Peace to Presbyterians

Just returned from the Universal Conference on Life and Work at Stockholm, the Rev. Henry C. Swearingen last week called to order the "Special Commission of Fifteen" of the Presbyterian Church. The Commissioners gathered in a private room in the Hotel Chalfonte, Atlantic City. The fourteen present were:

Churchmen:

Alfred H. Barr, of McCormick Theological Seminary, Chicago; Hugh T. Kerr, of Pittsburgh ; Lapsley A. McAfee, of Berkeley, Calif.; Harry C. Rogers, of Kansas City, Mo. ; Henry C. Swearingen, of St. Paul, Chairman; Edgar W. Work, of Manhattan: Dr. W. O. Thompson, retiring President of Ohio State University.

Laymen:

Dr. John M. T. Finney, of Johns Hopkins University, Vice Chairman; Judge John H. Dewitt, of Nashville; Edward Dickinson Duffield, President of the Prudential Life Insurance Company, Newark; President Cheesman A. Merrick, Girard College, Philadelphia; Judge Nelson H. Loomis, general counsel of the Union Pacific Railroad, Omaha; Judge Nathan G. Moore, Oak Park, 111.; Robert E. Speer,* Secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions, Manhattan.

The absent member was the Rev. Mark A. Matthews, "Lion of the Northwest," veteran Fundamentalist.

Reporters who had trailed the Commission, were refused entrance, for it was the business of the Commission to examine the causes of conflict within the Church--a business best conducted without publicity.

After three days of secret session, the Commission announced that it would devote the next six months to investigation. Thereafter it is expected to prepare recommendations for the General Assembly meeting in Baltimore next May.

Chiefly significant at this time is the fact that the Commission--one of the most distinguished which ever sat on church affairs--is de- termined to have peace. After three years of Fundamentalist argument, the great "moderate" majority has not been convinced that Liberals should be excluded from the Church.

*Although he studied at Princeton Theological Seminary, although Edinburgh University conferred on him the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, although he has occupied most of the famous Protestant pulpits of the world, Mr. Speer is not an ordained minister. He decided years ago to remain a layman.