The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-05-28
THE PRESBYTERI.iNS.
why nc General Assembly MA Not Sustain
the Rev. DIR. Miller.

In the Presbyterian General Assembly,
Pittsburgh May %. DR.. Vandyke mndc I'm able
address in behalf OF tho Board OF Sustentation.
the object OF which IL to supplement tho sala-
RIGS Of pastors receiving less than $1,000. on
condition that the church raise two-thirds Of
that sum. large number Of churches through
this Agency. have obtained settled pastors, and
have become sclf-sustaining.
Tho Committee on Education. the object Of
which is to aid poor ana pious young men in
receiving an education for the ministry. made
their report. Ono hundred dollars is allowed
per year to such rs are pursuing a collegiate
course. and ono hundred and fifty to those in
theological seminarics. The number assisted
during the past year was 43G. 1t was recon-
mended that the salaries Of the Secretary and
clerks of tho board be- reduced from & 800 to
81 600. The discussion OF this subject brought
out some startling facts in relation to the enor-
nous expense OF running the various boards ot
eign Missions being the largest. the percent
age of expense was. OF course, less, but In
this case from eight TO ten per cent, is re-
quired. The expenses in the other boards
run up in some cases as high as fifty per cent.
that for every dollar. contributed one-half never
reaches its object. No business firm or corpo-
ration conducted on such policy could survive
bankruptcy. II was urged as plea Tor the re-
duction Of Expenses that the bencvolencc, Of the
church instead OF being Increased VIII grow
less and less by such run9us course.
The case OF the lev. DIR, Miller OF Princeton.
son OF Samuel Miller. u. D.. LID. ono OF the
most eminent Professors Ia Princeton Theolog
zeal Seminary. came before the Assembly by
IN appeal from the synod Of New jersey, which
had suspended him from the ministry for GER
tain heretical doctrines contained in a. book
published by him. emitted Questions ,Awak-
encd ny the Bible" In this he denies the i'm
mortality Of the soul. ifirming that dies with
the body. and romans dead until the rcsurrec-
ton that Adam Is still extinct and that Christ
no rose from the dead; that all who die
sink into their original nothingness. An
was personally accounted guilty Of Adams sin;
that like other children OF Adam he inherited
corrupt nature that he needed to be- and was
redeemed by his own doath. In justice to DR..
Miller, IL should he said that he believed that.
Notwithstanding Christs inherited corruption.
he was sanctltcd from his birth; hence his life
was perfectly siness Another specification
charges him with teaching that there 10 but one
person In the Godhead: that there isno such
thing rs n trinity in the Godhcad, and the only
passage which seems to teach three perrons in
the Scriptures is considered by biblical critics
a. spurous-an unauthorized Interpolation;
In the prosecution, which was conducted by
prs Gosmun, StuddifOrd, and Dulllcld, IL was
affirmed TINT all these doctrines are contrary TO
the confession OF faith and standards OF the
church. and that these and not the Bible. we're
the ultimate appeal in the controversy that
though nr. Miller might hold aud teach his
peculiar views, yet he could not do so as u
In his appeal DR. Miller claimed that the speci-
! ncatons OF the charge were not fairly drawn.
|
| the lower courts. To show himself not alone in
his beliefs. he said that DR.. Hodge denied the
eternal sonship, and that DR., Watts denied tho
! Trinity. He said he believed in Satan. and we
! had sad proof OF his existence here and else
| where, and that Christ could not have had u
! human nature ten minutes without SHINING. III
there was nothing in human nature to be tempt
| ed there need be no fear of Satan. He wanted
| 10 know whether the Presbyterian Church was
| going 10 become like Charles Lizard shell rs
| il poets its doctrines The Church would be
stronger II q would submit to inquiry within
| research TO be mnde without There could ba
no progress in tho Bible il its contents were
| known. neither could there be progress IN
| science II all It's mysteries wero known. He
| asked whether the Church was going to force
| men outside Of ii to prosecute their Inquiries
| After he had concluded his nnalnddrcss. one
| minute expressions OF opinion on the merits OF
| the case We're called for from members. Sev-
oral declared that they had not read DIR. Miller
| book. and therefore, could not Judge him on
testimony OF which they personally knew
nothing. Others said that inasmuch rs he
| claimed that certain salient sentences had been
extracted from his book and wrong meanings
| attached to them they could not vote 10 sustain
The, charge until they were better informed
| merous. expressed their belief that DIR. Miller
had been clearly proven guilty After grea
| many questions asking information rs TO how
| they should vote, the long and tedious roll wa
| called. and ut midnight the Moderator an
nounred the result: Not 10 sustain. 20 20 sus
| tain IN part. IL. e. sustain. J. So Dr. Miller re-
mains suspended from the ministry until sucl
! time ~ hc shall make manifest TO tho satiSfar
ton Of the Presbytery his remuneration Of .th'
errors he has been found 10 hold. and his sol
einn purpose NO longer 10 proclaim them.
Delegates were apuointcdtO all corresponding
bodies in this ana other countries. An over
ture on the Observance Of the sabbath recon-
mcnded our people. hy example and co6pcra
ton. To encourage the Efforts OF the Information
al sabbath Association and all others to pu
down, sabbath Dissertation. and discourage
attendance upon all public gatherings. even
proiessrdly religious which invite people &
yiolat" the sabbath day.
The Committee on Reduced Representation
have reported. and the Assembly adopted
recommendation fixing the ratio ~ r.pr, son
tation AT 500 for one Commissioner. 900 tn
two. and one additional Commissioner IA
every additional 2.jon
Tn" COMMITTEES u Arrangements on Saturda
reported that the funds We're getting low. and
the Assembly did nor hurry up, II would shorti
have 10 entertain lt-@f.