CHURCH CONTROVERSY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21618, 10 October 1933, Page 14

CHURCH CONTROVERSY

CASE OF DR. ANGUS

CHARGES AND REPLY "I HAVE NOTHING TO FEAR" The decision of the Presbyterian General Assembly of Australia to refer the case of Dr. Samuel Angus back to the Presbytery of Sydney, with instructions to make a thorough investigation into his theological teachings, says "Presbyterian" in the Sydney Sun, can be interpreted as an intimation that tho Presbytery of Sydney should have attended to its own business. The writer says: "It was on a motion of privilege by Rev. Dr. Mclntyro that tho Sydney Presbytery appointed a select committee to confer with Dr. Angus upon his theological beliefs, and upon accusations arising out of alleged statements in certain addresses he had delivered. It was suggested at the time that the effect of this move would be to transfer tho whole question from the presbytery to tho wider court of tho General Assembly of New South Wales. When the select committee conferred with Dr. Angus—according to the report presented later—he answered every question fully, frankly and without evasion. The Principal Charges "Briefly, tho main charges against Dr. Angus were that he did not teach .Jesus according to the doctrine of the Presbyterian Church; that the theology as set out in his books was contrary to Presbyterian belief; that statements in his addresses implied a disregard for tho Atonement; that his belief was that Jesus died ais a martyr for great principles and not for tho sins of the world. Dr. Angus said these charges were based upon misrepresentations and halftruths. "To the charge that he had said, 'lt docs not matter what we believe about Christ,' Dr. Angus said: 'What 1 say is that it matters little what we believe about Christ, but it matters supremely for ourselves and for the world how much of Christ is lived in us. or to what extent wo arc Christlike.'

"Throughout the whole of the investigations and debates, Dr. Angus has stood solidly in his opposition to the identification of theology with true religion, and to the subtleties of metaphysics being made a basis ior teaching or preaching. Jesus, he declares, rescued religion from the theologians and the scribes, and that religion is now so obscured by theologies and dogmas that the real Jesus is almost unrecognisable. Dr. Angus and His Accusers

"At the General Assembly in Sydney Dr. Angus faced his accusers and, after a memorable address —said to have swaved the assembly—was vindicated by 245 votes to 19. At the appeal in Melbourne he was, by the laws of the Church, precluded from speaking in his own defence. The whole question must now be reopened by tho Presbytery of Sydney, to the strength of which will be added eight assessors from the General Assembly. It will mean a complete examination of the position, and evidence on the teachings of Dr. Angus may bo obtained from insido and outside tho Church. The decision of the Australian Assembly means there is a case to answer.

"Formerly, it was estimated that the voting in the presbytery on the case would be about 50-50, but any future decision will rest largely upon the weight of new evidence, if any. The proceedings during tho past year have weighed heavily upon Dr. Angus. Before the Melbourne Assembly he declared, privately, that he was weary at heart and would welcome the end. 'But,' he added, 'I have nothing to shrink from, and I am convinced that in the end truth will prevail.' "Friends have suggested to Dr. Angus that there is a wider field for his ability and scholarship and that he should retire from his position as professor of New Testament theology at St. Andrew's College, This he has declined to do, one of his reasons being that it would be an admission of weakness of his case."