Step Taken as Protest Against Action of Parent Church in Condemning Leaders of Fundamentalist Movement; McIntire Approves Move
The Presbyterian Church of America was instituted formally yesterday as a new and independent religious denomination. Ministers, elders and laymen took the step in Philadelphia in protest against what they declared high-handed methods of leaders of the parent Presbyterian Church of the United States of America.
The action came shortly after 3 p.m. when Rev. Dr. H. McAllister Griffiths, acting chairman and moderator of a meeting at the Century Club, Twelfth street below Sansom, said:
"I declare the Presbyterian Church of America to be the lawfully constituted church of the Lord Jesus Christ."
He was answered by a loud chorus of amens from the 200 assembled clergymen and delegates. Approximately 75 of the delegates, representing as many churches, indicated they will join the new denomination
Climax of Long Dispute
The decision to form the new church marks a climax in the dispute which has raged within the Presbyterian Church for more than a decade. Rev. Dr. J. Gresham Machen, professor at Westminster Theological Seminary, a leader in the movement named moderator.
Dr. Machen's election was unanimous, and followed immediately the formation of the new church by militant Fundamentalist ministers opposing Modernism.
Steps leading to the formation with its creed were set forth in a series of statements by Dr. Griffiths, editor of the Presbyterian Guardian and secretary of the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union.
McIntire Favors Action
Rev. Carl McIntire, pastor of the Collingswood Presbyterian Church, recently suspended by the General Assembly for failure to resign from the Independent Board of Foreign Missions, also spoke in favor of the dissolution.
The motion calling for dissolution was made by Rev. Dr. John B. Thwing, pastor of Knox Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia.
In the keynote address of the meeting by Dr. Griffiths the new group was compared to Luther's rebellion.
"We have always envied the martyrs of old their chance to die for Christ as a test of their faith," he said. "You will not be called upon to die, but you will be called upon to stand persecution. Undoubtedly they will hound us. When I say they, I will have no doubt you all know whom I mean.
"We are a minority so small that the world may laugh at us, and despise us, but we are more than a minority, we are a group that is needed. There is need in this pagan world of some force to oppose those who would say they are the sole interpreters of God's word."
Speaking of the principles of the Fundamentalists, he said:
"God is the Bible, and one can't be disloyal to the Bible and loyal to God. God's Word is superior to everything. There can be no neutrality. The man who stands neutral is against God."
New Sect Proposed
The resolution to dissolve the Covenant Union, and substitute a new denomination, with a name yet to be decided upon, was introduced by Dr. Gordon H. Clark, of the University of Pennsylvania. It was introduced on behalf of the Executive Committee.
The resolution read:
"In view of the fact that the efforts to reform the existing organization of the Presbyterian Church in the United States of America have failed and in view of the fact that the tyrannical policy of the present majority of the Presbyterian Church has triumphed as evidenced by the action of the General Assembly sitting as a court in cases Nos. 1 to 5, and in nonjudicial cases Nos. 1 to 8 and 10, it is now declared that the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union shall, upon adjournment of this meeting, cease to exist, and that the members of the Covenant Union are now free to carry on the true spiritual succession of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., in accordance with Section 2 of the Covenant."
Dr. Clark reported the Covenant Union last year had receipts of $16,285 and expenses of $15,934.
Member of Group
The list of those who are members of the new group follows:
Dr. J. Gresham Machen, of Philadelphia, moderator.
Rev. Paul Woolley, of Westminster Seminary, stated clerk.
Dr. H. McAllister Griffiths, editor of the Presbyterian Guardian.
Dr. David Freeman, of Grace Church, Twenty-second and Federal streets, Philadelphia.
Rev. Dean W. Adair, assistant at the Bethel Church, Nineteenth and York streets, Philadelphia.
Rev. Dr. Charles J. Woodbridge, secretary of the Independent Mission Board.
Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., president of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill.
Rev. Allan A. MacRea, of Westminster Seminary.
Rev. Edwin H. Rian, of Westminster Seminary.
Rev. John Burton Thwing, of the Knox Presbyterian Church, unaffiliated, Kensington.
Rev. Arthur F. Perkins, Meirill, Wis.
Rev. George W. Martson, Oxford, Pa.
Rev. Philip du B. Arcularius, Duryea, Pa.
Rev. Robert H. Graham, Middleton, Del.
Rev John P. Clelland, Wilmington, Del.
Rev. Robert Moody Holmes, Philadelphia.
Rev. Cornelius Van Til, Lianerch, of the Westminster faculty.
Rev. Luther Craig Long, New Haven, Conn.
Rev. Edward L. Wade, Windham, N.Y.
Rev. Kelly Grier Tucker, Port Kennedy, Pa.
Rev. Bruce F. Hunt, former missionary to Korea.
Rev. Clifford S. Smith, Bridgeton.
Rev. J. Mulder Koogers, Athens, Wis.
Rev. Robert L. Atwell, Harrisville, Pa.
Rev. Robert J. Vaugh, Chicago, Ill.
Rev. Samuel J. Allen, Carson, N.D.
Rev. Frank Hamilton, Ventnor.
Rev. Everett C. De Veida, New Park, Pa.
Rev. Ned B. Stonehouse, of Westminster Seminary.
Rev. Henry G. Welbon, Newark.
Rev. Leslie W. Sloat, Ridgeway, N.Y.
Rev. Peter De Riuter, Nottingham, Pa.
Rev. Franklin Dyrness, Quarryville, Pa.
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