Evening star., 1925-01-04
NEW WAR STARTED
UPON MODERN|STS
Presbyterian Fundamental
lists Urge Delegates Pledged
: to Historic Doctrines.
special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK. January 3.-Funda-
mentalists in the Presbyterian Church
who brought about the resignation of
Or. Harry Emerson Fosdick as spe-
cial preacher in the First Presby-
terian Church, have begun anew their
battle against modernism.
In a letter signed, among others,
by the Rev. Walter b. Buchanan, pas
tor of the Broadway Presbyterian
Church, and sent to clergy, elders
and Iaymen throughout the country,
members of the faith are urged 10
deal another blow at modernism and
select such commissioners to the
general assembly of 1925 as will be
loyal to the historic position of the
Presbyterian Church"
The letter declares modernism is
widespread, insidious and perpleX-
ing" because it Is using "old and
familiar words in expressing new
theological opinions"
Undermining of Christ.
Nevertheless it is evident that the
attack is against the Inspiration of
the Scriptures. a belittling or denial
Of the deity of Christ, His miracles.
His sacrificial atonement. His resur-
rection and ascension to the right
hand of God and His return at the
end Of age TO judge the world.
These essential doctrines of the
word of God and the Presbyterian
Church are being assailed not only
by those who are without the pale of
the church, but by some who are
under VOWS to sustain and propagat"
these doctrines We believe this crisis
calls for immediate and united ac-
ton
Advance proofs of an editorial to
be. printed this month in the Presby-
terian Advance. published at Nash
vile, Tenn, contain excerpts from
reply by the pastor of a church west
OF the Mississippi.'
Charges Church Politics.
In my Christmas mail" the pastor
wrote, comes this new and terrible
letter from eight men of the East
asking my renewed interest in a new
sort of war against modernism and
my personal interest at once pull
ing the wires 50 as to secure the
right kind of men at the next gen
eraI assembly, This is the worst let
ter that ever came into my mail. It
Is wicked beyond my power to de-
scribe. l have never known more
cruel church politics than this
o.. Here we are, thousands of US, not
caring for either extreme in this sort
OF conflict. but pulled into a new war
=
no doubt will have enough following
to make the war certain if not merry"
The eight men of the East" whose
names were signed to the general
letter included. in addition to DR..
buchanan, DR.. Albert Dale Gantz,
pastor of the First Presbyterian
Church of Williams Bridge; DR.. J.
Gresham Machen. assistant professor
of New Testament literature and exc
a
nary; DR.. Ford c. Ottman, pastor of
the First Presbyterian Church, Stam-
ford, Conn; Rev. John F. Carson,
pastor of the Central Presbyterian
Church, Brooklyn; DR.. Maitland Alex
ander pastor of First Presbyterian
Church, Pittsburgh; DR.. A. Gordon
MacLennan. pastor Bethany Central
Church, Philadelphia, and Rev Frank
b. Simmons.
All are prominent fundamentaIists
Views on Scriptures.
SDr. James Z. Clarke. editor of the
Presbyterian Advance, declares in ad-
vance proofs of the editorial that
there is no crisis in the church, but
merely a difference of opinion con-
corning the correct Interpretation of
Certain Scripture teachings, and men
are properly claiming their right as
Protestants to interpret Scriptures
for themselves"
Writers of the letter. DR.. Clarke
continues, propose to hold mass
meetings to stir up the passions and
prejudices of all who can be reached
and then to effect a partisan line
up in every presbytery and so carry
the seeds of discord and division
down into all the churches Can any
one defend such a proposal as Chris
tion in spirit or dignified and law
abiding in it's method of procedure? q?
1t more nearly resembles the reck-
less rush of the mob that is de-
termined to lynch somebody, though
no one knows just who is suspected,
much less who is guilty