PRESBYTERIAN DISPUTE

Taranaki Daily News, 20 January 1933, Page 5

PRESBYTERIAN DISPUTE

MOVE TO OUST PROFESSOR. CONCEPTION OF CHRISTIANITY. Sydney, Dec. 29. Intense interest has been aroused in church circles in Sydney by the move initiated to force Professor Angus to resign from his professorship at St. Andrew’s College, University of Sydney, says the Evening Post’s correspondent. Action has been taken on the' ground “that his teachings and utterances are not in harmony with the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church.” At the last meeting of the Presbytery of Sydney the Rev. J. G. Fulton gave notice of a motion in the following terms: “That the teachings and utterances of the Rev.. Professor Angus are not in harmony with the doctrines of the Presbyterian Church as regards (a) the doctrine of the Trinity;. (b) the in-spirations-and authority of Holy Scripture; (c) the traditional teachings and beliefs of the Church Catholic; and that the general assembly,. as employing the professor, be asked in the proper and legal way to notify Professor Angus

the work ha should do as a professor of our church, and that he be ashed to resign his chair at the earliest possible moment.”

Mr. Fulton said that his motion was based on reports of addresses given by Professor Angus in various parrs of New South Wales and Victoria, and on tire report of an address given by the Professor to the Methodist Ministers’. Association. Mr. Fulton said that the Rev. J. H. MacGowan, a former Moderator, was prepared to move a somewhat similar motion, and had attempted , to give notice of his motion at the December meeting of the Presbytery, but the letter containing his notice was not opened in time. REPORTS OF ADDRESSES. A newspaper report of an address given by Professor Angus at Lithgow stated that he condemned Christianity in its present form, because, he said, it -differed greatly from the original teachings of Christ. Jesus founded no church. According to the report, Professor Angus said that Christ and His Apostles believed the world was about to come to an end; They did . not contemplate a twentieth century Australian Christianity. They thought there would be set

But God’s. ways with men had been wider and more , patient than was foreseen by His Son. To-day Christians looked for no closing of the human story, but expected the world to go on indefinitely, and were doing what they could for those who were to follow them. Christ’s idea of God’s dealings with man was very. different from that of the Church. He believed there was direct-, intercourse between the Father and every son and daughter of humanity. Christianity thought that God would have dealings with man and woman only through a mediator. Contrary to all His teachings, the Christian’Church had made Christ the person to act in that capacity. To identify Christianity with church membership was rather difficult, mainly because of the arguments among the churches. . There were churches that did not recognise each other. Because of this he wanted the people to be something • more than church members. The controversy which is bound to follow the. tabling of the . motion in the General Assembly is bound to be a heated one, for the Professor has supporters' as well as opponents inside and outside the Presbyterian Church. Professor Angus has . refused to make any comment, and says that his statement wpl come’

The Rev. R. J. MacGowan said that if a minister could - not believe in the Divinity of Christ he should get out of the Church, and another Presbyterian, the - Rev. Ernest Uarneron, said that all messages of goodwill at Christmas time would fail to the ground if full belief was not given to the Divinity of Christ. The Rev. A. R. Ebbs (Church of England) and several other ministers declared that the whole’story of the Incarnation of Christ- had to be accepted- without any reservations, whatever, .. j Full support' for the. opinions of Professor Angus were . given by; two Presbyterian clergy, the Rev. George Cowie and the Rev. N. C. Goss. Mr. ’ Cowie said he thought the Professor was. doing thg right thing. The Church had to give the man freedom to think. and. present his ideas to the world. Mr. Goss said that the critics, of Professor Angus said he did not believe in the Divinity of Jesus. Actually 'he did; but his conception of Divinity was far broader and deeper than theirs. If • the attack succeeded it would, be a victory tor medievalism over progressive. thought.