Gordon Clark: [New Sect Formed By Presbyterians After Secession] (The Philadelphia Inquirer)

1935. [New Sect Formed By Presbyterians After Secession]. The Philadelphia Inquirer. Jun 6.

Fundamentalists Launch Own Denomination; Way Paved for Others

A new denomination, the Presbyterian Church of America, was formally launched yesterday afternoon by a group of members of the fundamentalist wing at the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

Thirty-three clergymen, 15 of them from this city and its environs, and 16 elders renounced their connections with the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. and affiliated with the new organization.

A brief statement of doctrine, to serve as a basis until a more complete statement has been approved, was adopted unanimously and Rev Dr. J. Gresham Machen, head of Westminster Theological Seminary, this city, and the central figure in the fundamentalist-modernist controversy of the past several years, was elected first Moderator of the first General Assembly of the new organization.

The new denomination, long predicted, was created at a convention of the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union, held at the New Century Club, 124 S. 12th st. Upon the organization of the new group, the Union voted to dissolve and the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of American immediately convened, and will remain in session until Sunday night.

Makes Third Group

In addition to the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., which has some 2,000,000 members and 10,000 ministers throughout the country, already in existence is the Presbyterian Church in the U.S., usually referred to as the Presbyterian Church, South.

Declaration of Principles

"We do solemnly declare (1) that the Scriptures of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, the only infallible rule of faith and practice, (2) that the Westminster Confession of Faith and Catechisms contain the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scripture, and (3) that we subscribe to and maintain the principle of Presbyterian Church government as being founded upon and agreeable to the Word of God," the statement of doctrine said.

'All persons, before they shall be ordained or received as ministers or ruling elders or deacons, shall subscribe to the foregoing statement."

The names of several men prominent in the fundamentalist cause were not included in the list of those who have affiliated with the new denomination. It was explained that in many cases special reasons had compelled them to delay their secessions and that they might act later.

Clergymen who immediately joined the Presbyterian Church of America were:

Rev. John Burton Thwing, pastor of the Knox Presbyterian Church, 2216 E. Cumberland st. This congregation had previously severed its connections with the parent denomination.

Rev. Bruce F. Hunt, of this city, a missionary to Korea.

Rev. Dean W. Adair, assistant pastor of Bethel Church, this city.

Rev. Dr. Charles J. Woodbridge, general secretary of the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions.

Rev. Ned B. Stonehouse, assistant professor of Westminster Seminary.

Rev. George W. Martson, of Oxford, Pa.

Rev. Franklin Dyrness, pastor of Chestnut Level Church, Quarryville, Pa.

Rev. David Freeman, of Grace Church, 22nd and Federal strs.

Rev. Paul Woolley, professor of church history at Westminster Seminary.

Rev. Kelly Grier Tucker, of Port Kennedy, Pa.

Rev. Robert Moody Holmes, of Faith Church, 68 st. and Lindergh blvd.

Rev. Cornelius Van Til, of Lianerch, Pa.

Dr. H. McAllister Griffiths, editor of the Presbyterian Guardian.
Rev. Allan A. MacRea, assistant professor at Westminster Theological Seminary.
Rev. Allan A. MacRea, of Westminster Seminary.
Rev. Edwin H. Rian, secretary of Westminster Theological Seminary.
Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr., president of Wheaton College, Wheaton, Ill.
Rev. Luther Craig Long, New Haven, Conn.

Rev. Edward L. Wade, of Windham, N.Y.

Rev. Clifford S. Smith, of Bridgeton, N. J.

Rev. J. Mulder Koogers, of Athens, Wis.

Rev. Robert L. Atwell, of Harrisville, Pa.
Rev. Robert J. Vaugh, of Chicago, Ill.
Rev. Samuel J. Allen, of Carson, N.D.
Rev. Frank Hamilton, of Ventnor, N. J.
Rev. Everett C. De Veida, of New Park, Pa.
Rev. Henry G. Welbon, of Newark, Del.
Rev. Leslie W. Sloat, of Ridgeway, N.Y.
Rev. Peter De Riuter, of Nottingham, Pa.
Rev. Arthur F. Perkins, of Meirill, Wis.

Rev. Philip du B. Arcularius, of Duryea, Pa.

Rev. Robert H. Graham, of Middleton, Del.

Rev John P. Clelland, of Wilmington, Del.

About 250 persons, fewer than half of them women, attended the meeting at the New Century Club. About 45 clergymen were in the gathering. Dr. Griffiths serves as temporary moderator until the election of Dr. Machen, who was at one time a member of Princeton Theological Seminary

Score Present Church

Following the dissolution of the Presbyterian Constitutional Covenant Union, the first action taken was formally to constitute the new denomination "to maintain what we believe to be the true spiritual succession of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A., which we hold to have been abandoned by the present organization of that body."

The General Assembly was then constituted and the statement of doctrine was adopted unanimously. It was agreed that the roll of charter members of the new denomination shall be kept open to receive the names of those who may affiliate later.

While details of the organization are still to be acted upon, Dr. Griffiths said elders of congregations now in the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. will continue as elders in the new denomination, but their active exercise of the office will depend upon whether the new congregation elects them.

Can't Take Property

At another point, Dr. Griffiths expressed the belief that the General Assembly will provide that title to physical property will be held by the individual congregations. There was applause at this point, and it was explained that congregations withdrawing from the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A. cannot take the property with them.

Dr. Machen was nominated for the office of moderator of the General Assembly by Dr. Gordon H. Clark, of the philosophy department of the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Clark referred to the secession as "a complete severance from a corrupt and apostate organization," declared that "no Christian of this age has been so slandered and maligned as Dr. Machen" and lauded him as a Christian, scholar and gentleman.

Mr. Woolley was elected stated clerk of the General Assembly, also without opposition.

Attack on "Heresy"

Dr. Machen presided at a session in the evening at which Mr. Rian and Mr. Woodbridge were the speakers.

Mr. Rian, after sketching the history of Presbyterianism from the 16th century, urged that the new denomination strengthen, rather than weaken, the Calvinism of the Confession of Faith, that it merge with no bodies with confessions other than of a reformed nature, that it "root out heresy" and that it "shun complacency and self-righteousness."

As general secretary of the Independent Board for Presbyterian Foreign Missions, Mr. Woodbridge criticized operations of the official Foreign Mission Board of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S.A.

The Independent Board, which functioned in rivalry with the official board, was the focus of the final controversy which led to the secession.

"Some of us are sure to endure physical suffering for our stand for the Gospel," Mr. Woodbridge said. "Some of you already have experienced it. Some are losing their church buildings and their salaries."

Business sessions will be resumed this morning and a mass meeting will be held tonight at Spruce Street Baptists Church, 50th and Spruce sts.