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 (N. B. Stonehouse).
Brad Isbell | “Machen in the News -“Uncle Henry” Throws Him Under the Bus” | April 24, 2025
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Brad Isbell
Brad Isbell is a ruling elder at Covenant Presbyterian Church (PCA) in Oak Ridge, TN, board member of More In The PCA, co-host of the Presbycast podcast, editorial member of Presbyterian Polity, and treasurer of the Heidelberg Reformation Association.
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