PROFESSOR DICKIE

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2317, 26 November 1914, Page 8

PROFESSOR DICKIE

EXONERATED REV. P. B. TRASER ADMONISHED (By Telegraph.—Press AMOolation.) Duneclin, November 25. At.the.meeting of the Presbyterian General Assembly this afternoon, the charges made by the Key. P. B. Eraser against Professor Dickie were further investigated, lii oponmg the proceeduigs, the Moderator, the' Rev. A. Grant, rcniiiided members of the gravity of the occasion. The Assembly was sitting as a judicial court, and they were there to deliberate calmly, kindly, and reverently on matters that come before them.

The Rev. Traser. who was oalled upon lo substantiate his charges, said he wished to make it clear what the pro-, position: was he was in charge of. Hβ had reason to believe, and publicly affirmed, that /.Professor Dickie's teaching, and the-theology he recommended were subversive of the fundamental truth oi the Church. Mr. Fraser wenton to explain that in order to preserve : his liberty and to appear before them as a free minister, he had within eight - days -of returning home from the laet Assembly resigned his position a-s Superintendent of Home Missions. As editor of the magazine which ho controlled he made use' of its pages to put the matter a little more clearly. He had sent a copy .to Dr. Hrwin, 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, why he gave'it to the etudente. to learn theology out of. That .was-his position.- ■ Professor Dickie rose at this stage and said' that what lie had said was that Professor Thomas Brown's book was iii some respects the best recent manual book on theology. Mr. Fratser proceeded to.. quqte a number of opinions relative to Professor Brown's theology.. He then proceeded to-read a thesis written by one of the Professor's students, which he explained he had come by iu a perfectly lawful way. Mr. Fraser,said no was not.prepared'.togive tho student's name. The ■house decided, by S3 .votes to 37, that Mr." Fraser should give the name of the student.' Mr. Fraser.declined to comply with the decision, and this concluded his case.- ' / ' ' ' ",

Dr. Gtibb moved that the assembly affirms that Mr.' Fraser has signally failed to substantiate his assertion .that'. Professor Dickie's teaching was subversive'of the faith of the Church, and appoints a committee' to consider and report as to the effect to be given the finding by the Assembly. .■-.', The motion wae carried, and the committee eet up to go..into the. matter re-' ported ae .follows:—"The General Assembly ,in view of its finding that 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,' Mr. Fraser has, in General Assembly and in a publication outside of the control of tho Church; spoken and written so as to inflict injury alike upon Professor Dickie and the Theological College. The ■Assembly enjoins Mr. Fraser to refrain from such divisive courses and to pursue paths that make for peace and edification in tho Church. The General Assembly- answers Professor Dickie of its entire confidence.,in him as the. teacher of systematic.-theology', and expresses its profound thankfulness that the students, for the ministry are receiving from him in common with other, professors such' , a course- of instruction as. isjfitting them toehold and proclaim with .entire conviction the faith of thei Son of God in face of modern knowledge and the manifold challenge'of unbelief." Mr.. Fraser said he \rished.respectfully to state that the Assembly had no power to compel him to close his mouth as to what he might say outside. Hβ would bear witness to his own conscience and convictions/as he had a ; right.to do.. The Assembly had refused to.hear his evidence,,and had forced .him: into the position of accuser, and ;he claimed the,right to say what ho ;believedto be the truth.