The New York herald., 1879-08-31

be read out OF the Church is not likely
to be successful. Aud the attempt to force doc
trine not certainly in the and certainly
not IN the scriptures upon all Presbyterian minis
tiers, can hardly fail 20 produce schism il per-
sisted IN aud new schism among the Presbyte-
rans would not be lamented by them alone. But the
probability is that few byterians and none of
the higher courts of the Church will sustain this de-
nverahce from the Presbytery of Wooster. While
that Presbytery Is charged with having seriously
blundered in this case Mr. Alcott is similarly
cused Tor. having copy OF the Confession of
Faith. he should have kept his own consc ience
and not have committed its keeping Presby ytery
He also blundered, it is said i'll his definition OF
limited atonement III quoting the Westminster Con-
fession as declaring that God elects part of the
FALLEN ana sinful race to eternal lite regardless of
comparative merit, so that. as IL has been argued
''viilan and SAINT may die the same moment ana lind
the same abundant entrance into heaven" This. OF
course IL not the language OF the confession but
is the doctrine that its commentators force out of
it. As the Christian at Work says. This will be
But little Of the article Known as the Wisdom Of
tile serpent will meanwhile harm neither Presby
terry nor minister.
THE scorcHMAN's HEREsY
For many months tue United Presbyterian Church
VT Scotland Church called united because it is
dsunited from other Presbyterian bodies and is
split up by dissensions among its own members
has been agitsted by discussion respecting the
thodoxy OF the Rev. David Macrae. of Gournch. who
respecting the doctrines OF election. preordina-
tion and limited atonement. Finally. at u
special meeting OF the Synod OF this Church, held
in Edinburgh last month. decision in Mr. Macrae's
was reached. Mr. Macrae made his last plea III
his own defence. He endeavored to show from
the Scriptures that the wicked have the
possibility of eternal life the good; that evil has
everlasting existence, and that the universe Will
eventually be purified from sin. Satan himself. "if
there be such II creature upon which point MIR.
Macrae had some misgivings-would be redeemed
and placed once more among the ranks OF the un-
fallen angels. He denounced the Westminster Cate
chisIn being misin depreciation OF the Scripture
and ho criticised the creed of his denomination,
which is formulated III the Westminster Confess
sion Of Faith" rs q departure from the real and
traditional belief of his Church. Mr.. Macrea s
of the best known ministers in the United Presby-
terian Church OF Scotland and is also of
siderable Importance. In . alecture the "Westmins-
ter Confession he characterized the reverence paid
to that standard OF tho Church, and the frowning
upon men of independent thought and judgment,
aud the bringing Of the Bible and Independent
thinkers to the bar of hum IN tradition to be tried
''only another form Of Popery. 1t was Romanism,
he declared in y Geneva gown. He charged his
Church with being involved in u fetishism which is
only baptized with Christian names. Waxing warmer
in his subject Mr.. Macrea added 1.-THE Church is
made fetish when attendance there is made SUBJ
stitute for Christian life. The Lords supper is made
q fetish wher cousecrated bread is made to do duty
for consecrated heart. The creed aud formula is
made fetish when it is allowed to stand between
and the Bible The Bible itself made fetish when
it is allowed to stand between and God; when the
letter is put in the place OF the Spirit when the book
is worshipped instead OF Hun OF whom 1t tells when
tho lamp made IDOL OF, instead OF being used
light to guide our steps. The Bible. the Church,
the sacraments the creeds and catechisms OF every
name are to be judged by their fitness to make meo
good. to bring men into living communion with
God, iuto Christian fellowship with one another.
and into harmony with the spiritual laws Of the uni
verse;.
HIS objections to the Confession" were plain and
pointed as the following extract wall Indicate He
said go Confession misrepresents the character
of Gcd and false view of the position and des-
tiny Of man naturally follows. The Westminster
dogma OF everlasting torment in itself Is subver-
sion of Gods character rs revealed in Christ and
amounts to denial Of the Gospel. Carried to its
issue it robs God of His goodness, His mercy and
His justice. 1t robs Him OF HIS sovereignty,
giving sin power of maintaining itself against Him
forever. and so far leaving the devil to al eter-
nifty master OF the situation. The hrst necessity
this state Of things Mr.. Macrea thinks is that
the present policy OF evasion and concealment
should be reversed and the Church's real convic-
tions be made known. The second Is that her Con
fession should be squared with her actual faith.
The third Is that this should be done on grounds
that would make her new creed help and not a
hindrance, and allow her hencefOrth to advance
freely. God shall guide. to the full knowledge and
proclamation and practice Of the truth.
ANOTHER "HERETIc' SHAKEN UP.
commission was appointed to formulate the
hereses contained in this lecture into charges against
its author. At the meeting Of the Synod Princi
pal Cairns submitted the report OF the committee
when the Rev. Fergus Ferguson asked the Synod to
disapprove OF the committees report in certain par
tculars which he indicated, ana appealed eoquently
in favor revision Ut the standards OF the Church.
His address the occasion revealed his own
soundness on the Mosaic cosmogony and the dura-
ton OF future punishment for which he was subse-
quently put on trial by the Presbytery of Glasgow.
This body found him guilty Of holding heret,cal
opipl2ns in regard to the atonement, justification
by faith. the covenants OF works and grace
and tho precise virtuo Of the Saviour's death.
besides those relating to Moses and to the devil
and hell The Presbytery suspended him from
the ministry. and declared that the errors found
proven could not be tolerated in the United Presby
teran Church. Mr.. Ferguson appealed to the Synod.
which body. while indorsing his conviction by the
lower court removed tho suspension, having,
through q committee. previously ascertained that
he had no wish to be separated from the Church to
which he belonged SO long as he could obtain
honorable footing within its pale. and he having
shown that the entire proceedings against him
irregular. aud that his effort directed and de-
signed to call back the Church to o more rigorous
regard to her standards especially the Bible, which
book he held is irreconcable with the Confession
of Faith The Synod decided that his standing the
Church unimpaired, but that he should
be privately warned and reproved for his
business. And now Mr. Ferguson and his
friends somewha: at loss to know
whether he is orthodox not. and whether this
action of the Synod is acquttal conviction Of
heresy Ono factor. perhaps i'll this quasi gcquittal
OF the Synod the fact that Mr.. ferguson's con-
gregation stood firmly by him aud added $500 to his
salary. The accused minister also made point
against his prosecutors that the Confession is
under revision. Evidently these better days for
''heretics" than those OF Scrvetus.
Meanwhile the Rev. Mr.. Macrae's appeal from
Presbytery to Synod was denied by the latter. and
his suspension. amounting practically to expulsion.
based upon the report OF the Revision Committee
which was appointed by the Synod. The London
Chrstian Life, noticing Mr. Macreas expulsion.
says:-"Paul would have shared the same fate; and,
like the Roman Catholics. the United Presbyterian
regard Orisen as heretic But Paul would not
have been in that Church."