Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1883-06-23
Tic0rjOtGs -ftOIeeHteHt

Tic0TiOus -ftOnemeHt.
To the Editor of the Globe.
The Rev. S. G. Smith, ore of the presid-
ing elders of the NJ. E. church, is alleged
to have taken a position antagonistic to
the doctrine of vicarious atoneGnent, in
sermon recently preached at Owatonna.
Vicarious atonement is a fundamental
doctrine of the NJ. E. church, incorporated
in its creed and discipline from the foun.
datlon of that church. Mr.. Smith has
gained some fame, prominence and con
siderable influence as a preacher in
the Minnesota conference, and the
assertion that he has avouched a belief
that strikes blow at the very foundation
of the christian system will startie and
give pain to his best friends. They will be
slow, charitably, to give credence to state
ment that he is the preacher Of heterodoxy.
But as the report to this effect has gone
forth and been published, wish to call at
tention to it in the columns O. the GLOBE,
in kindness to Mr.. Smith, if he has been
misunderstood or misrepresented, that
he may have opportunity to conect
nistatement, or if he has not
been wrongly reported that he may vindi-
cate if he chooses, his opposition to the
creeds and dogmas of the church. Mr..
Smith has recently assumed the editorship
of new publication called The Metho-
dist" which the Methodist public supposed
was to be the channel of orthodox views,
and it is of vital importance that the theo-
logical soundness or unsoundness of its
editor be clearly understood.
In the Peoples Press, of June l, publish
ed at Owatonna, is long communication
criticising Mr.. Smiths alleged new depar-
ture, from which l note the following ex-
tract:
''One of our local papers published last week
the report that the Rev. s. q. Smith, of st. Paul
took the ground, in a sermon preached here i'll
the nj. +. church the previous Sabbath, that
The doctrine of VicariOus AtOnement was one
of injustice. God, he conceived Him, in his
infinite love, mercy and justice could not pun
ish the innocent for the sins of the wicked, The
idea abhOrrent."
The -rsOn who reports these views of Mr..
Smith takes occasion to assume that they were
Liberal and rational, and in accord with the ad-
vanced thought of the day. and, ''rather start
ling to those who cling to the superstition , of
the Middle Ages which he (Mr. S. so freely de-
| nounced'' The report concludes with the assev-
Grafton that Mr.. Smith ''abandOns the position
sitiOn which intides have most successfully =
| assailed, and which has been a weakness / y In
| stead of a strength to Christianity. We have
indicated by interrogation points the gratuitous
| assumption of the gentleman who tells what he
| heard. and therefore need not waste ii and
| space with any elaborate arguments, excepting
to say that the 10000, 900 in the Catholic church
| and the millions in the various other church or
carnations have goritied in this doctrine as the
strength of ethics and theology and the pole star
| of their faith Several things suggest them
selves to our mind: Mr.. Smith was either mis-
understood by the party giving publ city to
such views as expressed above, or he has been
grOss Y misrepresented, or It Is another of those
sad cases, of which we've to many nowadays,
of man using the liberty of the ministerial Of
fee to preach heterOdoxy and to attempt to. I'M
| settle the faith of those who listen to him. to
| eat the bread of a church whose doctrines he
| cOntemns. If the report is a true statement of
fact, the question then resolves Itself into the
following thesis:
1st-The denial of vicariOus atonement is not
in accord with the teachings of the NJ. Z.
church, notwithstanding 1t may be in accord
with ''Lhe advanced thought Of the day. The
ARTICLES OF Religion found in the Book of Dis
cpline of the NJ. L. church, section End, para
graph 2nd, affirms that Christ truly suffered.
was crucifed, dad and buried TO reconcile His
Father to us and to be sacrifice, not only forthe
original guilt, but also for the actual sins of
men, We have no doubt that there is enough
backbone in the NJ. L. church in Minnesota to
handle any man who unfortunately imbibes no.
trines of that denomination. DR.. Adam Clarke
believed in the doctrine of Christs vicarious sac
rifice for the sins of mankind. We refer the
reader to his Commentary on Isaiah, 53rd chap
ter. In of his sermons, Bishop Foss said,
''In some theologics, God is represented as a tv-
rant and Jesus as receiving the blow. The Faith
er a cruel Powhattan and Jesus lovely Pocahon-
tas. No, no, our Father $50 loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son, that who
soever beheveth in Him, should net perish but
have everlasting lfe.'' Charles Wesley taught
this grand doctrine of vicarious atonement in
hymnology. Take, for instance, Jesus lover of
my soul, Let me to thy bosom fly Why should
we fly to Him if He is only teacher, moral
reformer: What do we mean when say,
Hide me, o my Saviour hide Hide from
what? Not from the avengirg ia 'tice of God,
for those who repudeate the vicarious sacrifice
of Christ, admit such attribute. So we say,
Mr. Smith may be in accord wsth the advanced
thought of the day. but he is sadly out of har-
mony with the NJ Z. discipline and some of the
ablest theologians and divines enrolled within
that noble branch of the church of God. There
is no danger but that the Minnesota conference
will maintain order, purity of doctrine and the
integrity of character SO well known among its
members, and if this is a case of heresy we Will
hear from it, for the NJ. E. church cannot toll
crate such progressive sentiments.
Mr. Smith cannot well avoid giving at
tention to this arraignment of the writer in
the Owatonna Press, and it may we'll be
hoped that the Minnesota conference is
not to be afflicted with another conspicu-
GUS case of advanced" heterodox thought
on the part of an able and highly respec-
ted and trusted minister in orders.
KY