, 1881-08-14
DR.. THOMAS.
An Interesting Interview with
His Consulting Counsel.


as consulting counsel for the approaching |
heresy trial. Mr.. Bierbawer cor-oborated |
the REPORT that Dr.. Thomas had engaged him,
and stated that he would probably be assist |
ed by another attorney, but could not state |
positively Us yet who 1t would be.
"What will be the nature of your duties |
In the case?'
"You are aware that the trial will be an |
ecclesiastical one, the counsel for both the |
prosecution and the defense being clergy |
men. so that it vii! simply be the duty Of DR..
Thomas professional counsel 10 watch |
tie proceedings with an eye to
their strictly lega! bearings. Legal
points might suggest themselves,
involving technicalftIes that would require
the attention Of the practiced lawyer, and it
is in view OF such possible contingencies
that the Rev. Dr.. Thomas has thoughtit wise
to retain counsel supplementary to the aid
that WIZ be given bin by his brethren Of tile
San you y, give an outline of the probable
Il ain not prepared to speak officially on
that point just now. Still, from conyefSa~
tlons with DR.. Thomas previous to his leay-
Ing for the summer. have, all idea Of the
line of defense that may be expected, al
though have not us yet talked the matter
over with the key. Messrs.. Shepard and
Truesdell, his clerical counsel, In the first
place, Or. Thomas Will plead not guilty..
It will be shown that there is
NOTHING IN THE ARTICLES OF RELIGION
If rho Methodist Episcopar Church that is
snta tsnnistic to what Dr. Thomas has been
nreashin1 The articles are alulost Silent on
the subjects Of inspiration and eterna! pun
ishment; Dr: Thomas VII declare MS IS, rn, qha
Sfetnnjist Ehurch. but that he cannot
accent certain burdens Of theological
1nrn,o tI,at are being urged under the
assrtnpd e5rh Of orthodoxy. He will show
4i,at 4ta fenn1ar ~ the Metbodist Church
even .Iohn Wesley himself, advanced very
s;,n;lor theo1ogv and that ii is by no means
or;n;nai With az Tholuas,'
aWhat provision does the Methodist Dis
,,n,;ne n.aEp ff,r heretical nreaching3n
!. r. snacif;es fiat n minister who breaches
j., ,togon:r::. r. the Standard Of d0ctrine.
sho|i HMM rony;ction be- removed from the
naia at the Church, But that is lust where
ras1jv ra tup bas s mo standard Of doctrine, Until
,'s'th;n - lew veuTs there was nothing in the
,,n1. ~, 1ei;n,t hs)ief renuired Of uersons be-
f1sn t a,a onmd ta DO eycept to breach
in accordance with the standard Of doctrine;
II SO. Dr.. Thouas cannot be hereto, Is it
fhe early fathers in general? That can
Hardly II be, as they do not agree
Win eaeh ether Is # the LES leadiqF N men IL in
t1a Methodist Church to-day. II so, Ut.
Thomas isn't the only hereto, for his utter
ances are only tie echoes OF numerous
Ejshons and leaders of theological thought.
20 Won will readily perceive, that it will be
an i,nDosslpility to determine any standard
~ docrrine. and it follows as matter of
conrse that Dr, Thomas cannot be convicted,
as fhe Book of Discipline makes some stand
ard or other sine qua non."
ne Dr, Thomas the representative of
thone,hf Of any considerable following in
h;s rEurch %,
:. lie most certainly is, There are num-
hpr If the Bishops who have assured him of
tha1r sv,nnathy in thecase and Of their ac-
cnri with his pulnit utterances.
cr1o,un mn. THOMAS RE CONVICTED
snou.-D 1.4 - ,.,.,,Id rand tha 1Trtho;,1st
oi heIesy: IL wouiu da1 iGmo fnr faip fhsra ;s y
lauren H vtp~4rtg, tni1,entini NIn elrment within
its cloisters that are not nor Gan oe festrlft ai
ed TO any SUCH aroalai} ~. stai" ;ts 1;nietnr,}
! banlsh IT. lMolnHs rio!I ~ E ni.'.n".s -,
field Ihe Netnouist Cau.cu ,ao a,, ~ =
tue absence OF cast!1o'I lttt.ts<:t'oa ~ H. ~ ~
liberia! BODY antt lt IS too laEs it ~ 'te e o,i
bring II ln1o AlI Hattum Ky 1,+;on Hills, ira
seem to De desired oy thls p.9aeGntthnt tbnt e,,n6
CLERGY kho" Us well ~ i,,eo w eraa, ;s
am adarf''i mTSs.H .i'an9e and marvellous progress
! WoAuel1u! enen-o s.sauit,, LII ~ oomnranis. #
y cIeeu ID u ACtEoo.t5 = - ~ - ~, ~. t,}-
| !ofmulalts pllnc!pl1o - ~ ps sa,E ~ crand
| ing general average, 50 10 SPEAK. Il c1ecu
| which has too much III It tor one lnau,
| HASN'T enough for another, and 50 II goes.
| ~ trhon,oe h,c ree,pni3pt thr fact that