Religion: Princeton Secession

The winds of liberalism in the Presbyterian Church last week met gusty resistance. When the Presbyterian General Assembly recently vested control of Princeton Theological Seminary in a single body (instead of dual control by trustees and directors) it virtually assured the ascendance of Modernism in the oldest, richest Presbyterian seminary in the U. S. (TIME, June 3 et seq.’). Greatly distressed were potent Fundamentalists, who have long fought to keep Princeton one of the few remaining strongholds of ancient evangelical doctrine. Last week the Princeton Fundamentalists met in Philadelphia, made plans to secede from Princeton, to found a new seminary to teach the ideals which Princeton would presumably no longer foster. More than 70 professors, preachers and elders attended. Prominent of course were Princeton faculty conservatives. Dr. John Gresham Macheru veteran of Princeton’s doctrinal wars, made the opening address, said: “The old Princeton under this new board is doomed.” Prof. Robert Dick Wilson told of the call from students for a school devoted to orthodoxy. Prof. Oswald Thompson Allis, editor of the Princeton Theological Review, advocated a Philadelphia suburban site for the new seminary, conveniently near the University of Pennsylvania. Later these three men agreed to leave Princeton, to teach the following subjects at the new school: Dr. Machen—New Testament; Dr. Wilson— Old Testament criticism; Semitic philology. Committees were formed Westminster Theologies tentatively adopted, pledges of 22,000 made. It was hinted that theseminary would open in the fall. Acting Secretary is Roland K. Armes,1237 Commercial Trust Building, Philadelphia. Contributions gratefully received.