The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1878-05-25
The Standing Committee on Educa-
IiOn RepOrt-A Representative
From the Cumberland
Church-Tne Miller
neresy Case.
Correspondence of the Register.

the number Of young men contemplating
the ministry. There is decline also Of
the number among the institutions Of
the Middle and Western States,
but not SO noticeable. AS re-
suit of this falling of in the
ranks OF the ministry, the minutes of last
wears Assembly shows vacancies in 80
churches with an average membership Of
200 each, and 80 vacancies in churches
with an average membership of from
100 to 200 each. The report hints that
the reason of this decline is the disposi-
tion somewhat prevalent to consider the
ministry as merely q protession-s
mesus of good position and livelihood
and 1t suggests that the remedy is little
more zeal in encouraging young men to
take on the gospel harness. In respect
to the statistics of the Board Of Educa-
tlon, it may be said that the churches
contributing TO the wants of the Board
last year were 220 more than dur
ing the year before, and notwithstsnd-
ing the strlngenCy OF the times the co.,
tributions fell off only So 974 80. The
expenses OF he Board last year were $685.
283 S5. and the present Indebtedness
50 $50 So In view of the heavy de-
mands and the pressure OF the times, u
motion was made during the discussion
of the recommendations when put to
vote. to reduce the expenditures at least
81, 800, and then an amendment was Of
tered, placing it in the discretion of the
Board 10 make the reduction, instead of
having it positively ordered by the AS
sembly. The amendment was carried by
a vote of 1914 to ia. The recommends
ton as amended Was then adopted, aud
sf.er it the report as a whole.
At this juncture the Rev. Mr.. Coulter,
corresponding delegate from the Cum
berlaud Presbyterian Church, was in.
troduced and began his address by say
ing that he came to represent church OF
26 Synods, IL Presbytcries, - or
dsined ministers, 2l6 licensed candidates
Tor the pastorate and 2OS young men in
preparation for the ministry, and
mem bershlp of something over 100000
This church has three niversities-Cum-
berlsnd University, IN Lebanon, Tennes-
see; Trinity University, in Texas, and Lin
coin, Illinois, and IN addition has the
well known college of WaYnesburg, in
this State. The endowments of these in
stitutions amount TO about S6OO,OOO, and
their students number 200, In the way
of publishing interests the church is yet
behind its ideal, the capital invested in
these interests now being only $4,000.
In its character the Cumberland Presby
terisn Church Is pre-eminentIy mis-
sjonary church, its work so tar being but
small in the cities. Ending his address
with the usual we'll wishes he was re-
piled to briefly by the Moderator.
The Moderator then announced as 8
special committee to prepare minute of
the Assembly on the decision relating to
the case of the Rev. Mr.. SeeE I. Ralston
Smith, Robert Patterson, w. M. Baker.
}. Ogden, S. G. Perkins.
After some further business of MINOR
Importance, the Moderator called up the
case of the Rev. John Miller, on the
pending charge of heresY, The appeal
from the judgment of the Synod of New
j ersey to the Assembly, which Mr.. Mil.
Ter makes, contains four points.
l. He has suffered hardship in being
cut off from his work for beliefs not vital
in themselves, but only appearing vital
from being entsngled with beliefs that
al Q vital The doctrines which he has
denied are (l) ghost life between death
and the resurrection; (2) new humanity
for Christ, not born OF Adam; (9) the
doctrine OF the hypostss9s OF Nj cSA, the
doctrine or assertion Of the distinct per-
sonality of the three persons Of the God.
head. The doctrines entsngled with
them are: () q final immortality; (2)
the sinlessness of Christ; (3) ChristS
Diety and the work OF his redemp-
ton. The first three doctrines,
Mr.. Miller says, he cannot find in
the Bible; the last three he con-
siders vital and utterly distinct. The
reason why these six doctrines are
linked together is either the custom of
centuries or the use of rstionslistic sub
tleties, from which he Graves relief. lie
believes that we die at death, but does
not impugn the faith IN resurrection; he
believes Christ came from Adam, but not
that he had corrupt nature; he believes
that the Nicsesn theory wss mistake,
but does not deny the very Godhead OF
Christ He does not believe in disem-
bodied life nor in hypostasis, or distinct
personality of the Father, Son and Holy
Ghos, in the Godhesd, and yet he be.
Iieyes in what are known IS the doc
trines of grsce.
Pointing out the ration slistiC subtletles
us I'd against him, he says these are ~
That we cannot be extinct at death be-
cause that would destroy personal iden.
titV; (2) Christ could not have been IN the
IONS of Adam, for If he answered Tor
himself he could not answer for his pec-
ple; (8) God must be hypostsses, or the
persons OF the Godhead distinct, for
otherwise Christ stOned to himself and
wrestled with himselfin prayer. Against
this rstionslism Mr.. Miller appeals to
the Assembly. And here long argu-
ment is made in refutstion Of these
alleged subtleties.
Il. Presbytery in trying him was un-
fairly and invalidly the prosecutor in
stead OF the Judge, and, Whist is more,
purposely formed its charges to embsr-
rsss him, and the Synod endorsed this
conduct.
III. Synod called the roll of the Pres
byterv OF New Brunswick, and sum-
moned each member to act against the
accused the last thing before himself, and
then the Presbytery were excluded from
the house. They listened 10 long speechs
attacking him, and introduced new mst-
ter, which he had no means to challenge.
And again in calling the roll Of the
Synod new matter was introduced, and
the appellant excluded from the house.
". Many voted against him with the
clear understanding that an alternative