The St. Cloud journal. [volume] (St. Cloud, Minn.) 1866-1876, 1874-05-28

W.B.MIT0HELL DITOR.
Thursday. May 28, 1874.
THE ACaUl1TAL OF PROF. SWING.
The very important church trial in
Chicago, that Of Prof. David Swing,
pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian
Church Of that city, on charges pre-
fs1sd~ by DR.. Patton, concluded on
Wednesday Of last week, resulting in
tho aoqui.tal Of the accused by . vote
Of 30 to IA on one charge and ~ to IL
on the other. The3 charges, in brief,
were first, that Prot. Swing had not
been Jealous and faithful in maintain.
ing the truths Of the Gospel, and had not
been faithful and diligeut in tho exsr-
oiss of tho duties Of his position !; and
second, that he did not sincerely re-
osiye and adopt the Confession of Faith
Of the Presbyterian Church, a. con-
tanning tho system Of doctrines taught
in the Holy Scriptures. The verdict
Of the Presbytery has been received
With evidences Of tho greatest satisfao.
doa throughout the country, aud is
1aqusstioaably in accord With tho
judgAsnt Of thrse.fourths Of the mem.
ben Of tho Prssbytsrian church.
A. to tho faithfalness and zeal of
ProG Swing in prsaehiug tho truths Of
he Gospel, his own eharoh il Of al
pa,tiss the beat qualified to give evi.
dsnes, and the evidence il did give on
the trial was directly opposed to tho
charge Of DR.. Patton. Prot. Swings
Seal and sarnsstusss in maintaining the
truths Of Christianity were testified 70
In Tie most unqualified manner
This church has also given . still
spsgs, proof OF its confidence in it,
pastors orthodoxy and tzustworthiness
By revolving to continue him in bis old
plass, even though he had decided to
sevsR biz connection With the Prssby.
tseiaa Church.
Al 10 what constitutes an adoption
ofSAs Westminster Confession Of Faith
tAsrs il . vide difference Of opinion.
1t depends altogether on how that ON.
bodiusnt Of dootr,nal belief il inter.
prsssd, wheshe, in the hard, cold, per-
scouting spirit of the sixteenth century,
or in the brighter, warmer and moro
enlightened spirit Of tho nineteeuth.-|
If interpreted in Its literal exaotness,
every condition being insisted upon, |
Prof: Swing We without doubt open to |
the charge Of lack Of devotion 70 il
If looked at with eyes which recognize
The growth Of two hundred years, he
must be held blsmeless. And it vas
In this way that it was looked at by the
Prssbyts'y, which, in ito acquittal Of
Prot. Swing, gave expression to that
Interpretation Of the Confession Of
Faith which Is held by large m.jori.
y Of Prssbytsrians, preachers and lay.
men. If, - has doubtless been DEM
tho organic law Of tho church
needs changing, let the change be
made. There is no reason Why
churches should not grow and why
'rssds should not be changed, and there
. every reason Why they should.-
Crseds are but tho work of fallible men,
md have tho force Of inspiration only
10 far q they accord, word for word,
With revealed Scripture. Il church
hopes to be . force in the world, it
must be living church 1t must grow;
It must recognize every new truth
which is developed. Dugmas that
we're good enough for the condition of
bought two centuries ago, or of cen.
ury ago, may not be good enough for
bis day and generation. And just
ere is where Prof. Swing and DR.. Pat.
IN differ. Swing would preach tho
ospsl; Patton would preach doctrin.
wing would preach Christ; Patton
'oald prsseh Calvin. Swing would
reach God - the loving Father OF ill;
alton would preach Him "a 4 God of
sngsasee. Swing would reach ont
lSsr whas IL good aud tender and no.
10 10 nan and by that seek to lead
in % the new life; Patton would
up stsssally upon the dsp.avity which
onf1osts msa with ysvnisg he'll
wing feels tho throbbiogs Of tho heart
the great werld around him Patton
insrustsd With tho dogmas Of three
satusiss and il out Of tho reach Of
'elisg. Swing il fresh, life.bloodsd
'ssshsr Of lifs.giviue Gospel ; Pat.
% il theological trilobits.
d.. Patton has given notice that he
i'll appeal the eass to the Synod, and
dsfsassd there, to the General Al.
'nbly. This Is al we'll enough; for
70 issue might better come now than t
tor between growth sad ioezustaeioo.
10 greatly 70 be regretted that Prot.
wing felt compelled by his dread of
} indefinitely protr.stsd theological
u, to withdraw from the Presbyterian
huroh. It would have been we'll to
We tho case carried up just ~ it was s
quo. DR.. Patton cannot now do less
an s'raign tho P,esbytsry which 40 +
lifted the ssoussd, and thereby en-. /
,rsed and shared in his ''herssy." ;