, 1874-04-25
TemDerance Women and the Meth0-
dist Church Block.
Notes and Personals at Home and
Abroad.

PROF. SWING.


Rev. David Swing. Fullreports OF the meetings
Of the presbytcry we're published, and it is ne
cessars simply to eta:e that the charges were
slightly modified by their author at the request
Of the preebytery, which adjourned until May 4,
when it ia presumed that the trial will begin.
Is stated in yesterdays TRIBUNE, the Ruling
Elders Of the Fourth Presbyterian Church have
passed eeries Of resolutions expressing their
full. confidence in their pastor. and declaring, in
contradiction Of the charges, TINT he has worked
with zeal and faithfulness during his connection
Eith tbs congregation to which they belong.
During those times when the Presbyte1y is
not IN session the two contestants, each being
the editor OF q newspaper express their opinions
through the medium Of their respective organs
The Inst number of
TIE ALLIANCE,
With which Prof Swing is edi.orially connected,
has tEs following:
LII the Pattonian theology It Is complained that the
herecz Mr.. Swing attaches TO faith natural saving
quality, aud thus makes it save the soul - education
from superstition or as food saves from Etar'a
ticn The theologian Of the Northwest having looked
into this matter says that faith is arbitrary ealvs
ton and iutilelty arhitr1ry da1nnauon. Iha: is
faith the eoul because God says does aud int
delity daulns the soul simply becauEe God hss go do
cded tudicialy AZ Calvin says Of the many pursuits
Of Ite that they only to be pursuits because God
and AT md study are Of themselves vain and useless
so Prof. Patton says that "faith has only Judicial
relation to virtue, and tndeli'y only Judicial res~
ton to tn. This unique aud amazing estimate sub
pittted by Prof Pntton in opposition TO the heTet'ca
v1e7s Of Nj. Swing, may be illustrated follows: II
God had only declared that Al should 60 to Heaven
who would cut OF the little finger, OF would shave
the head, this cutting of Of the little finger
and this shaving the head would be Just puch salya
ton Is is secured through faith. That the natural
bearing Of faith upon holiness l. nothing At al any
than would be the oes Of the little dnger OF the
tonsure Of the head. Against this view nculcated
SWING there is an infinite difference The latter gen.
tleman thinks TINT God clothed faith with judicial
power, becnuso it = mental state full Of natural
bower 1ha. faith which 10 tells in the Mohammedau
world and Ill the world Of morale is impressed into
the Christian service, and God seems to say, "oh,
rn If you will only believe ii Christ as you have BIZ
ncved in fnlse gods, He will save sou indeed. Faith
natural and Judicial power, therefore, and hence
afuncttons could not have been performed ~ prof.
1orplng Of the hair. In looking over the theology Of
ROT pattop, far he Jet uufolaed It, he seems to
ca upon tbs principle that Gods faToEito employment
Is to contradict reasou md that in order for doctrine
to he iyne aud orthodox 1t must FIRST be confessed to
te destitute Of sense.
short editorial reads:
1t IL one Of the lamentations Ct Brother Patton
the Of Brother Swing, that when tbs atter saJa
anr1hng the former docs not fully understand him.
By divinity Of Christ he might mean something esc,
aud by conversion he might uean education, and By
the countless years Of eternity he might mean only
4 good while. Hence the coming trial 1nasnueh a.
ha, Hnr 1s ,s@ m n
Coll,er tnd Mr. Mt that the public might know where
the idea OF he'll oaves tho lady and begins to attach to
the gentleman, it il thought By some that the Profes
sor Of Theology will withdraw al the organizations
sbort ambiguity.
The INTERIOR.
The Interior deyotes its columns largely to
report OF the Swing trial, and to editorial scold
ing Of all who have Eaid good word for Prof.
Swing. OF DR.. Thomas. whose sermon on the
trial Of Prof. Swing WAS published in TIE TR1B-
rSE last Monday, the Interior says:
II is difficult for to Imagine the feelings Of Dr..
Thomas III discovering that CAripiam IL still force
ID chastendo; that the Presbyterian Church is what
Enc profeeses he, aud that the 1900 ministers who
subscribe to her Confession Of Faith are for tho most
ymt honest men, who believa whnt they profess to be-
ieye. Dr.. Thomas will repent him Of his surly 81
le1.ce respecting Cavinism. Who knows but that the
small measure, ths fact that he has allowed it to
Iasa n1rr5uked7
We caunot notice Tho brothers. arguments lust now;
but must oner word Of criticism. We protest
Rg.ine his saying anything to prejudice the Court.
Prof Swing IL on trial among other things for not
believing the doctrines Of the Confession Of Faith
Whether be does or does not viii .ppear when the par
tics hare been Eeard It the bar Of the Presbytey It
is little nrsnsture therefore, M Tor pr, Thomas 10
Atr. Swings theological opinions.
We have supposed moreover, that the Methodist
ministry sre expected to be in sympathy with John
Wesley as :nu:h rs rresbsterians with Calvin
Fsoud gather from Dr.. Thomas sermon, that
Methodist minister might believe and I9each what he
likes We think too we'll OF the Methoditt Church to
regard Dr.. Thomas fair representative Of it,
To the Alliance, which ventured word in
favor Of Prof. Swing, the editor OF the Interior
Rays:
1t 1nas not be xt.s to caution our neighbora OF the
ddrancc that theywn do veil TO commit themselves
n favor Of general overretting Of things Cong1e-
zationalif narrowly escaped getting its neck broken
Ut brooklyn few weeAs ago.
As usual, this theme is farorite one With
cores pondents, and the following arc marely =
few Of the many received:
L WORD FoB PROF. PATTON.
10 ths Editcr Of Tie CHICAGO Tribune:
SIZE: May permitted to write word in de-
tense of rrof Patton It seems to me that, as
faithful minister Of the Presbyter'an Church,
ind teacher and defender Of its theology, he ia
simply doing his duty IN tie effort lie 1t making
to have the position Of Prof. Swing more clearly
defined than it is at present. Is ne OF IL he
not preacher OF tbs Gospel according to the
PRESBYTERIAN standards 2" is the question which
Prof, Patton would have tho Presbytery OF Chi
caeo settle and I submit that, in view Of all
the facts in the case, it is both necessary and
vital one
For, certainly, there can be no doubt as to the
kind Of doctrine he ia to deem essential to sava-
ton and tho regard he is to cherish for it, which
q true minister Of the Presbyterian Church is
bound by its Book Of Discipline and it's SOL
emn o.ths to believe and show forth
community opinions differ very widely as to
whether Prof. Swing is loyal cr not to those
:learly-defned doctrines Of his Church. For
Ibis difference Of opinion Prof Patton Ia not re-
eponslbe; it is the result Of the preaching OF
rrof- Swing himself the iRst few years. 1t
scens to me. therefore, thst the dut! OF the
Presbytezy is simple aut plain in the citcum-
stances: it must inquire into, not the spiritua-
II. or the Christianity nainly, but the Presby-
:cr;an quality Of prot SWINGS gospel And it
iA tast this that rrof Patton is helping it to do
IN :l,e main, Ills contuct has been distinguished
- foz ability, diEuity and high conscientiousn.ss.
= Tic writer has ;een present at the meetings.
: i Illus far OF the presbytery ence the case Wa
. .akea up b. it, and, although = Unia-
ran and therefore opposed entir,ir
/, tie theological notions Of Prof. Patton. 81
r1;tt ueya,t1e!ess. express the opinion that tSs
tre.:r,eu.Nllch this Jealous ciurchman il ~
-.iy;rr fha h.nGs Of the majority OF bis min
'...,1aI 1aI,iethzen is anything but fair and honest
ir.fel of regarding him AZ the Representative
RI n: Church's integrity and honor, they seem to
irr-upon him IS \ troublesome fellow, a self-
.rcatcd LereeY-hunter, aad q wicked disturLer
its peace aud go thev are seeking to oppose
.la, st every step, to throw suspicion upon his
p:o:.rcs, apt, to magnify his fautts AID mistakes
lLcy ia not acpeaz 10 consider that it ia a.