Evening star., 1924-05-26
PEACE MOVE TAKEN
BY PRESBYTERIANS
Assembly Pledges Itself to Outlaw
ing War Through Christian
Justice.
WORLD COURT rs FAVORED
Won d Give Those Who Must Fight
Voice on, Hostilities.

tion pledging itself ito the outlaw
ing of war and to the fastening of
the day when nations shall learn to
war no more''
The resolution was adopted after
efforts to amend it to provide an
agency to crystalline the peace senti-
ment had been beaten. An amend
ment to insert In the resolution a
sentence dedicating "the full sup
port of members of the church to the
nation should the country become In
volVed In war" was overwhelmingly
defeated
The resolution set forth that the
church refuses to believe that the
wholesale slaughter of human be-
any more necessary to mans highest
aeveIopment than is killing by the
individual" 1t sees in war "a def
nit mite Challenge to the followers of
cne prlnee or Peace" and invites the
determined effort to devise such com
piete machinery for peace as shall
insure the settlement of all inter-
national controversies by reason in
stead of force"
Favor World Court,
ITO this end" the resolution con-
tinues, I'VE favor participation by
our nation with other nations In tbe
Court Of International Justice and
the submission for judicial s...,a
ment or the arbitration Of disnnte.
an ana tne Investigation, before a resort
70 arms. of all differences which can
not be adjudicated or arbitrated. re-
dtins destins the right to control our own
aestlny and to determine whether or
i'ot .,r and when we shall declare war
me moral influence of our nation
ana the confidence of other nations in
OUT oisinterestedness, compel us to
dsf,nit suMe leadership in and take a
worid peace. We should endeavor to
secure joint agreement for inter-
national disarmament and also for a
referendum on war, except in case of
threatened invasion. We claim that
those who are asked to fight and bear
the burdens of war should he consult
ed before this sacrifice is requested
of them.
Hope Only in Christ,
We solemnly assert that the teach
lngs of Christ furnish the only basis
ana hope of permanent peace, and
earnestly appeal to all branches of
the Christian Church to unite in
bringing mankind to an acceptance of
Him in order to establish a universal
brotherhood founded on righteous
ness, justice and peace"
The resolution enjoins upon the
together with the ministers and mem
bers, to do "all in their power to
accomplish this purpose, which we
believe to be in accord with the will
of God. and in harmony with the
teachings of Our Lord and Master"
William Jennings Bryan, vice mod
orator, declared that the resolution
went further toward peace than any
other church or organization. The
nation has always had machinery for
war, he said, but lacks a machinery
for peace.
An effort to amend the resolution
to provide for preparation or sunday
school lessons to emphasize peace
was withdrawn In the race or con-
siderable opposition.
Asks Anti-War L .aEue.
Rev. NJ. v. Oggel of Chicago sought
unsuccessfully to amend the resolu-
tion with a provision for an anti
war league" fashioned along lines
similar TO the AntiSaloon League.
The resolution was prepared by
special subcommittee Of the COM
mittee on bills and overtures after
consideration of nearly a dozen over
lures and memorials.
Definite indications OF the possi-
bility of a reunion Of the two groups
of Presbyterians in this country was
seen today in an announcement that
DR.. Thornton Whaling. moderator or
the Presbyterian Church in the United
States (South), will pay a friendly
visit tomorrow to the general assem-
bly, 1t will be the first time mod
orator of the southern church has
ever visited the assembly OF the par
That DR.. whaling's visit may
strengthen the cause OF the funda-
mentalists was indicated last night
A ar
orator of the assembly here. He said
that the greatest barrier heretofore
TO reunion of the two groups mas
been "a suspicion on the part OF the
southern assembly or the ortnoooxy
Of the Northern Church.
Step Toward Union.
"The greatest step toward union"
Dr. Mccartney said. would be an act
of the assembly here rebuking un-
belief in such a manner as to leave
no doubt as to the evangelical posi-
tion Of the Northern Presbyterian
Church"
This statement was regarded as an
indirect allusion to the Fosdick case,
the most important matter, in the
opinion of many commissioners. now
remaining before the assembly. Dr.
Mccartney, leader of the ultra -funda-
mentalists, is directing the hght 70
compel the New York Presbytery. In
which Dr. Harry Emerson Fosdick
breaches, to remove DR.. Fosdick as
nastor. A report from the New York
Presbytery, generating DR.. Fosdick,
a Baptist, from charges OF alleged
heresies, Is expected to precipitate
the conflict between the fundamen-
talists and the modernists.
Refuse Peace PrOffers.
In this connection many commits
sfoners regarded as Significant the
refusal OF the fundamentalists to ac.
cept proffers of q peace conIerence
Fountain Street Baptist Church by
DR.. William P Merrill OF New YORK,
prominent figure among the modern
lists, DR. Merrill proposed meeting
of twelve men from each taction TO
discuss the entire matter, with a view
to ascertainins ume Just how osernists en
pressed themselves as believing
meeting would reveal that the two
factions are closer together in their
basic views than has been indicated
heretofore.
conference would be of no benent
The issue, he said, Is clear cut and
has developed to q point where the
assembly itself must make its deci-
sion.
It no longer is question of
whether DR.. Fosdick expressed here
sizes when he preached his sermon.
''Shall the Fundamentalists Win?,"
DR.. Mccartney said. The question now.
he declared, is whether the New York
Presbytery can defy the assembly by
refusing to remove DR., Fosd1ck from
the First Church pulpit.
Only two things, in the view of the
fundamentalists. can prevent drastic
action by the assembly in the Fos-
dick case. One is that DR.. Fosdick
subscribe to the Presbyterian Con-
fession of Faith and become an or
dained Presbyterian minister; the
other is that the New York Presby-
terry remove him from his pastorate