, 1874-05-21

Tie long and exciting horosy trial is over.
Exactly tnree-fourtls OF tho presbyt ytory--forty-
five to fllteen-hayo declared their belief that
Prof. Patton is not justified in the charges and
specifications which he Inns made ngainst Prof.
SWINGS orthodoxy as a Presbyterian, aud that
ho l,as failod to prove them. Their empi,atio
aud enthusiastic aoquittal Of Prof. Swing from
tho charge OF heresy will DO received with a
hearty Welcome by tho members Of tho Fourth
Church, witl, whom ho has laborod 80 long and
30 acceptably. and who hayo stood by him 60
unitedly and dogotodly during this trial L; by
largo majority Of the laymen Of tho Presbyterian
Church In this city aud tho whole country;
while tho outside public, which always synpathiz-
cs with roligion Of tho spirit as against dog
sympathetic man as against dry, hard, un-
sympathetic one, will exclaim:
Now lot tho kotte to tho trumpet speak,
Tho trumpet to the oannoneer without.
Tho cannona to tho heavens, tho heavon to Garth.
It has boon q forcgone conclusion since tho
third day Of tho trial that Prof. Swing would bo
acquitted +; and TINT tho prosecutor 80 regarded
1t Is evident from tho manner In which he has
/ ounu]ated protest upon protest. and shaped his
caao with reference to appeal to tho Synod,
and thonco. II necessary, to tho General
Assembly. Notwithstanding this fact. wo
prosumo that not even tho most Bauguino friends
OF Prof. Swing have dreamed that lie would bo
! acquitted 80 lriulnphantly and docisivoly. That
Prof. Swing should, IN fact, have secured tho
yotos OF such stnunoh defenders OF Presbyteri-
anism aa DR.. Pattoraon, DR.. swazey, DR.. Kit
tredge. tho Rev. hlr. Mitchell, and others, and
oyon of somo OF Prof. Pattons own special
friends. who nssistcd him during tho trial and
| upon whom Lo leaned for symrathy, must bo ono
Of tho most gratifying features Of tho tinal re.
suit to Prof. Swing. 1t will also bo pleasant for
| lin to remember that many Of tho members Of
| tho Prosbytery who hayo voted for his acquittal
are tho fathers Of Preabyterianiam in the Woat,
and woro preaching Its doctrines when Prof,
Patton waa in his s'Yaddling -olothos.
Upon the successful saue OF this trial the pub
lie will join In congratulating Prof Swing aud
the mombors Of tho Fourth Church not only
upon Lis release, but upon tho manly, dig.
nitod, and transformations manuor in which
! ho Inns conducted himself at tho bar,
| in comparison with tho minatory do.
| pertinent Of tho prosecutor, who waa in
| reality upon trial just as muoh rs Prof. Swing.
| From the moment tho prosecutor lad filed his
Indictment lie WAS on trial also, and tho result
| is the triumphant aoquittal Of the ono aud the
| ompatio oonsuro Of tho other. Tho decision of
| the presbytory that Prof. Swing lH good Pros
| bytorian il tantamonnt to saying TINT Prof.
| Patton is busybody and mcddler. This joint
result indicates tho triumph Of religion nyar
dogma, Of senao over Hophism, Of charity
over aacoticism, of faith over formula. It meane
that Preabytorinniam Ia not 80 crampod by the
Wostmlnater articlea aa to prevent 1t from boine
reasonable, humauo, sympathetic. aud progres
siyo. It means tiat tho question whotLor
Presbyterian Ia sabellian, or a Calylnlst, or ar
Arnlinian, in hia definition OF dogmns which art
not susceptible OF proof. is not 30 important Of
whothcr ho ia Christian In 1is loyo of God AMI
man. 1t moans that man must not DO Iutlgct
by Ills belief alono but by hia worka.
Wlilo tho case Ia ended 80 far al tl,o proaby
tory is concerned, this trial iB but tho tlrHt Aten
Prof. Patton, aa ho has announced, will appon
to lilo Synod. lie las rotracted mud apologize,
for bis throat to impoaeh tho proHbytor
II It acquitted Prof. Swing, but til
presbytory will bo mono tho loss on triu
beforo tho Synod. 1t Prof. Swing is
lorotio the whole fourth Church md the forty
five members Of tho prcsby!cry who voted
l1Is fayor aro loretics also. It IL, therefore,
matter Of duty TINT Prof. Swing shall stand
Ills guns to the ultimate court of appoal, fnece&
sary. Tho notoriety md parade Of hs lauo AZ
r very dIhtastoful to a man Of his retiring dlape
bltion, but ho haa no right on this account
step ont rather than go through another tria
A9alone we're on trial, ,~H tho disposition Of hI