The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1925-05-16
"MODERNISTS SEEK
CONTROL" BRYAN
Comnloner Says GeDerd Assem-.
by Must Curb Liberals
Big CONTEST LOOMS

William Jennings Bryan, a leader
Of the fighting Conservatives of the
Presbyterian Church In the U. 8. A.,
believes the tine has come for the
church to crush ultra Modernism. The
Commoner Is a vigorous opponent Of
Fosdickism, and he sees peril In the
action Of New York Presbytery in ad-
mitting men to the Presbyterian min
istry who deny the Virgin Birth and
other fundamental doctrines of the
Confession Of Faith.
AS a commissioner from the Presby-
terry Of Southeast Florida, Mr.. Bryan
will take leading part in the fight
to discipline the New York Presbytery
when the General Assembly convenes
In Columbus, o., next week.
"The issue is really not between
two kinds Of Presbyterians, but be-
tween two kinds Of Christianity"
Mr.. Bryan says. "The Christ whom
the Modernists preach Is not the
Christ Of the Bible. He Is merely a
man. born Of human father and still
In the grave. The Modernist Christ,
being merely a man. is lost among q
multitude Of teachers, many Of whom
would be preferred by the Modernists
on account of their superior education,
for Christ was un-lettered, according
to John and His disciples.
The difference between the Bible
Christ and the Modern Christ Is in
finite.
The Modernists have worked sec
reilly to obtain control Of the various
church organizations, but they've
never dared to ask any church to az
firm any position they hold. And they
do not dare today to set forth what
they believe openly and candidly. DIR.
Harry Emerson Fosdick does not
dare to state his attitude on any dis
puted point" ...
do you think there is danger that
the action Of the last General Assem-
bly, against DR.. Fosdick will be over
turnedr' Mr.. Bryan was asked.
"Not IL the rank anf fle Of the
church are on their guard" he replied.
There 10 no doubt that an overwhelm-
Ing majority Of preachers and laymen
Of the Presbyterian Church are be-
lievers In an inspired Bible and In q
supernatural Christ. and take Il for
granted that 30 long as the contro-
versy lasts the Presbyteries VIII see
to Il that the men who represent them
In the General Assembly will be in har-
mony with the Presbyterian orthodox
views"
why should an orthodox Presby-
tery select a Modernist to misrepre-
seut themf'
Mr.. Bryan said the Modernists
should be rebuked because the mo-
ment the Master IL reduced to the
stature Of q man-and that n what
the Modernists make of Christ-He
ceases to be q pers0p Of Importance"
Those vho believe In the Bible and
m a supernatural Christ" he contin-
ued, "feel that the life of the church
Ia At stake. They rightly insist that
the majority who are still believers
should dominate the church and pro-
tect II from the assaults made upon
IN spirituality and tn influence.
sDr. Fosdick Peaks Of modern
terma,' new ways of thinking a new
day and Of modern study but he
does not say that the new way Of
thinking dfscards the Virgin Firth,
the Atonement, the miracles and the
Resurrection This evasion OF the
real issue II not only unfair but II II
q confession of real weakness.
IF the Modernists were to announce
four proposftions-ve believe that
Christ was the son Of Joseph. that He
had no special missiou, such as atom
ing mans sin, that he performed no
miracles, and did not rlse from the
dad they could not marshal a cor
porar's guard Of followers.
-Honesty requires that the Modern
ists should state their position frankly
and candidy, a. the Conservatives
state theirA- This, however. the lead
ers Of the Nsw York Presbytery re-
fuse to Do.