PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGY.

Auckland Star, Volume XLIV, Issue 282, 26 November 1914, Page 4

PRESBYTERIAN THEOLOGY.

PROF. DICKIE'S TEACHING. CHARGE NOT PROVED. A MINISTER CENSURED. (By Telegraph .—Press AaaodaUonO DUNEDIN, Wednesday. This afternoon, at the Presbyterian General Assembly, the charges made by he Jttev. P. B. rrascr againat Professor Jickie were lurthcr investigated. The Rev. P. B. Eraser, said he had •eason to believe, and publicly affirmed ,hat Professor Dickie's teaching and tho theology he recommended were subversive oi the fundamental truths of the 3hurch- At last assembly a report waa brought up regarding the studies of an extra-mural student. When the Theological Committee's report was before the' assembly he "gave" a ""hint that he intended questioning the action of the professor in setting a particular course of study before the extra-mural student. The assembly passed a resolution expressing its entire confidence in the professor, and without calling on him (Mr. Fraser) for a rep' . This matter had been.before them for two years. He had waited in the hope that possibly Professor Dickie would take an opportunity on the opening of Knox College to deliver himself upon the situation. Professor Dickie hnd hinted that he (Mr. Fraser) might have written to him privately. If he had entered into correspondence wjtb Professor Dickie it would have been said that be had sought to worm out of him his position, and then had brought libel on top of it. Mr. Fraser went on to explain that in order to preserve his liberty and to appear before them as a free minister, be had within eight days of returning home from the last assembly, resigned his position of superintendent of Home Missions. As editor of the magazine which be controlled he made use of its pages to put the matter a little more clearly. He had sent a copy to Dr. Erwin and one to Professor Dickie. He was going to compel the professor to explain why he had said Professor Brown's manual was the best in the English language, and why he gave it to the students to learn theology out of. That was bis position. ' Professor Dickie rose at this stage and said that what he had said was that Professor Thos. Brown's book was in some respects the best recent manual book on theology. He added that Mr. Fraser's habits of quotation were well known, and resumed his scat amid partially suppressed applause. j Mr. Fraser proceeded to quote a num- j ber of opinions relative to Professor Brown's theology. He then prepared to read those written by one of the pro- j lessor's students, which, he explainedhe had come by. in a perfectly lawful I way. It gave an idea of what the students were discussing, and how the professor dealt with the question. | Several members demanded that the J student's name be given. Mr. Fraser said be was not prepared to give the name. .The assembly decided, by 83 votes to 37. that Mr. Fraser should give the name of the student. Mr. Fraser declined to comply with this decision, and. this,, concluded his case. Dr. Ciibb moved: That the assembly affirms that the Rev. Mr. Fraser has signally failed to substantiate his asserj tion that Professor Dickie's teaching was subversive to the faith of the Church and appoints a committee to consider and report as to the effect to be given to the finding by the assembly, in view of circumstances." He said that MrEraser had not advanced one tittle of evidence in support of his charge. Professor llewitson seconded the motion. The motion was carried. A committee set up to go into the .matter reported as follows:—"The General Assembly in view of its finding that the Rev. P. B. Fraser has signally failed to substantiate his assertion that Professor Dickie's teaching is subversive of the faith of the Church, records its regret and displeasure that Mr. Fraser should, without justification, have aspersed the theological soundness of an honoured teacher and disturbed the peace of the Church, disregarding the procedure laid down in the Book of Order. The assembly enjoins upon Mr. Fraser to refrain from such diversivo courses, and to pursue paths that make for peace and edification in the Church." Mr. Fraser said he wished respectfully to state that the assembly had no power to compel him to close his mouth as to what he might say outside. He would bear witness to his own'conscience and convictions, a* he had a right to do. The assembly not only had refused to hear Imb evidence, but had forced him into the position of accuser, and he claimed the right to say what be believed to be the truth. Dr. Gibb said he wished to state in friendliness that there was such a thing as contumacy, and the assembly had power to deal with it.