, 1881-09-11


"What do l think Of the verdict said Mr..
BENNETT ''Wcll. us to the question ot insoira-
tiou don't think the verdict can be Justified
III any way or manner. AS TO tie ntoneinellf.
think the great fnc1 is tho :.tunesncnt itscft.
and no. the PHILOSOPHY: Or theories about it. And
! think it is clear FROM the testimony TINT Dr.
Thomas believes III and n:e"chcs An atone
ment- His definition of the contents OF 1t
If different tr.'n thAtnf sp!n1 Of his brctllercn
but 1sat, being purely private matter Of his
own opinion anl philosophy. is not h"ftssy-. NOR
cau 1t he made hcretcal on any lite Of stan'l-
nrds or thought. As to future punishment, the
Methodist Church nowhere defines. In 't11y of
its standards. the specific charactcr"f tho future
stn:e. It. believes in d wra,h tt ro:ne, but 1f'-
where defines the nature Of that wrath. ':or its
duration i'll any Of It's accepted standards. And
for these reasons 1 think tho verdict Is
without any warrant, without any justi-
f;ab!encss, 80 and lefcnsihe only on
the lire Of the individual prej'llces and o?in-
ions Of tue committee. somewhat controlled.
prrhaps. by the peculiar nstruetinns nt the Pre-
suiing Elder. intended fur cnlnscl. bus having
ul ,tc weight and effect OF instructions 10 the
committees.
what is aol,,g to he done by The tl":ense:"
1.-The c:.sr rot:s 20 the annual conference
for trial. either before Il s'lecL tnn!!t1ec or
Tie whole body. 1t will he trie'! there sllbstau-
TALLY upon the same complaint and the same
evidence, Ant 1y the same counsel.
*'wu,r WILL. TIE VERDICT nI:?'
II don't knnw.''
| Cant you anticipate it. in view Of the ma
| jority brfng Agai'ls. Dr. Tas'lnns:
well, ont. member of the itoex River Con-
ference has said to me already that without
doubt the verdict ,vonlu he against DR., fhotnaa
| that taer: was no hope fur him in the Rock
/ :. What course will you pursue in that event."
III the verdict is the sam" us th;.s which hns
the Judicial Co,,1cl which Will l'e pre*itle,! over
| BY Il Bishop and probably nfe:'' in l'cce'nber
| lii that coinc.l. being cosnposcd u! leaai1';;
| ministers ni.d 1Gc0ugians tir thrc. annual
| conferences. Of which the Rock River Confer
encc Ire shnl, expect t" 'lI'l such
law. s,,ct, 6ra,ith % md iiternl,y M Of Ntthos,n
| us will more fairly aad justly represent the
Mc'hodis:t Episcopal Church than i'll any conrt
| btipw il.
..And there you expect v;nditution:" ;.
"Ye+. Tho only resort lcit after the Judicial
Conference is IN what t:1:iy f'c .cr'nc'l writ ot
error eslrryln:; the law points and the DECISIONS
thereon for t.uai review to the General Confer
| euct..
| '1oesn't the ease rest Oh the law:'
'lcs, There is no dispute as to the facts We
pulpit utter:'nccs. We are anxious 10 have the
| whole body NJ his Theological luetrinat utter
anccs in evidence. AL we Hsk IS: Let US have Il
| full and fn;r consensus of Dr. Thomas theology,
| leaving out garblct extracts and distorted tnn-
tatons thal may be seized from private cnnycr-
su,ons or caught at by unliscrI1linut and in
| attentive auditors, und we have III, tear If the
| reSuit-that it will be shown thai Dr. Thom:'s
| is not in antnConis.n with the TESTS ui
! Methods, orthodoxy. His anta."nis1n is infer
| cntial. implied, arrived Mt ur prcconccivcd u.ld
prejudccd opinions OF his auditors. moi III tntt.
"wMAr IS THE EFFECT OF HIS srSpES
| s!uS,'s
| ut Is best. stated in the paragraph from the
1isvipline II the charge TT sustained se shall
lie suspended from ail ministerial services ;snt
eenrsn privileges until 'ne ezu'ns annual con
..what docs ministerial, services mean:''
THAT it is improper for him TO preach In
Methodist Episcopal Church
| He can preach c$cwhcre:
IL should deem 1t i1nprulent on his part. btl1
| thut Is a matter upnu which he would form his
own opinion. Such acdou would be miscoi.-
strued.'
.Deflue church privileges for me-"
~ wouldn't like to formulate au opinion OF
| that" =