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Show DR. BELL DENIES HE IS ADVOCATE OF SOCIALJSIM Says He Abandoned Party During the Great World War NEW YuJlK, Jan. 1.- preliminary report on "(Socialism In the Church," drafted hy Everelt P. Wheeler, Arthur O. Townaend and William Creenough, all attomeya, representing- the majority major-ity of a subcommittee created by the National Civic Federation through ita department on atudy of revolutionary movements, citing the Rev. Dr. Bernard Ber-nard Idcllng Bell, 34 year, old, President Presi-dent of St. Stephen's college, Annan-rialo-on-Huriion. was brought to Hunt through what the members of the com-mi com-mi tee describe aa premature publication. publica-tion. The college prepares young men for the ministry In the Kplwopal church. Although the report Is said to have been pr. pared last month for submission submis-sion to Hishop Charles Mumner Hurch - of the Protestant Kpisoopal diocese of r New York, Mr. Townsend anil Mr. (reenotigh both told a reporter laat night that the report was In only a h i llminsry ?tspe. nitfl Hint Ins nient-' bers of the committee had not decided to present the document in Its present form to Hishop Kurrh. MAKFA BTaTFMFM-r. Ir. Bell, against whom the report Is principally directed, made a statement yesterday denying that he was a Hocliiiist. and explained that he had resigned from that party when he was convinced during the war that Its policy pol-icy was treasonable. During the war he was a chaplain In the navy. He said he was now a member of the Democratic Demo-cratic party; and further explained that the charges In the report . had been laid before the presidents of colleges col-leges where he had been engaged to spesk. and that these college officials, after Investigations, had permitted him to prenrh in the college chapels. lis referred to the case of President Hlb-ben Hlb-ben of Princeton who permitted Dr. Bell to preach there recently. The In vent iat ion of Dr. Hell, who apparently ap-parently was not interviewed by the members of the subcommittee. Is said to have grown out of the publication of ; hl" book, J'Jdght and Wrong After 4he War." The minister stands by the statements in this book, as well as by some of his other utterances, although he maintains that he has been attacked at-tacked for the most part for things he said years ago. MYSTERY IN PUBLICATION. Thut a copy of Its report should have been made public at this time was a mystery to the subcommittee. The preliminary report explains that the purpose of the committee is to ascertain as-certain the extent to which the revolutionary revo-lutionary forces in this country have permeated the churches. "This Inquiry," In-quiry," It says, "relates to all denominations. denom-inations. The data that came to the commute were referred to subcommittees subcom-mittees composed, respectively, of members of the various denominations under consideration for such action as t they deemed wise to lake In the prem- ises." "In common-with all thoughtful, sound and conservative churchmen," says the report, "you have watched with disapproval and anxiety the lnva- 'on of our pulpits and religious and educattnnarlnstltutlons by a group of men and a line of teaching and preaching having for their avowed .oh - ject the committing nnd identifying of the church to and with that effort or cult which for lack of a more fitting word, is called or calls itself Socialism.' So-cialism.' "Fur effective attack a widespread evil, a specific case, a fully proved one. and one for which a potent remedy lies within reach, must be chosen. Names and particulars must be freely furnished and spoken without hesitancy. hesi-tancy. Kuch a case of notable importance import-ance and worthy of earnest attention lies at our own doors. Ws refer to that St" 8t'uhen' college, an institution that is both an asset and a trust of this church and this diocese. REFER TO ACTS. "The community, both religious and aecular. is judging not only at Stephen's Ste-phen's college, but also the church which backs and maintains it, and votes and solicits money for Its support sup-port by the public utterances, the written writ-ten and spoken words, of its president the Kev. Bernard Iddlngs Bell, and his most conspicuous associate In the faculty. fac-ulty. "Moved thereto by certain sensational sensa-tional acts and utterances, first reaching reach-ing our attention from sources whollv "Mtslde the church, we have made such Investigation as leads and enables us to lay before you the following statement: state-ment: "Upon the facta of this statement we respectfully ask you to consider, and if deemed appreciate to bring before the standing committee of the diocese of New York, or a commission, under canon 26 of this diocese, the question whether the time has not come for such action snd pronouncement by our church as will end the exploiting of -revolutionary and pernicious radical-Ism radical-Ism under Its revered shield and banner. ban-ner. "We submit thst the doctrines held and written by Dr. Bell and herein discussed are 'erroneous and strange doctrines contrary to His word'." At Kverett P. Wheeler's otflce It was explained that he was out of town anil would not return until tomorrow W hen an effort was made Isst night to get Bishop Burch's comment on the Charges against Dr. Bell, word was sent that the bishop had nothing to |