The Indiana State sentinel., 1874-05-19
PRESBYTERIAN 1nouIsiT1oN
TWO PEN PHOTOGRAPHS.

The Chicago Tribune Of the 10th inst. gives
short sketches of the two men who are now
prominent in the Presbyterian heresy In
that citv. The central figure is Professor
Patton the prosecutor. He is the represen-
tative OF doctrfnal fsnaticism without the
usual fanatical enthusiasm, as Professor
Swing is the representative of latitudinarl-
anism without its usual aimiess directon- |
Theology is written all over him-in his
pbvsicsI contour. in his mannerisms, and
in his conventional white necktie, which is
as strictly regulation orthodox as the red
shoe of cardinal. He ssvors as strongly OF,
his profession as a roofer does OF his tar /.
men of broad and libera. culture,
men who eat good dinners, men who
grow mellow in the sunshine, would give
MIN wide berth. They would sszzle II ne
happened TO come in contact with them.
He is in his 3Sth year, we believe; but, II ne
should live to be SO he Will be no older tnan
he is now. He will not crystalline nor In
tensify with age. He IL very old young
man, and like most fruit which ripens pre-
maturely, he is acid and bitter. In his per-
sonaI appearance, although be has been
soaked in theology until he is water-iogged
with 1t, he shows all the echsracteristicso OF the
student. He is thin, spare, wiry and pale
faced, with dogged determination marked
in every lineament, and has the thin nostril,
protruding chin, sharp facial angle, narrow
forehead, and small, sharp eye, which denote
unusual keenness, perseverance, and con-
centration OF purpose. de was cut OUT ny
nature for prosecutor. He would have
made. f,--.r.l.-,f 80
AN ADMIRABLE INQUIs1ToR.
In physical peculisrities, indeed, he very
closely resembles Calvin His dress is con-
yentionslly proper, fits him perfectly, and is
as much part of him as his voice. There
is no limpness of linen, no creases, no
turned up edges, no awkwardness of ad-
iustment, no shiny spots. There IS no
heresy in the raiment, no abrupt departures
from ecclesiastical propriety. His tailor and
| laundress are well schooled and grounded.
Notwithstanding his coolness and impertur-
| liability and command of himself, he Is
very nervous, and, while in repose, has the
| habit of most nervous people, OF biting MS
fingers. When addressing the Presbytery,
he always advances to the same spot, hold
ing little blank book in his right hand, in
which he keeps his own record and the con-
| fession of faith. He speaks in q uniform
1 tone OF voice, sharp, clear, and penetrating,
without a particle OF pathos,. and con-
| fines himself to simple gesture with
the forefinger- of his left hand, which he
brings down upon his book to indicate his
points, sometimes emphasizing them also
\ with a motion of his head. Under excite
/ ment or loss of temper. he would be weak
man, and he therefore keeps himself we'll IN
check, knowing that thereby he is strong.
The nearest that he has come to losing his
temper was on Thursday forenoon, when he
was taxed by one of the Presbyters with
having Mr.. Goudy's professional assistance,
| contrary to the rules. Even under such an
imputation as this, which was the deadliest
arrow that could have been shot at his intel
lectual pride and theological capacity, ne
only wayered tor an instant. and then was
himself again. This Intellectual pride,
which amounts to an almost intolerant arro-
gance. is really his weak spot, and, if there
had been any of the Presbyters sharp
enough to avail themselves of it, they would
have
F.. PIERCED THROUGH His ARM0R
at this loose JOINT. 1t manifested itself in
his reioinder to Prof. Swings counselupon
one occasion to the effect that he would not
allow his education TO be questioned. 1t
| shows itself in the manner in which he closes
every speech to the Presbytery, long or
short, his invariable manner being to leave il
| to the common sense the Presbytery which
he does with quite sneer at the aggregate
capacity before him. When driven to a cor
ner, or aware himself that his argument may
not be complete, some satirical allusion
fills out the weak spots. 1t is plain to see
that he feels himself intellectually superior
| to the other Presbyters, and Is rather aston
ished that they do not express any admira-
ton for that superior quality OF Presbyter-
rian brain brought all the way from New
| York to dazzle Western Presbyters.
The Western Presbyters, however, don't
dazzle well, but, on the other hand, get in
some very telling hits in a very sly way.
AS long ago as Wednesday, it was evident
to even the most casual observer, that Pro-
fessor Patton was prosecuting a lost cause.
| He, himself, knew it, and he has since that
time been simply moving pawns forward
and losing them, for the sake of new COM
binstions with the larger pieces of the
synod-and this he has been doing very
skillfully. At the same time, every move
has been met with an equally shrewd
counter-move by the friends of Mr.. Swing.
Professor Patton is a man who is of neces-
sity happiest in conflict. He was born
in Bermuda, and has not yet recovered
from the influence of the storms which
sweep about "the vexed Bermoothes." Pro-
He was educated by Jesuit. Professor
Patton is of necessity an old school Presby-
4 terian He holds the Mccormick chair ci
theology, and is the editor of Mr.. McCor-
mick's newspaper. Professor Swing is a
new school Presbyterian, who can neSer
ural warmth and sympathy and kindness.
For this reason Professor Patton has been
set upon hina. aa-.
PROF. SWING. .iI
Prof. Swing, the prosecuted, Is in every
conceivable respect, physical and mental,
the sntipodes of the prosecutor. Two men
more unlike, il would be difficult to imag-
4 inc. Both men are reverends, both are
professors, and there the resemblance ceases.
| Although a professor, Mr.. Swing is not a
ltheologisn- Although a reverend, he wears
none of the ministerial badges, and gives
no outward sign of his calling. He Is of
average height, strong and compactly made,
and closely knit in texture. His complexion
Is healthy bronze, his nose prominent and
slightly aquine his mouth full, his fore
head broad and massive, and ms eyes full,
clear, and very expressive. Such eyes
under such brow denote that union
of strength and grace, of clear thought and
graceful fancy, which are characteristic of
the man in his sermons. His hair Is long,
black, loose and erratic in its tendencies.
His costume has the easy, neglige style of
the scholar, and is typical of the man who
j wears it. and his soft felt hat, very liable to