, 1874-05-25
THE SWING TRIAL.
How DR.. Powers Views 1t from a Liberal
Church StnuiIpUiut,

How DR.. Powers Views 1t from Liberal
Cl,urcl, Standpoint.
Tho Rev. H. Powers preached yesterday morn
ing ut tho Church Of tho Aleasinh after the usual
services Ind bean road and snng. He took for
his theme tho trial OF Prof. Swing for tho yiola-
ton Of the oroad and practice OF the Pr0sbyte~
rian Church. He made no apology for chooaing.
it; 1t was ow1ng to the wide interest 1t had
gained, aud as che Liberal Church was vitality 1n-
terostod in tho settlement of these issues. In
diydually, the apoaker had 1enrnod the Confess
sion OF FaitA, knew 1t word for word, was taught
to rely upon 1t for his salvation. by special dis
penhatioa, ho wont to DR.. Olovoand's church,
nRtoad Of DR.. Taylor's ut Yale. Us the latter was
hcreticai. From tho beginning he had been
trained Presbyterian, and wont into tho Con-
gregational Church without repuuiating thoae
tonets. Before he went into the Liberal Church
he was placed on trial before associations, coun-
cilH, and Conversations, aud was always Vowed
with suspicion, and called horotio. 80 ho had
loft the orthodox Church.
He based himself and his belief on tho su-
prone authority OF individual reason, tho right
Of tho human Judgment. to sit in Judgment on
method Of coming to tho truth, Therefore he
rejected all councils and oonvooatons cnlad for
TINT purpose which convened tho Presbytory.
With this understood, ho would Gee how tho trial
1t was tho spirit of tho age to demand indl-
vidstalsy, to refor everything to the individual
conscience. All oomnunions Of Christians,
publicly or privately. had adopted this principle.
David Swing cntne to this city to preach tho Cos
pei. lie shaped his doctrines iu obedionce to
this principle member Of tho Speakers
orthodox Church in Danbury, Coun., hal spent
some time in Chicago, and enjoyed the speaking
Of Prof. Swing. He was drifting away, praaoh-
cLarges formulated by Prof. Patton had been
brought againut Prof. Swing )oug before Prof.
Patton came here. Tho lattor had been faithful
to Ills trust, loyal PreRbyter, fighting for and
olsren prof Taston had bson brought hero s to to
teach theology iu tho West; to combat tho tom
doneios OF David Swing. And believing, as he
did, that Prof. Swing was a heretic. lie rose
against public opinion, and dared to brave 1t all.
display. Although Prof: Patton's God was tho
speakor's Devil though Ills religion was tha re-
liGion Of despair, the spenler conld not but ad-
niiIe the courage and ability Of tho man:
Swing had as a mattor Of fact not based his
whole doctrine OIL the Confession of Faith.
Prof. Ssiugs theory WaA that tho letter OF the
Catechlsm did not correspond with tho npirit.
Dr.. Patterson claimed tlat man might DO
good Froabyterian without aeoepting tie inter
prctRtionH Of tho ntcruor fathers Of Oalvlaism.
lie would like Ills hearors to got copy Of tho
Confession and soc whether threo-quarters of IL
was not in absolute, ,opposltion to the common
sense Of the world. Dnt this question was
ovaled by the prosbytory; they would not dare
to touch upon it. Their explanations Of tho
doctrines Of tho Nav School man was only the
iron hand Of Calyinism in tho velvet glove. No
jumbo Of words would "a meet y tho lssues.
Prof. Swing. He merely allowed the Now
School party to bring thair oase to trial for their
own pnrposos. He had made up his mind 10
loayo the Church before tho verdict was given.
Ill nknH ft,uff ff.nf
too orthodox for him. Prof. SWINGS theological
standing now was indefinite. His mind was In
transitional state, and would romain 30 until
ho had thought matters out. He compared 1t to
lam!et's cloud, described as resembling NOW
with tho winda Of thought. lie had denied tho
infallibility OF inspiration, IN many instances,
showing tint his method OF arriving at truth
wan not the method Of tho Church.
The results OF tho trial satisfied nobody. It
WAS HI unilniul,ed question III Prof. swing'H
mind Prof. Patton could not ha aatia(od, Ha
had receiysa all tue truth there was, lie thought,
and mist reach conclusion. And l,e would got
still largely Old School, Tho Now Hchool mon
wero now OIL trial. 1t had 10 be uAown whether
there could ba such thing as liberal orthodoxy.
nun who M bud loft the Presbyterian Church
another week, ho would have bean iust Az likoly
to liz a. tell tho truth. Tho perpetual jugglory
| with orthodoxy going on in tho nlatis ri
rational prosbytors WAS destructive OF tholr
| moral perceptions.
| Tlle Presbyterian Church Of England gave
birth to Unltarianism; aud tue prosbytoria,ia OF
| England wore largely Unitarian. ThS sanle waa
| the caAo with tho Gongrogationaists OF AlaBsa-
| ohusetts. Tho lesson loaruod here waa that
| orecda wors 1oal.
Another leABon to bo loar1.ed WAS that Of hon.
oH.y. lilo New Bollool pArty ],ad TO legitimate
standing In tho Church, aud lie had ITO uylupattly
| for tholu. Comparing their private statements
With tlluir public utteraucoa, tho New School
| party wore not oonaoontiouBly honest.
Such trials ~ these did much good. Tho very