Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-06-03

Baltimore, June 2-(P)-An open
break between fundamentalists and
liberals occurred at the close of the
13Sth general assembly of the Pres
byterian church in the United States
Of America today when DIR. Clarence
Mccartney, fundamentalist leader. is
sued a statement saying that coali-
ton of modernists and others had
brought the assembly to "a terrible
climax"
An attempt to introduce the state
ment as resolution before the as
sembly by a floor commissioner, was
defeated. as this constitutes new
business, and Moderator Thompson
pointed out that the constitution for
bids introduction of new business SO
late.
The statement had been circulated
hardly more than an hour, before DIR.
A. Edwin kegman, chairman of the
assembly's committee of Overtures,
issued a fiat denial of DIR. MacArt-
ney's statements.
Asserting that "our church is rap
idly drifting away from it's historic
and fearless witness to the truths of
the reformed church." DIR. Mccartney
said he hoped it would serve to
awaken Presbyterians to this fact.
He added:
1.-THE complete and sweeping VIC
tory won in this general assembly by
the coalition of modernists. indiffer-
entists and pacifists, and which
reached a terrible climax in the re-
pudiation of DIR. J. Gresham Mac
Hem for them chair of apologetics in
Princeton Theological seminary will
prove blessing in disguise"
The Machem case referred to re-
garded the decision of the assembly
in postponing approval of the seat
ing of Prof. MacHem until after a
committee had investigated charges
of ''temperamental undergraduates
against him, and the condition of at
fairs at the seminary.
THE extraordinary events of this
general assembly," DR.. Mccartney
continued" will awaken the great
number in our church who think all
is we'll with the Presbyterian church
and will unite in solid ranks all those
who are determined to stand for our
precious and bloodbought inheri-
lance"
DR.. Keigwin chairman of the as
sembly's committee on .overtures
which recommended the action taken
by the assembly, said DIR. Mccartney
must have spoken in excitement and
entirely misinterpreted the facts"
Far from being the result of any
coalition" he said" the actions of
this assembly were clearly due to a
speedily growing spirit IN the. church
which demands unity and reason
able liberty with the limits of our
constitution. The assembly is made
up of an overwhelming majority of
men of conservative views who stand
unhesitatingly for the historic die
trines and of Presbyterianism.
This is clearly shown by the report
of the special commission of 10. The
assembly, did not repudiate DIR. Ma
chem at all. 1t merely approved the
appointment of committee of yisi-
tation which is to inquire into differ
ences known to exist at Princeton,
but in no sense involving theological
questions.
1T agreed that is the members of
the faculty at Princeton are thor
oughly orthodox men. 1t has been so
stated in assembly without being
questioned. The church is not drift
ing at all, but it is merely re-affirm-
ing Its historic position and its I'M
deviating witness to the truth as
taught in the scriptures"
San Francisco was selected as the
site of the 1S9th assembly next year.