The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-05-26

l n special Telegram rom Cnicago, prlntec
this morning, indicates that Professor Swini
has made up his mind to relieve himself o
the pestering impertinences Of the Patton
sert. by isaving the church in which the Pat
ton kind seem to have sway. All that Is
Ilarge-hearted aud liberal will sym
pathize with this action of the emi.
nsnt divine. 1t is the misfortune of the
Presbyterian church that she can not be
served by great men. so soon as Swing or
q Beecher appears he is beset by a body OF
| sanctimonious block heads, who presuming
to construe the word and the faith, permit
no variation from their whims. With such
men to embarrass him in his own house, Mr..
Swing could not rise to his best usefulness
and it is only by going outside of the church
that he can give play to his highest aspira-
tons. The history of this case has been, from
the beginning, thorough illustration Of the
narrow spirit that is presented IN many cases
TO impede the working of the churches, and
by reading aud noting. church people may be
enabled to steer clear of the things
which have driven this most bril-
liant man from the church. Prof. David
Swing, originally from Ohio, and brother Of
the eminent Judge Swing, of the Cincinnati
courts, has been, next to Robert Collyer,
the most conspicuous preacher in the west
for two or three years past. As the pastor
of the Fourth Presbyterian church in
ChIcsgo, he has attracted large
part of the culture and intelligence
ofthst city to his Sunday sermons. and
stands now the exponent of the very highest
order of pulpit eloquence. OF a sweet, mod
est and kind disposition, he seeks no
conspicuous place, and is far from that
odious product of modern pulpit
degeneracy, ''the popular preacher"
As may be supposed, a man of Prof. Swings
character charged with heresy, stirred up
the feeling of the entire country, and prob;
bly, no ecclesiastical event in years has been
watched with greater interest. Prof. Patton
Is late arrival in Chicago. having only
within short time accepted proiessorship
in the Northwestern University. and who
has also been doing some editorial writing
on the Interior. He set himself at once to
detect the tsint of heresy in the preaching
and published writings of Prof. Swing, and
finally his editorial criticisms became so
offensive to the presbyters of Prof. Swings
church as to call forth protest.
Obliged in some sort to justify the editorial
charges against Swing, Patton finally en-
bodied his charges with formal specifications,
and laid them before the presbytery. There
were two distinct charges, the first alleged
unfsithfulness in maintaining the truths of
the gospel; and the second a failure
to receive and adopt the confession
of faith. There were twenty-five separate
specifications under the first and
four under the second. The trial was begun
on April 20. and the verdict was reached
on the 10Th inst Professor Patton has now
appealed to the Synod of Northern Illinois,
which does not convene until next October.
Among the more Important specifications
indieting Professor Swing of heresy were
the following: Predestination, election, total
depravity, salvation, the trinity, the sove
reignity of God tine divinity Of Christ, eternal
original sin. responsibility for
ain, Unitarianism, Ssbellianism, Universal
ism, the atonement, evolution. charac-
ter OF Adam. salvation m of the
heather, especially Socrates, inspi-
ra scriptures, derision OF the
standards and symbols OF the curch, infant
baptism, special and general providence, the
cali to the ministry, sacrifices, conversion,
faith, good works and the perseverance of
hesaints. The prosecutor proposed to prove
these by extracts from twopublisbed volumes
OF sermons by Professor Swing and also by
two dozen witnesses. OF the latter, thirteen
purposely absentod themselves, and of the
Remaining ones many gave evidence sup
porting Professor Swing. or the written
extracts they all seemed to disappear when
once considered i'm connection with the con-
text. Professor Swing formerly be-
longed to the New School of Pres
byterianism and his prosecutors as exclus-
lively to the old school; 30 that this trial is
generally regarded as re-examination of
the doctrinal standards Of the new school
branch. 1t will be remembered that these
two branches of the Presbyterian church
united only four years ago, the old school
acknowledging the chief doctrines en-
bodied In the Auburn declaration. The argu-
ments upon both sides of this trial were able,
those Of Professor Patton and DR.. Halsey
being especially noticeable. Only once did
Prof Swing deign to speak and then with
his inimitable wit, sarcasm and graceful
style, his speech has been pronounced one
Of the ablest In the HISTORY Of ecclesiastical
trials. No one seemed more surprised