Religion: Fosdick

Out. Pursuant to the insistent demands of the Presbyterian Church headed by Moderator Macartney and voiced by William J. Bryan, the First Presbyterian Church of New York accepted the resignation of Harry Emerson Fosdick as associate pastor.

In. The officers of the First Church then despatched to Dr. Fosdick a letter of invitation which read in part as follows:

“Dear Dr. Fosdick:

“We have before us your letter of Sept. 7 tendering your resignation as associate minister of the First Presbyterian Church. While we regret your inability to become a Presbyterian minister, we understand your reasons, and from every quarter we hear expressions of approval of your forceful and dignified attitude.

“In view of your decision and the opinion of the General Assembly that if you should decline to enter the Presbyterian Church the relation of associate minister should not continue, we have felt compelled, with great reluctance but with a desire to be loyal, to recommend acceptance of your resignation.

“We invited you to enter into this relationship and you accepted our invitation in the spirit of Christian fellowship and with the desire to promote Christian union. This action was in harmony with the declared purpose of our denomination

“Therefore, after your resignation as associate minister takes effect, we invite you to make it your custom when when not otherwise engaged to preach in our pulpit on Sunday mornings. We cannot believe that this is in opposition to the mind of the Presbyterian Church. …”

“During the five years of companionship with you, there has grown to be a mutual, strong, personal affection. We believe in your teachings; we regard you as an outstanding figure in the Christian world today; we cannot bear the thought of separation. A great spiritual force has been built up in the Church as a result of your co-operation with us, and we have definite plans for further growth and influence in the years ahead. We will suffer an irreparable loss if you leave us entirely.”

This letter was signed by the Rev. George Alexander, and by outstanding laymen such as Arthur Curtiss James, Robert W. De Forest, F. N. Hoffstot, W. M. Kingsley, James B. Munn, George A. Plimpton. A long resolution of eulogy accompanied the letter.

Dr. Fosdick expressed his thanks from the pulpit for the personal good-will shown by the proposals in the letter. He promised to send the officers his answer within a week.

Comment. Everywhere Presbyterian ministers were interviewed by the press. In Manhattan, clerical opinion deeply regretted the separation. Outside, the majority were well pleased. Editorial writers of the larger dailies both in and out of Manhattan tended to deplore the resignation as significant of narrow-mindedness. Moderator Macartney from his sick bed issued a plain denunciation of Dr. Fosdick concluding: “To all those who deny the Lord Jesus Christ in the fullness of and glory of His Redeeming Person and power . . . the Presbyterian Church is a closed door and, pray God, it shall ever be such.”