The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-05-06
TRIED FOR HEREsY.
First Days Proceedings in the Trial
ofProf. Swing at Chicago. =

David Swing, before the Chicago Pres
bytery, on the charge Of heresy, prefer
red by Prof, Patton, began this morning
In the First Presbyterian Church.
After the opening exercises the question
arose as to the eligibility Of certain mem.
bers Of the presbytery, who were mol
present at the first meeting, and after dis.
cussion It was decided to admit all reeu-
larly appointed delegates.
DR.. Patterson, chairman OF the COM
mittee TO consider the protest Of Prof,
Patton against the action Of the presby-
tery in appointing q judiciary committee
70 examine his charges against PROF.
Swing, reported that while the Book OF
Discipline does not provide positively for
Judicial Committee the usage Of the
General Assembly seems TO favor that
course. In regard TO the recommendation
Of the Judicial Committee that the
charges be made more definite report held
that this was clearly within their prov
lnce and In the line Of their duty. The
report was accepted, and together with
the protest placed on the records. The
Rev. DR.. Eddy, Of Troy Presbytery, and
the Rev. 8. Willis Lord and William
Beecher were admitted as corresponding
members.
The charges were then read. The Rev.
Il. Q. Hayes, as counsel for Prof Swing,
desired that the latter should be per.
mitted 10 present his views Of the indict.
ment previous to pleading to the charges.
Prof. Patton objected and insisted that
Prof. Swing should enter a formal plea Of
guilty or not guilty before being allowed
to speak. The Moderator ruled that II
the prosecutor rigidiy insisted on the rule
It must be enforced.
An appeal from the decision Of the chair
resulted in It's being sustained.
PRoF. swINo's SPEECH.
Prot. Swing then took the stand, and
was greeted with loud applause, which
was checked by the Moderator. he
began by saying that he objected to the
charges 40 too vague and embracing no
important ofense, but not wishing TO raise
any technical objections he would enter
the plea, mot guilty"
BE admitted the extracts from his ser.
mons and lectures, but asked the Presby.
terry to consider the entire discourses
from which these extracts were taken.
He avowed himself to be what, before the
late union, was styled New School
Presbyterian, and denied having come In
conflict with any Of the Evangelical Cal.
whistle doctrines OF the Presbyterian de.
nomination.
He proceeded, then 10 speak first Of his
relations to the liberal Church, and stated
by way Of explaining the quantity Of the
public offense, that Of fifteen lectures de-
'liyered in the city for benevolent pur-
poses, but two had been outside OF evan
gelical churches, and in all but one case
remuneration was declined. Upon the
quality Of the conduct, he said, there Is
no valuable theory OF life, except that of
good will toward all men. Il Is only
upon the basis Of wide friendship that
anyone can live well the few years Of this
existence, and hence, 10 decline 10 lecture
on behalf o! q Unitarian chapel would do
no more harm to the mutual good will
upon which society Is founded than 1t
would do good to an orthodox theology
or harm to liberal creed. II the object
Of the evangelical pulpit Is to promulge
It's better truth, 1t can do so only In so far
as It's ministry reveal deep friendship
toward all mankind, while they are pre-.
suming to speak OF the impartial love Of
their Divine Master. There remains no
longer any power Of authority in the pull.
pit. The time when the civil police drove
a halhng sinner into the true church has
disappeared, and the modern pulpit must
communicate Its ideas along the chords
of friendship, and he will persuade the
most men, whose heart can gather up the
largest and most diverse multitude into
the grasp Of his pure affections. F.
Speaking then OF the particular offense
charged in the lecture in behalf Of q
Unitarian chapel, he said the sin must
be based on the assumption that the Uni.
tartan sects are outcasts from God, hav.
ing no hope in the lie to come. The
names Of Charming, and Elliott, and
Huntington, and Peabody, in the pulpits
OF that sect, and the Christ like lives Of
thousands in the denomination, excluded
from his mind and heart the most remote
idea, that in showing that brotherhood any
kindness, he was offering indirect ap-
proVal to persons beyond the pale Of the
Christian religion and hope. The idea
that these brethren were doomed to
wrath beyond the tomb, he wholly re.
pudiated.
ItisIndccd my conviction that they do not hold
Is correct version ofthe Gospel % that Announc.
ed by the Evangelical alliance few years ago,
yet am Just certain that the Blessed Lord does
not heetOw his forgiveness and grace npon tho
mind that possesses the most accurate inioTmA
ttun, but upon the heart that loves and trusts
Him. The harmony existing betwetn all these
brethren and myself 10 not harmony Of views
10 tho mind, but q harmony Of love IN the soul
They, each and all. know that sider widely
rom thOm, but this they and know, that only
The nost GentemAnly treatment In public and
In private, Will we al receive alwaJ D frum each
other. MuehAs 1love Pfesbyt yteriAnism-a love
inherent from all my Nnceslors-if,, on account
81 ~ VII s s ses y 10
iuse TO purchase the Presbyterian name at 90
dear prize.
Speaking next oi his relations to Pres
byterianism, he held that, "a creed Is
only the highest form Of wisdom at any
time, and that as progress Is made these
gradually grow old and are dropped out
OF use, not BY repeal but by disuse, as
some ot tho old laws OF Connecticut
which are entirely imperative, but have
never been repealed. Every church
poStpones the revision as long as possible,
In order 10 avoid the tumult and dis
cussion which would naturally result.
Thus We have the church historic and the
church actual. He had always worked
with the church actual.
he had preached what tho unfettered
OF the church had reached, BE mad
preached against the doctrine Of infant
damuation, and against the doctrine Of
fatalism, as implied in the perfect inde.
pendence oil Gods decree as 10 all human
conduct against the ultra form Of human
inability, he had always ielti his duty to
proteHt.