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Show 8. Prof. Joseph Peterson Tenders Resignation to Presidency of Church School. ' TEACHING OP EVOLUTION AT BOTTOM OF TROUBLE Rumor Is Persistent, and Not Denied, That Other Instructors Instruc-tors Will Leave. Prof. Joseph Peterson of tho B. Y. TJ. at Provo tenders resignation to school presidency. Pwumor is persistent that resignations resigna-tions of, Prof. Henry Peterson and Dr. E. V. Chamberlain will soon follow. Trouble arises over dolay of presidency to determino whethor or not evolutionary doctrine is in harmony har-mony with teachings of church. Pour-fifths of university faculty reported to bo in sympathy with views held by Profs. Peterson and Dr. Chamberlain. Prof. Joseph Peterson of tho faculty of the Brigham Young university at Provo has tendered his resignation to the presidenc3' of the school, asking that it take effect at the eud of the present school year. It is persistently rumored, but not definitely confirmed, that the resignations of Prof. Henry Peterson and Dr. R. T. Chamberlain will be presented to the school presi demy within the next three days and that the same request will be made. All this grows out of a decision reached .by the board of trustees of the B. Y. U. at a meeting held in Salt Lake City on the twentieth day of last month, when, by unanimous vote of those present, it was decided that no tcachor in tho university should be allowed al-lowed to promulgate doctrines not in harmony with the revealed doctrines of the Mormon religion. And this meeting was held to pass upon a report that had beeu made by Prof. 11. H. Cummings, superintendent of church schools, to the effect that he liad found, upon careful investigation, that the teachings of tho Professors Peterson and Dr. Chamberlain were not in accord with the Mormon doctrines. Members of the presidency of the school, Prof. G. H. Brimhall, the president, presi-dent, and Professors Hinckley and Kceler, when interviewed in Provo last night, all stated that no official action had been taken iu the matter, although not denying that the cases of the three educators had been informally dis-cussod. dis-cussod. Prof. Hinckley admitted that the resignation of Prof. Joseph Peterson Peter-son had been prepared and presented, but refused to say whether or uot it would bo accepted, Many Are Evolutionists. Incidental to this complicated situation situa-tion in the 13. Y. U,. which among tho church schools of the state is rivaled only by the L. D. S. university of this city, it is stated upon good authority (hat a large majority of tho faculty of the B. Y. U. arc iu sympathy with the views held and expressed by Profs. Peterson and Dr Chamberlain. One well informed citizen of Provo said last night: " Four-iif ths of the faculty arc evolutionists," and Professor Hinckley himself, one of the presidency of tho school, declared: "1 am au evolutionist, evolution-ist, first, last and all -the time." This is particularly significant in view of tho publicly expressed views of tho general board of education of the church that tho doctrine of evolution evolu-tion was not in harmony with the teachings of tho scriptures and the Book of Mormon. That there will be a shakeup in the faculty which may result in tho voluntary volun-tary or enforced resignation of other members of the teaching corps is au opinion freely expressed. Calls Editorial Misleading. Prof. Joseph Peterson, when seen in Provo last night, after admitting that hu had tendered his resignation, said the editorial which appeared in the Sat. nrdav issue of the Desoret News, entitled en-titled "On Evolution," was entirely misleading and was inclined, whether purposely or ignorantly. to keep the people in the dark regarding tho known facts of science. Ho meroly added that the question of what was or was not iu harmony with Mormon doctrine had been loft dragging along without reach, ing any definite conclusion, Prof! .1. E. Keeler. when questioned, hesitated to discuss tho question in any phase. When asked point blank if the school presidency had taken any action or reached any decision in the case, he snid: "I think not; there is nothing new,'".' and Avould say no more. School Presidency Sole Judge. It will be remembered that at tho lime of tho meeting of tho board of trustees of the 15. V. U,, held iu Salt Lnlce City. February UO, the nuthority to determine what teachings were o'r were. not. orthodox was conferred on the presidency of tho school, Professors Brimhall, Keeler and Hinckley. There war. evident a disposition on tho part Continued on Page Three. 1 PETERSON RESIGNS FROM B. y. U. FACULTY Evolution Threatens to Bring Exodus of Instructors From Church School. Continued From Pago One. of members of the board of trustees nt that time to refrain from any discussion dis-cussion of the noted ease, all of the mcinbers who were reached, save one, declining to express any view as to what portions of the evolutionary teachings of the three professors were out of harmony with church doctrines. One member, however, did say that the consensus of opinion was that latitude lati-tude was to be allowed to the extent that teachers need not insist upon students stu-dents taking literally the story of "Jonah and the whale," "Balaam's ass," and "a few other things." Whether tho school presidency will stand hy Professor Guininings in his recommendation that the views of the accused educators are not proper for expression in church schools, or whether wheth-er it will decide that the doctrine of ovolutiou is not incompatible with the doetrino of revealed religion is the prime question not yet determined. |