Machen in the News -"Uncle Henry" Throws Him Under the Bus

By Brad Isbell

Most presbyterian preachers today would love to be featured in the New York Times. Probably the only presbyterian pastor in the last 70-80 years who regularly turned up in the NYT or other major publications was the late Tim Keller. Machen, whom Keller admired, might warn that not all publicity is good publicity, especially when your “uncle” flames you without mercy.

“Uncle” Henry Van Dyke, pastor and professor, was distantly related to Machen’s mother by marriage. Stonehouse explains why Van Dyke (a pewholder at First Presbyterian in Princeton where Machen was pulpit supply) acted as he did:

When one recalls the family ties dating back to Baltimore days and the pleasant contacts of Machen’s early years at Princeton, the violence of van Dyke’s attack is rather overwhelming. These considerations only serve to point up, however, the thoroughness of van Dyke’s opposition to Machen’s point of view as well as certain facets of his own character. He suggests indeed in his letter to the Session that he is quite evangelical in his beliefs. But actually van Dyke had been for several decades in the very forefront of the Liberal forces in the Presbyterian Church, as the biography by his son Tertius van Dyke affords ample proof. As preacher of the Brick Presbyterian Church of New York he had been an intimate friend and supporter of Professors Briggs and McGiffert. He had been openly and vigorously opposed to the specific Calvinism of the Confession of Faith and had been one of the leading advocates of revision. He also had supported the policy of the Presbytery of New York in allowing various young men to be licensed in spite of their unwillingness to affirm the five points insisted upon by the General Assembly of 1910 and later years. When the Auburn Affirmation was published, he became a signer. His record as disclosed at these points and many others was that of a pronounced Liberal.

About seven weeks before “Uncle” Henry’s rage-quitting hissy fit, Machen preached a sermon (which can be read in full here) that was surely triggering to Van Dyke. Here’s the opening, and right off, it was clear that Machen was pulling no punches:

A while ago I heard a sermon which seemed to me at the time to be the worst sermon that I had ever heard—unless a man can be said to "hear" the sermons that he preaches himself. It was a bad sermon, not because it was badly preached, or because it did not hold the attention of the congregation. On the contrary, it was most effectively preached and the large congregation was evidently impressed. But it was a bad sermon because the things that were said in it were not true.

The subject of the sermon was the incident that we have read today—the healing of the centurion's servant. That centurion, the preacher said in effect, knew nothing about theology; he knew nothing about the Nicene or Chalcedonian doctrine of the Person of Christ; he knew nothing about the creeds. But he simply trusted Jesus. So we, it was said, may be quite indifferent to the theological controversy now raging in the Church and like the centurion may simply take Jesus at His word and do what Jesus says.

From the point of view of commonsense reading of the Bible it was quite absurd. It was a rather extreme instance of that anti-historical forcing of the plain words of the Biblical books which has become so common within the last few years.

Here’s an account of the kerfuffle, which appeared in dozens, if not hundreds, of newspapers across the country via The Associated Press wire service. In this case, it was a New Jersey paper:

DR. HENRY VAN DYKE QUITS
PRINCETON CHURCH AND
ATTACKS ACTING PASTOR

New Outbreak of War Between Fundamentalists
and Modernists—Bitter Denunciation Voiced.

(By The Associated Press) PRINCETON, Jan. 3. — Preaching of fundamentalism and modernism, which has so stirred the Protestant Episcopal Church and which has been smoldering in the Presbyterian Church, has caused Rev. Dr. Henry Van Dyke, D.D., former pastor of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, New York, and for many years, a professor at Princeton University to give up his pew in the old First Church here, according to his announcement today. He vigorously denounces Rev. John G. Machen. D.D., a professor in the Theological Seminary at Princeton, who is temporarily occupying the First Church pulpit.

In an open letter, sent by Dr. Van Dyke to the newspapers of Princeton, and also addressed to the treasurer of the First Church, he formally gives up his pew. and says he will remain away so long as Dr. Machen occupies the pulpit.

Rev. J. Ross Stevenson, president of the Princeton Theological Seminary, is a member of the committee that has temporarily designated Dr. Machen to preach while it is endeavoring to locate a permanent pastor for the church, which is the place for worship of the presidents of the university. It is regarded as the University Church.

The Rev. Charles R. Erdman, D.D., L.L.D., a professor in the theological seminary and distinguished author, is on the committee with President Stevenson. Dr. Van. Dyke's action has created a sensation.

The letter of Dr. Van Dyke, addressed to the treasurer of the church, reads as follows:

“Mr. Howard E. Eldridge, Treasurer, First Presbyterian Church, Princeton. N. J.:

Dear Sir, - Having had another Sunday spoiled by the bitter, schismatic and unscriptural preaching of the stated supply of the First Presbyterian Church of Princeton, (directly contrary to the spirit of his beautiful text), I desire to give up my pew in the church. The few Sundays that I have free from evangelical work to spend with my family are too precious to be wasted in listening to such a dismal, bilious travesty of the Gospel. We want to hear about Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man, not about the Fundamentalists and the Modernists, the only subject on which your stated supply seems to have anything to say and on which most of what he says is untrue and malicious. Until he is done, count me out and give up my pew in the church. We want to worship Christ, our Saviour.

Yours truly.

(Signed) HENRY VAN DYKE.”

When Machen’s tumultuous tenure in the Princeton pulpit was up, “Uncle” Henry was back. He made sure to publicize his pious return, just as he had publicized his dramatic exit. What a guy.

Erdman followed Machen!

Maybe Van Dyke should have rubbed some Mentholatum on his offended, chapped parts the year before and kept his pew. As we can see from the newspaper clipping above, the balm was locally available.

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