, 1874-05-24
Gbr Gblf3ayp QI2iba1le.
Sunday Morning, May "a, 1874.
THE BWMG-PATTON AFFAIR.

The whole aspect OF the Swing-Patton case
Aas changed, as our readers know, within couple
Of days. Prof. Swing has withdrawn from the
Presbyterian Church after yindcating his right
to remain in it, aud after his orthodoxy WAS
youched for by the Chicago Presbytery. .Ho
fought, aud won !; be came, hesaw, and conquered; /;
but rather than continue the fight any longer sur
renders all the advantage that he had obtained.
Prot. Patton, too, has gained all that he started
out in search OF. He wanted to demonstrate
Swing no Presbyterian Mr.. SWING leaves the
Presbyterian Church but Patton, having got
his hand in, is bound to fight somebody,
80 he fights the P1osbytery Of Chicago
and their decision in the Swing trial
the question is very naturally asked: What ia
Prot. Swing going to do now? It is not, per-
hspz, generally known that Mr.. Swing is not tho
pastor Of the Fourth Presbyterian Church.
Shortly after the fire that church, being without
clergyman regularly installed as pastor, invited
l1r. Swing to occupy Its pulpit, and theinvitation
was accepted. Since that time he has
been, not the pastor OF the church. but what is
known in Presbyterian parlnnco Is s'stated sup
ply This is position which Congregationalist
may, consistently with Presbyterian usage, fill,
Us long as the Session Of the Church are agreed.
Il Mr.. Swing joins the Congregationalists, he
may, therefore, ifthe Fourth Presbyterian Church
fit, continue in his preEent position. In other
words, there is nothing In Presbyterian dis
cipline to interfere with aIr. Swings relation to
his present congregation, though he should be-
come Congregationalist while they continued
Presbyterian.
But Mr. Swing can neither leave the
Presbyterian Church nor join the Congre-
getiona1 without formally severins his con-
connection with the former,-i. e., obtaining
letter of dismissal, stating that he is member
in good and regular standing. To leave without
this document, to ignore the Church, OF take
French leave OF it, would be to submit himself
to another controversy. The question has been
asked whether the Prcsbytc1y can give such let
tertoprof. Swing while there is TN appealpending
in which he is interested. So far as We have been
able to learn, there is nothing to prevent the
Presbytery's certifying to Prof Swings good
standing in the Church, il they feel so disposed;
and, considering that they havo just acquitted
him Of the only charges TINT can be brought
to impeach his good standing it would
seem that they will feel 30 dispos-
ed. The appeal pending is no cloud
on Prof. SWINGS orthodoxy. As Prof. Patton
says, be Is not even party to it,-no more q
party to it than II his name had never been mou-
toned in connection with it. The case now Ia
not Patton against Swing, but Patton against
the Presbytery. Prof. Swing ia not even repre-
eented By counsel in the appeal. To refuse him
q letter of honorable dismissal because there is
an appeal of the kind pending would be to
prejudge tho case and usurp the place alike
of the Synod and General Assembly. As far as
the matter has gone it has been testimonial to
the good standing Of Prof. Swing, and rebuke
to Prof. Patton With letter of Dismissal show
ing his regular standing in the Presbyterian
Church there is no doubt that the Congreea-
uonallsts would receive him gladly