, 1881-07-24
THE NEW HERE3Y TRIAL.

a ..,loce of sumnler-resort,' a new one IS
now presented, which will draw many pa-
irons, and will offer some extremely lnaeFes'-
inr and exciting piases-naMely: "neress
+riatu Those who remember the Kew. rat
TOMS arraign,nent of Prot. Swing will call TO
mind its absorbing interest and the manner
in which all classes of people for the time be-
ing forgot worldly considerations, po1nps'
and vanities in their engerness to listen "
the discussion uf Theological points, 10 ".ttch
tile novel and peculiar phases OF the trial.
and to learn the fate of the now popular pas
tor If Central Church. The new trial, thal
nf the Rev. DR.. Thomas, bids fair to exceed
TINT Of Prof. Swing il interest. The lat{er
,vas no,l-collpatant; the former has ''car-
rivd the war into Africa,' and the Interest oil
his arraigulncnt will concern both its matter
and manner.
The Committee appointed at the Inst an-
n,,al session Of the Kuck River Conference to
| prepare the charges Of heresy against Dr.
Thomas have handed them over to tile Ere
siding Elder Of this district, who VIII I'M
med,ately furnish copies of the'l to Dr.
Thomas, and SOON announce the TIME 1or LIE
meeting of the Court. III the report there Is
a general charge of heresy. and the spec1nca-
tio,,s under this charge are three IN lllshoer'7
| The first specifies that the Doctor teaches
dnctri,1es as to the question of the Inspiration
! of some portions uf the Scriptures which
are antacuuistic. to the ductrlncs OF the
Church: the second specifies that tile de-
| fendaut denies the doctrine OF tile Atone-
mcnt Us taught by the Church; and the thru,
! that lie has taught tile doctrine of PROBATION
| after ttpath for those who have died Ill SIN,
! which is alleged to be contrary to the duo
| trjnes of the Church. The evidence i'll the
hauds Of the prosecutors is largely made up OF
| extracts from his sermons. and also from Ills
| conversations. and upon this evidence, which
| they deem sufficient, they will press tor his
conviction before the constituted Committee
who will present their decision to the neAt- ALI
| nual Conference, leaving DR.. Thomas, how
ever, in case OF all unfavurabie decision, the
right Of appeal to the Judiciary Committee,
| whose decision will bc lillal.
1t is not probable that the clerical court
will meet before September, but the general
shape which the trial will assume is already
pretty well outlined, and it will t!liier from
TINT Of Prof. Swing i'll more than one Vital
poi,1t, PROT Swing, rs we have saul, was Il
non-rcsistant and let his friends To the light
| inr for linn, aud, though they were etlt!il'al-
| astic and did lis well rs they could, he was
very much like lamb led to the slaughter.
| He was evidently tired Of dogma:ic fctters,
ami sighed for religious freedom and the ol'-
portullity to have Il church ot his OWN,
where he could do and say what he
| thought right without any responsibility
to Prcsbyteries or Synods. During the
| trial he was apparently rs unconcerneu
| as the most lisin .trcsted spectator, and
| probably when he was brought in guilty
Prof. Patton was not half SO happy over the
| expulsion of the "he!etic" as the hereto
was to find himself at liberty to roam where
conscience led in the pleasant pastures out
side of the fold. With Dr.. Thomas, how
ever. the case is different. lie will, it is
| reported 60 into the trial :ggrcssively. He
is not coutent to stand i'll tile attitude Ut a
defeuse!eSs prisoner. I0 tile charge OF
heresy he has already replied with 4 ringing
defiance. The prosecutors summon hlln IL
| trial, anu he answers by s1lnlloning theln
also. They charge him with being her
ctic,' and he replies: - OH arc THE leretics.' -
They cllargc him with touching doctrines
| uuLHEUulStIE ~ luU5C VI t44C NAui%''* AAN
challenges them TO prove the antago-
nis1l Such u trial as this, in which
the energy Of the prosecution will
be met with equal energy by tht
defense, in which the prosecutors themselves
will be informally nrraigncd to show cause
why they arc not guilty Of heresy and t.
prove that they are teaching doctrines thai
are believed by the majority OF the member
ship Of the Church, cannot but POSSESS tllt
highest interest, mt alone for the Immense
membership Of the A1ethouist Church, bu
for the whole Christian public.
In one respect the prosecution of DR.
Thunlas wills resemble thai Ut Prof. Swim.
The genius Of the Swing trial was Prof. Pat
ton, wiry, nervous, energetic, able tho
logian. His theology was Il Procrnstean bed
Tile man who wAs to tie III it nIust fit it. /
too short, he must stretch himself. If to-
long, he nlust agree to aillputatioi'
The genius Of the Thomas trial is lii
Corsican brother. DR., Hatfield has the SAM
nerve, energy, and abllily,-tie same repug