The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1874-01-27
SCHISM AMONG PRESBYTERIANS
Trial OF the Rev. K. Ii. Smith Before the
Westchester Presbytery-FOund Guilty
and DepOsed.

Westchester Presbytery-FOun Guilty
and Deposed.
The trial Of the Rev. f. B. Smith before the West
chester Presbytery on the charge OF creating
schism in the Presbyterian Church by adopting
certain doctrines and practices of the so-called
"Cathoiic Apostolic Church" was resumed yester-
day morning, in the paror OF the Young Mems
Christian Association Hall, corner OF Twenty third
street and Fourth avenue. The room was
full. Half dozen ladies occupied seats at
the rear. liie-sized portrait OF Queen
Victoria wearing a crown, but having what par
tlcular significance in that particular place it
would be hard to say, smiled benignantly down
on the array OF presbyters. At a long table, under
the Queens portrait, sat the Moderator, Mr..
Sawyer, the official who in the Presbyterian gov
ernment presldes over Presbyuery proceedings.
In his neighborhOod sat
THE COUNSEL FOR THE PROSECUTION
and for the Church. One was layman and three
were officiating ministers. Their names were
Rev. ]. Aspna Hodge, OF Hartford; Rev. DR..
Smith, OF Yonkers; Rev. Mr.. Nudge and Mr.. Wells,
lawyer, OF Peekskil!.
The body OF men present to hear and try the
case. as jury might try it, appeared to have
deep interest in the arguments OF both sides and
capacity to decide the question with intelligence.
Rev. Mr. Smith began the proceedings Of the
day by producing his defence, which was
LONG AND ELABORATE REPLY
to all the charges and specifications made against
him. 1t took little over an hour to read and was
really an eloquent and persuasive document. AS
1T would be impossible to give anything like a
synopsis OF it in the brief space allotted to this
report, suffice it to say that he responded Sesdtin
to all that was embraced under
THREE CLASSES OF COUNTS
or charges. One class ne denied In toto, as having
no force whatever to hold him amenable to breach
OF doctrine or discipline. Another class he held
rian orc nd0 rdS and
consequently he was not supposed to be commit
ting error when he took his stand by certain doc
apctOned In regard TO the third class of charges
while he admitted their application to his formula
Oh Deel, ne DeleVed they were not antagOniStlc to
PRESBYTERIAN STANDARDS.
The propositions he denies are embraced in the
first class OF charges, and are as follOws:-
That the writings OF the so-caled apostles or the
"Catholic Apostolic Church" are q coordinate au-
thorlty with the words OF God IN the Scripture.
own virtue and the virtue OF the administrator
aud the change OF the elements in and by conse-
That the socalled apostles hold supreme au-
thoritv and inspiration and the sacrament of ex-
treme JUNCTION.
POINTS OF UNcHALLENGED DOCTRINE
AS the following do not come under and are not
denounced by Presbyterian standards Mr. Smith
held they did not invalidate his ministry in the
Presbyterian Church, and questions Tor indi-'
vldual faith and chOice:-
Professions, exercises, church Of the supernat-
ural gifts lourlod ministry, auricuar confession,
absolutiOn bowng at the name OF Jesus and the
use of the sign OF the cross.
The following, as what he avOwed he believed,
were not antagODstlc to Presbyterian standards -
Baptism md regeneration, Christ assuming the
fallen human nature OF Adam and the Lords
Supper.
THE MAIN POINT
OF Mr.. Smiths argument was that he was in har-
mony with the Presbyterian Church. which was in
harmony with the polity of the apostles, but what
he wanted was the polty OF the apostolic days
restored. In this he could error, for il the
Church believed the apostles he could see no
objection to the same Church following their
methods OF thought and teaching.
ARGUMENT FOR PROSECUTION.
The prosecuting counsel did not deem 1t neces-
sary cover the wide field OF theological inquiry
which all The foregoing suggests. They confined
themselves to pointing out that the 'Catnolic
Apostolic church." being separate denomination,
as Its doctrines and practices showed it could de-
mand no allegiance from minister oil the Presby-
terrain Church ; and the minister who in
sisted on remaining within the Presby-
terrain communion while holding the pre-
cepts OF another denomination not recog-
nZed by the standards OF Presbyterlansm, and also
admitting the supreme authority Of the socalled
apostles In the other denomination, was guilty OF
schsm and not qualified to retain his place. Moth
ing was said against the character OF DIR. Smith.
That, 1T was admitted, was above reprOach; but in
reaching out for discoveries in theological science,
which the Church mad not recognized, they said he
After the room was cleared. and none but the
presbyters and counsel remained. discussion en-
sued on the merits of the evidence produced
against Mr.. Smith and the arguments pro and CON.
considerable time was spent, and finally 1t was
be deposed from his functions minister in the
Presbyterian Church. The reverend gentleman
had previously proclaimed his intention to appeal
to the Synod.