, 1874-05-23
THE CASE OF PROF, SWING.

Prof. Swing, at late hour Thursday night, 60
far postponed his intended retirement from tho
Presbyterian Church aa to permit consultation
Of his friends aud associates in the Church in
reference to his future courso. An informal
consultation was hold Inst night by the Elders
and Tr7lsteos of the Fourth Church. It was vir-
tua1y agreed that Prof Swing shall remain their
paHtor,-a Congregational minister at the head
OF Presbyterian Church. Tho situation ia
anomalous, but not without precedent. II tho
congregation ratify It, DR.. Patton will havo to
prosecute the Fourth Church In order to carry
Ills case higher up. Prof. Swing, personally.
will be beyond Ills reach. But, as tho Fourth
Church will still bo Presbyterian, ho may possi-
bly, present it to the Synod aud General As-
sembly for listening to "hcretioal y, aermons
from Prof. Swing'a lips. So tue withdrawal OF
Prof. Swing, under these circumstances, is not
likely to end the controversy.
It Ia evident that Prof. Swing has decided to
Withdraw undor the suppression that he viii re}ioye
tho Presbyterian Church from an exciting aud
rancorous controversy which. diHturbs tho Anr-
nony OF its membership. But this is a mistake.
This is not prosecution OF Mr: Swing alone.
1t is tho outbreak Of Old School PresbytorianiHm
against New School. The formal union og the
two Schools took piaco in 1869, but tue
Old School has never tolerated tho advanced
! position Of the New School, aud this prosocu-
tion Of Prof. Swing is but tho forerunner Of
general puRh against a1l New School preahyta-
3,f;,
representative Of the New School. and hence
bis Ba1ection az the first victim. Tho Into trial
| has awakened an antaSonism in the Presbyto-
rian body In all parts Of the United States
! which cannot be quieted by his withdrawal from
tho Church. The vote in the Chicago Presby-
terry shows how fully and heartily tho members
| sympathized and agreed with Mr. Swing; and
Now School mon in all parts Of tho United States
folt that thoy were In some sense on trial. Such
| y controversy, once put in motion, cannot bo
| slepced or compromised by tho Withdrawal Of
ono man.
Whether Mr. Swing retro or continue In tho
Presbyterian Church. the controversy must now
! 20 on. Nothing that lie can do can avert it.
But bis withdrawal will DO g severe blow to hia
| friends, and to all mombors Of the Church who
have dofondod and supported him. His aban.
donmont Of the eaHo leaves them exposed to
prosecutions founded upon their agreement with
him. lie leaves the field to which they rallied
III hin tlefenso Thoy incurred riaka In his be-
half which at leaBt entitlo them to voto in do
Gliding his future course. rhree-fourtAa Of tho
nIrtour 4jnit,1 &t,~I
he were hcretio. they were horeticH. Thoy
accepted his explanation and dcfeuRe heartily
and in good faith. The prosecution, on the con.
trary, did not 80 accept it. They regarded
his speech in the trial as All aggravation Of the
original heresy. Wh,lo evoxy man must, III tue
end. decide for hinsolf what his conscience re-
quires hin to do, It seoma to us that 1t will bt
unchiyalroua for Prof. Swing to abandon tht
mon who ~ brayely and zoalously onst thauaHelye,
in the breach to detond him.
There arc other roasona no less forctble nh,
he should not adopt tho couraa ha bus proposed
Ho las been tried and acquitted by vote o
| | throe-fourths OF the preabytory. Rst1romen
, from the Church under notice from the proae
, outor OF an appeal to the Synod will 10 connid
, cred aH evidence Of unwi]lingness to meet til
! issuo in q higher court. While no one hora II
Chicago may thinl; this, public op!nio
, throughout the country will attribut
tho abandonment Of the Church b
| Prof. Swing as 4 confession that lie teol
In his conacloneo that he is not proshytoria
: In faith and doctrine in otlor words, that til
charges preforred against him wore true III sub
stance If not in lotter. Moreover, such retr*
{ | Ineut would bo victory, not only over him PEI
{ Honally, but over the entire body Of tho No
School rho sympashizs With him. Thls prost
I out.on il denisned 10 tces oub hsrssy snd pun