemplify its historic policy of
accepting theological differences
within its bounds and subordinating
them to recognize loyalty to Jesus
Christ and united work for the King
dom of God.
Common Interpretation.
With respect to the Interpretation
of the Scriptures. the position of our
church has been that common to
ProtestantS.
Furthermore. this opinion of the
general assembly attempts to com
concerning the inspiration of the
Bible and the incarnation. the atone
ment, the resurrection and the con-
tinuing life and supernatural power
of our Lord, Jesus Christ We all hold
most earnestly to these great facts
and doctrines: we all believe from our
hearts that the writer's of the Bible
We're inspired by God; that Jesus
Christ was God manifest in the flesh;
that God was in Christ, reconciling
the world unto Himself. and through
Him we have our redemption. That,
having died for our sins. He rose from
the dead and is our everlasting
Savior; that. in his earthly ministry.
He wrought many mighty works. and
by His vicarious death and unfailing
presence He is able to save to the
uttermOSt.
Some of us regard the particular
of the General Assembly of 1923 as
satisfactory explanation of these facts
and doctrines. But we are united in
believing that these are not the only
theories allowed by the Scriptures
and standards as explanations of
these facts and doctrines of our re-
1igion, and that all who hold to these
facts and doctrines, whatever theories
they may employ to explain them,
are worthy of all confidence and fell
lowship.
I'VE do not desire liberty to go be-
yond the teachings of evangelical
Christianity. But we maintain that it
is our constitutional right and our
Christian duty within these limits to
exercise liberty of thought and teach
- Ing, that we may more effectively
preach the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Deplore Division.
Finally. we deplore the evidence of
division in our beloved church. in the
face of world so desperately in
need of united testimony to the
Gospel of Christ. We earnestly de-
sire fellowship with all who. like US,
are disciples of Jesus Christ We
hope that those to whom this affirma-
tion comes will believe that 1t is not
the declaration of a theological party.