Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-05-22
DR.. LYONS AVERTS
MODERNISM ROW
At SAW ANTONIO

SAN ANTONIO, Tex, May 20
(By the Associated Press. 1.-The
Presbyterian church in the United
States apparently has passed safely
over it's first encounter with the
system Of Biblical Interpretation
known as modernism" it's sixty
fourth general assembly in session
here having declined to be drawn
into a controversy through an of
fetal act.
A simple, straightforward reaf-
firmation Of the fundamental faith
of the church as set out in its con-
fession Of faith Is the present entry
on the records Of the assembly. In
| at least one more problem must
the issue be faced, however, and that
| Is on the question of withdrawing
support from the mission school of
Marking, China, some teachers in
which have been charged with mod
ernistic earnings. This issue will
missions committee is presented.
Amendments to the rules of dis
cipline were adopted to give the
church courts more discretion as to
the manner of inficting censures
and to remove antiquities.
Discipline in Church
! The idea of the discipline OF the
church was expressed in this para
graph:
ITO make prominent the idea that
the church is a family and every
member presumed to be a true mem
Der of the household. The discipline
therefore, should be that Of the fam
lily and not of the state, and it is
important to put emphasis on dis
| cipline in the general sense of nur
ture, instruction, training and sym
4 pathetic guidance and that in jul
dicial discipline the spiritual gooc
of the offender and the spiritua
welfare and sense of the church
should be the ready aim of the whole
process along with the Vindication Of
the honor Of Christ"
Another rule of discipline was
made when the assembly added the
suggestion that when judgment Is
pronounced on the offending party
the judgment in the form of a sen
tence shall be made public. Hereto
fore this matter has been left to the
discretion Of the assembly, but the
addition Of this rule will make the
announcement of sentence in pub
lie .. regular church procedure. The
suggestion to strike out certain
paragraphs concerning the church!
attitude as "acCuser" toward thu
accused" was defeated because o
the belief that some provision il
certain language should be made il
the book of church order for those
who have seriously offended agains
the church.
Trial Procedure Outlined
Concerning the restoration Of min
listers, the assembly voted that grea
caution should be exercised, as Otter
mistakes are made in restorin;
power to those who have provel
their inability or undesirability.
Methods of procedure in case o
trial, appeal and complaint wer
definitely outlined in the amend
ments suggested and adopted re
garding the legal transaction O
| church business.
The floor generalship Of the Rev
J. S. Lyons, of Atlanta, perhaps di'
more than anything else to crysta,
lie the sentiment of the asSembl,
and kept it from going far afiel
on the modernism question. Whel
the committee on bills and overture
proposed that the assembly declar
itself on ten fundamental principle
taken from the confession of faitl
the Rev. Lyons Immediately oppose
the action on the ground that
would plunge the church into tn
swirl of a controversy that ha
brought disaster on other churches
and he at once presented a subst
tute for the proposal which wa
adopted.