Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-07-29
Robertson smith,. u.r..x

M" nIICThtNT DRAWN rP AGAINST HIM nv
niS okIHonoN FELLOW CHt-RCuNyS
An huhbofgh letter TO the Iondon ye,,S n,
July l4th says: "a new proses,n,,oo -, ~" n on
soI hooerIsoh smith was Initiated to dsy IN me
l Ire Sh9rch Presoytery OF EGia6urg The
ground OF the prosecution Is an article I'm .iIa
otw Language and literature' In the elcven,,,
yoipne OF the Encyclopaedia Britannica ,wbicn
las oxen published since the Professor WAS for
hallt acquitted ana replaced in his chair nv tha
General Assembly six weeks ago. In this art,
| Gle Mir. Smith applies 10 Hebrew literature IN
general the same principles or criticism which
he had applied TO Deuteronomy and Canti-
cles IN previous articles He has been
at 10 pains in it 20 Conciliate his
opponents or 10 show regard 10
tie sensitiveness OF the tradtionaiists though
IL would have been prudent for him 10 do So.
and he probably would have done so could ne
have fOreSeen the AsSembly's deliyerance I'm his
case at the time OF writing H. Indeed. Il IS
known that he endeavored 10 withdraw the
article and 10 stop the circulation after the
meeting or the Assembly, but by that time the
volume had been printed on. and the matter
was beyond his control Among the views ana
the expressions IN the article TO which eNcep-
ton is taken are the following: IT may iaiFly
he made question: he says, whether Moses
LEFT In writing any other laws than the Com
mandmentS on the tablets OF stone Again
be says: The story OF the early fortunes of
the nation down 10 the time or David often
presents characteristics which point 80 moral
tradition as ifs original source Speaking
OF the Pcntateuch, he refers 10 &c as Itself
a production or more than one writer on the
"A
described as an erotic poem. he says: This
lyrical drama has suffered much from interpo-
lation. and, presumably was not written down
TIL a comparatively late date. and from Imper-
feet recollection, SO that ifs original shane Is
very much lost lie repeats his offence regard
fDg Deuteronomy by alleging that I'm Il the
ancient ordinances OF Israel were rewritten IN
the prophetic spirit, while he refers TO the his
tortcal books as they were finally shaped after
the fall or Jerusalem, when that Old popular
narrative was filled out and continued In 4 spirit
A1Nlf1 "a
and XIV. that they seem TO have been first puo-
1shed as aDonH nous broadsideS' Finally ne re-
Iers TO the begtnpiig or Hasrgada, the formation
or parallels ana tales attached 10 historical
names. OF which the Book of Jonah is gem
orally taken as an early example TVS very
ouslness-like way OF speaking or and al
Ike profanity In the eyes OF orthodox
PTesby terians OF the old school, whose
idea seems 10 be that the Bible dropped
from heaven precisely as we have it
now. marginal references Included They
believe that as miracle made the Bible so
miracle has Pr served IL, and that any one
who treats IL as body OF national literature
the growth OF centuries, is guilty OF sacri-
!ege. AT tie earliest possible moment after
the publication OF the article attention was
called 10 IL in Pr6sbyteries in different parts
OF the country. To-day the PresbyteFy OF
Edinburgh spent several hours In discussing
IL. Notice had been given of five motions re.
garding IL. and four were actually prepared
two IN favor OF prosecuting the case and two
against. The motion ultimately carried. 10y a
majority OF % az minus 49, was that OF Sir
Henry Moncr1en, which requests the COM
mission or the general assembly 10 take the
articles into consideration. so far rs 10 adopt
such steps as they may Judge fitted 10 meet
the disturbance and anxiety aud TO vim
dicate Scrfptaral principle Curiousfy enough
Sir Henry MoncIier declared that he had
not yet read the article and that he did
not intend 10 read iC Till he was obliged 10
consider IL Judicially. His sole ground for ap-
pealing TO the commission was that 10 many
good souls 1t had caused disturbance and
anxiety but Sir Henry cannot know and win
rot take the trouble 10 discover whether these
feelings are justified or not. DIR. Begg came out
In the usual character as an inspired interpre-
ter or provide nces. He said that the finding or
the general assembly was the result OF mis-
taken procedure. aud that he regarded the
publication OF the new article as a mar
Vicious providence 10 allow the church 10
reconsider the whole question. Professor
Smiths position was defended by PROBES cor
MacgIegor and the Rev. Alexander WHITE
Principal Rainy could not make uD his mind
either way, and remained neutral The COM
mission meets on August 18th. IL Is the Au-
tumn session OF the assembly for the considera-
t1on OF matters OF urgency that may arise be-
tween the annual meetings I'm May The oppo-
nents OF Prof Smith are entering on the prose-
cuulon with every mark OF ZeSt and determina-
uon. That they were SO lately baked OF their
prey makes them all the more eager now, and
there Is no doubt that they are prepared 10
pursue their victim, IL they are allowed even TO
MS ecclesiastical extinction. DR.. Begg thinks
That he is entering on the most serious struggle
that has taken place Ia the church since the
Reformation Another reverend person declared
that II Prof. Smiths views were tolerated i'm the
Free Church they might write 'Ichabod" on
the WallS,n