The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-06-02
PROF. SWINGS REASONS.

HIS LETTER TO THE PREsBYTERY - HI
THINKS PATTON WILL LANGUIsH FoF
WANT OF VICTIM.
CHICAGO, May 25.-The Chicago presby
terry met to-day, and the Rev. DIR. Patterson
Chairman OF the committee appointed to
prepare statement of the reasons for 2
final decision of the presbytery in the
case of the Rev. David Swing, on
recent trial for heresy, presented repor,
making a long and elaborate justification OF
the action OF the Presbytery, which was re-
celved and placed on file. The following
letter from Professor Swing was then read,
and, without action or debate, was placed on
file:
To the Chicago PreS5yte,y:
DEAR NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. that INV
troubles in church relations and doctrine
should come all at once, and, if possible, be
terminated, and wishing TO avoid debate with
any brethren with whom know the action
would md little approval 1 availed myself
OF the telegraph to announce course upon
which my own mind had most fully deter
mined. At some subsequent meeting of
your body will request letter of dismissal.
or tnat you VIII erase my name from
your roll, for / know not which re-
quest will be in harmony with your
laws or customs. To-day, beg permission
only to apologize and state a fragment of the
argument which induced me to break the
old ties. All through the past year so much
has been said in the Presbyterian papers and
so much had been attempted in synods and
presbyteries, that pointed to me as to de-
parture from the faith, that my heart gradu-
ally felt less and less at home in the old
household, and thus began to feel
that to withdraw was a step akin
to duty. / have ALWAYS looked
upon church relations as being not simply
those of theology. but those of christian
brotherhood. and when by degrees, under
repeated attacks by a new enemy, the feeling
of brotherhood has been rapidly taken away
from my heart, the desire has only increased
to terminate the relations which not only
conferred no happiness upon me but
conferred power upon another to ar
rsign me from time to time over
SOME DEAD DOGMA
or over the middle of sentence, or over
some Sabellian or Mohammedan word.
From the standpoint from which am accus-
toned to review all reform. it also seems
that my withdrawal is demanded now in
order to secure to the synod and to
the assembly that peace which alone can
lead TO calm review and restrainment
of doctrine. If my late prosecutor chooses
to force upon this synod and upon the as.
sembly an issue of this whole matter. and
shall compel those bodies to open and settle
all questions which should receive five or
ten years OF the calmest abstract thought. |
upon him must rest the whole responsibility
of the painful results. 1t can easily
be seen from The eagerness with |
which this adjoining synod reaches |
out after this battle, and from the nervous |
ness which the assembly has already be- |
trayed over the recent action of your body, |
that it would be only a mania for war to the |
knife that could induce any one now to carry |
10 those bodies debate so radical. so sudden |
and so clouded by personal frienj ships and |
The noble attitude assumed |
last week by your body is lesson enough,and
battle enough for much time to come. What |
'he church demands now is peace, that it
may think in some hours and work for its
Master in all hours 1t needs peace as to
theology, action as to gospel work, and then
n the days of subsequent peace and sober
ness, not lar removed, it can, by committees
Ind without the strong passions that gather
around an accuser and an accused, sit down
% re-fashion its statement of doctrine. NV
brethren, in this act hope do not withdraw
rom your gospel nilsson, but only forced
ipon you and me 10 our deep regret. In all
7Sur christian labors, if there be any mo.
nent at which l can help you, count me
With you as fellow laborer, and when
my accuser looks around for a subject
o be used for military purposes. will you
lot join with one in blessing God that such
peculiar passion must at last languish for
want OF victim. Hoping that God will
onfer his blessing upon your path and upon
nine also. remain as ever, your brother,
DAVID SWING.