, 1874-05-26
And at Some Subsequent Meeting
Will Request Letter
Of Dismissal.
The Reasons for the Decision Of the
Presbytcry in tho Trial.
laird Collier Declines to Answer
tho Summons to Appear.
Mr.. Wakeman on Prof. Swings De"
parture.
THE pRESBYTERY.

mooting in tho rooms Of tho presbytcr 1nRti-
tute, McCormick's Block, ut half-past 10 o'clock
yesterday morning, the Rev. Arthur Mitchell In
the chair. There wero tlirty-hvo ministers md
Elders present, nnd the session was an important
ono.
REASONS ron TIE VERDICT.
After prayer, the ney. DR.. Patterson submitted
the following report:
Tho Committee appointed to prepare statement Of
iho case Of lilo nov. David SWING report AZ folows
Of ns charges sSsnHtM In Mr. Living are n,egave
a m povnr ao nessSe Much desnds il ills esss
upon statement Of tho questions at issue. It Ia
not tho question:
regard to the roal views Of air. SWING No must 10
governed BY tho evidence md not by private opnious
T. It Is not Tie question what Mr.. Swing may do in
the future We nre confined 10 tho evidence Of what
g. It il not tho question whittier Mr sizing occupies
such rossion or habt,slly uses such expressions In
LIS greacnng o. arS e. TO- " a He ey
which Of ua deem too liberal, and he may employ
muny expressions which to most OF us seem not suf
Vi no hilch uufahfuness ~ constitutes ocoeaas-
tca oionee The question ~ t !. rsgarda sts ne kny
LAS no poaiive rue OF judgmout
4. It is not the question whether the Views Of Mr.
Swing in regard to tho relniys importance Of formu
lated theology or not correct. man may
Judge enormously this point, mud jet hold all tie
essential doctrines Of Evangelical Christianity, and Of
ndoEtT. '''''''' 6''' :''' N'7f'' "A'''
s. Il il not tho question whether Mr. Swing is right
our It s day aey & o
our formula Of faith or inasss upon tle pEopo,oas
contained IL our con1essIS I' e sy for hss sin
tanning tho syatem Of doctrine taught in the Holy
Scriptures" aud yet be mistaken aE to tho IN
SaSaso tic syss requires Its 0S'e' to hold the
9. Il Is NOT the question whether Mr. swings iudg-
correct or lot. There are gfcat yarieoa of Judgment
on Aia subject nllowcd BY our curoles inaamuch us
preaching H. Only such styles of preaching az eult-
cs|y and desjgneIly avoid Christian truth or cearIy
iassssts essssIa r T. 'si5y rssasdaa
itts m not ho oucst.on M whether sr. swjne has been
uniuthfui az al, mnerfcct men aro in proseunn df
ons for Oh this nont wa l.ova No ahsoiute staasru
Of ecclesiastical Judgment.
bccn claimed by Unitarians or suspected Of error BY
orthodox people; for all this has been true Of
sonnd men who were not spec,ay nnfaithtul but wore
ether inolined to maeonatrao tho!r words position.
.rror Of doctrine ainistora in such
gense constituted m ecclesiastical oGense.
But tho questions s ara lse only Ie. thess; s:''e'
/. Whether it has been coneusiyely proved that Mr..
are b. our church regarded esssntiat to the system
Of doctrine taught III tho Confession and IN tho iioy
Scriptures.
2, Whether 1t hnB been proved beyond doubt that
be has peeu unfnithful III tile discharge Of hia minis
tcrial duty in such to constitute eccles.
astieal onense.
n,.,snxs ron sxaAr1y1so THEM.
rhese nncstons lie presbytery Inns anawered in TIM
ne11tjva ffnr tho fntJovinq rcnaons: - %AAo
N1r swinr's vosition a. rre.urter;an m,nf,tcr
Win bs. nolemn1y nrofeased to receiyo and nont mr.
annht ~ a g as oogo M t
form ali Ills MINISTERIAL d,tiea with dety. obees ,s
r. rouord him ns ondnx and faittfmI unti, tie con
teary IS Icon estuSahe not by nerenta
reasonings from his statements, but BY nndeniable
have not been produced rEo i aiegod cyiicneos. to
be- conclusive, require us to assume that III. Swing
wtilfni lecefysr Who o,,rht 10 10 iuIcted for tha
most wicked anll shameless hypocrisy. But we dars
not assume such ground without overwhelming owl
denco.
AR. Swing hrs dtu;<d ths cbarccs aos,u,t him In
rntinp. In, ntirmcd ,hat Ia IL Nav scoo
and ia has asserted III hat It s holds IN ts
evnnsiiroi uer.n 1n Iuxur.ton Of fl,c Toiv gcrn
Hrho ONCE OF Ch1ist IN a Mediutor nw1en orasnc,i