The Washington times., 1925-05-27
CHURCH DIVIDED
ON VIRGIN
BIRTH
New York Presbyterian Mod
ernists Make Threats of
Revolt Against Rule
By HAROLD G. MCCOY.

I COLUMBUS, Ohio, May 27.-A
break in the Presbyterian Church
is certain if a majority df the
presbyteries support action of the
General Assembly in decreeing
that complete faith in the virgin
birth is essential to. licensure as
a minister of the church, Doctor
Sloan Coffin, New York modern
ist, declared here today.
Doctor Charles e. Mccartney,
former moderator, of Philadelphia,
issued a statement declaring that
the modernist would be compelled
to obey the decision.
Threat Of Dissolution
I'VE earnestly hope that the
Presbytery of New York, he said,
'will obey the order of the gem
eral assembly and cease to lionize
men who refuse to affirm the es.
sential doctrines of the confession
of faith.
II hope wiser counsel will prevail
in the ..Presbytery than was mani
tested by the extraordinary, and
seemingly defiant, actions of some
Il
Should the Presbytery Of New
York continue its unusual course
and defy the highest court of the
church, the law and Authority Of
the Presbyterian Church of the
United States of America viii De
'The PresByterians have never
been known as men who we're
intimidated by threats and who
have not sufficient courage to virdi-
cate the honor of their government
open defiance of the general
assembly could have no other issue
than the dissolution of the. Presby-
/ terry of New York"
Predictions were freely made that
the bitter threats Of modernist New
York leaders that the wealthy and
powerful metropolitan church would
break with the main church body.
would result only in vigorous pro.
tests by the modernists against the
/ judicial commissions ruling that
complete faith In the virgin birth Is
as essential qualification for licen.
sure as Presbyterian minister.
/ Modernist members OF the New
York group refused today to reveal
what decisions were reached at a
secret meeting of the faction held
at the Y: M. G. A. here.
i Doctor Charles r.. Erdman, who
/ attended the conference to urge
peaceful settlement Of church prob.
/ lens said today he had been
ipledged not TO divulge what tran
spired at the meeting. 80
Modernist members declared how
ever, that the New York presbytery,
battle-ground of the fight over moot
church tehets, would defy the gen
eraf assembly and continue to
license members without requiring
direct affirmation of faith in the
Virgin birth.
Church leaders, commenting on
the outspoken decision p of the
| judicial commission in the cele-
brated Gantz case In which the Vir-
/ gin birth was upheld, pointed out
! that the Presbyterian church was
the first evangelical church to
have courage enough to seek a
settlement Of the question"
Fears New York Break.
The commissions decision reman-
| ded to the presbytery for action
Reverend Doctor A. d. Gantz's com
plaint that two students had been
! licensed as ministers without being
required to make direct affirmat ton
of credence in the Virginia birth
| Church leaders were pondering
what action the New York Presby.
| terry could take to comply with the
ruling of the commission and the
F, general assembly.
1t was pointed out that the Pres
| bytery has no power to revoke the
license of ministers once ordained
except after conviction Of heresy.
1t was predicted that ultra fGnda-
mentalists who have been fight
/ ing the spread of modernist beliefs
in the New York Church would in.
stitute heresy charges against church
leaders as a test case.
Doctor Henry Sloan Coffin, chief
! of the. modernists and pastor
cf Madison Avenue Presbyterian
Church, New York City, has repeat
cdly and publicly denied his. faith
in the Virgin birth.
A statement by President John
Grier sHibben, of Princeton Uni
iverssty. given out here, irll which
he declared that If H. B. Van Dusen,
one of the licensed candidates, who
was alleged to have refused to af-
firm faith in the Virgin birth. was
not qualified for the ministry, he
was disqualified to be president OF
Princeton, caused much comment.