The New York Presbytery and Dr Fosdick.
—”The Presbyterian” makes the following comment on the disloyal action of the above Presbytery and the Union Seminary (New York) in connection with this controversy:—”At its meeting on November 17, the Presbytery of New York decided to maintain Dr Fosdick in the Presbyterian pulpit until March 1, 1925. This means that although Dr Fosdick refuses to qualify as a lawful physician, he is authorised to pour his poison into the Presbyterian body for the next three months. At its meeting on November 10, this same New York Presbytery received into its membership a man who openly avowed disbelief in most of the essential doctrines common to historic Christianity as well as being sacred to the Presbyterian Church. This is decided and open rebellion to the Presbyterian Church, and rebellion designed to take the life of the Church and destroy it. The centre of all this rebellion is Union Seminary, and the members of its faculty and the officers of its board are in control in the Presbytery of New York. This seminary some years ago rebelled against the Presbyterian Church and withdrew.”
Rebellion in the American Presbyterian Church.
—Just now the Presbyterian Church, says “The Presbyterian” (Philadelphia), seems to be the object of special attack. Dr Fosdick, an outsider, has challenged the last General Assembly. It required him to take the vows and become a minister of the Presbyterian Church or withdraw from the Presbyterian pulpit. He refused to take the vows, but decided to remain in the Presbyterian pulpit until such a time as met his judgment. The session of the First Church has defied the Assembly by sustaining Dr Fosdick in his decision. The public press reports that the pastor of the church declared that Dr Fosdick has stuck by them, and they will stick by him. The New York Presbytery has put its endorsement on all this, and so is in a state of rebellion and supporting rebellion. These rebellious efforts on the part of a majority of New York Presbytery have been answered by complaints to the Assembly, and it is widely reported that the modernists in the Church will use every effort to have their men elected as commissioners to the coming General Assembly, with a view to reversing all former deliverances of the Assembly which are against them.”
Dr Moffatt’s New Translation of Old Testament.
—Dr Moffatt, in continuance of his effort to make the Bible speak to us in modern English has followed up his translation of the New Testament by his recently issued translation of the Old Testament. Dr Moffatt is a man of extraordinary learning, which unfortunately he has used in the service of the Higher Criticism to such an extent that even Dr Dods viewed him as too daringly advanced. At present he occupies one of the chairs in the United Free Church College, Glasgow. His new translation has met with a mixed reception. Those who have higher critical sympathies hail it as a great work, while those who are out of sympathy with these views are disturbed by Dr Moffatt’s treatment of the text and other indications in his translation that point too surely in the wrong direction. While Dr Moffatt has tried to make the Old Testament speak to us in modern English, his attempt even in this direction cannot be said to be a success.