, 1874-04-19

list OF witnesses cited for bis trial-may claim
TonT brief attention.
know not why am referred to as witaess d,
| I'll, unless it bo on the strength Of my sermon
I On "ChIcago Orthodoxy" which Was printed in
the Times Published words are, OF course, ut
the disposal OF any who NAV choose to uso them,
put beyond that have nothing to eny, because
know nothing.
| Ius have another purpose in this note; and
it IS my main QUE It seems to cae that the city
attention is diverted from tte real issue in this
controversy. The sympathies OF the people ars
contest between Profs. Patton and Swing. And,
On all hands, By Presbyterians as we'll Us BY 9TH
ers, Prof. Patton is looked upon and talked
about as though he were engaged in d needless
persecution. But the battle ia not, and cannot
be, personal one. It is duel between autag-
onistlc systems- authority and freedom in mat
ters OF doctrine and belief. Aud in this duel
there is no place for reconciliation: one or the
other must die.
The reason is obvious. Prcsbytorianism is
.sys. em OF DOCTRINES supposed to be correct
Transcript OF. and to be authorized by, q divine
revelation. The practical acceptance Of its main
doctrines is claimed to be essential to salvation.
That they should be accepted and believed, then,
Importance. Compared with keeping in perfect
order the machinery OF the worlds salvation, no
mans reputation, or life even. is Of my conse-
qrence 10 guard 1t is merciful and humane, 1t
any cost. Ii accepting the system OF Catholicism
wad necessary to salvation in the fifteenth cen
tnry, then the 1neuisttion WAS justitable, and
IoTqcenlada was Gods minister. For wha. is
the burning OF d few thousands. If thereby mill
ions are delivered from tho everlasting burn
.in.s?" II Calviuism was right in its exclusive
Claims, then the burning OF Serve.us Was justif-
able. Ii the main doctrines OF Prcsbyterianism
are essential to salvation, then Prof. Patton ia
only doing his duty in using every means to pre-
vent any obscnring OF. or separation from,
them.
For, il it be even granted that Socrates, or
Penelope. or Mary Price Collier could be sayed
without knowing or accepting the ''orlhodox" j"
doctrines. is 1t not perfectly apparent TINT Tiers
is no longer any necessity for PreBbyterianism /?
Aud That once granted, the system is oyer
thrown.
And, aa the sy5tem is logically bound together,
Ike the component stones Of an arch. no one
will fall. 1u{all:bie Inspiration, the Athanasian
Trinity, Total Deprnvlty, and an endless He'll
must be maintained, or PrcFbyter;anism is gone.
And, It Presbytel7auisre goes, the world is lost
or else 1t can be saUed pidlo.tllt.
Logically, then, either Prof Patton is right, |
or Frestyterianism ia wrong. Tho contest is one J
OF systenb or principles II there lB dogmatism, /
it is tho dosnat;sm Of the system. II thero Is |
persecution. it il the persecution of tho system
II it is wrong, out of harmony with our nlne- |
freedom, uncharitabIe aud up- !
christian, charge the fault where it belongs-on !
tle system.
II the result of The conflict shall be the open
ng OF eyes and the breaking OF bonds, go that
iod's children may bo permitted to 20 out freely
nto all Of Gods fields in search OF Gods truth, /
hen will we all DO glad and grateful bellows
hat Prot. Sy1ne will not shrink from the thorns,
mt, like his Master, will be able to stand as
> witness for the truth" II. J. SAVAGE