The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1885-10-29


Synod of South Carolina convened here
yesterday. A permanent organization
was soon effected. About one hundred
and fifty preachers and laymen are in
attendance. Yesterday and last night
the sessions were consumed in discharg-
ing routine work. The various commit
tees rendered reports, and many papers
were properly disposed of.
THE WOODROW QUESTION.
The committee on the Columbia theo-
logical seminary, to whom was referred
communication from DIR. Woodrow COM
planning of the injustice done him by
the directors, submitted majority and q
minority report. The former sustained
the professor and the latter upholds the
action of the board.
The majority report, recommending
that Synod condemn the action of the
Board in its treatment of DR.. Woodrow,
came before the body for discussion, and
elected a prolonged debate. 1t reopens
the evolution controversy which has
shaken the Presbyterian Church so Sc
verely. This morning there was an i'm
mense crowd present to hear the great
debate. In response to an invitation
that be address the Synod on the ques-
tion at issue,
DIR. WOODROW APPEARED
upon the stage and delivered most re-
markable speech in his own vindication
and in condemnation of the action of
the board. 1t was, indeed, splendid
effort, masterful and eloquent The
audience at one point applauded the
speaker, but this demonstration was re.
buked by the moderator, who admon.
ished the assembly that applause could
not be permitted. This checked an
audience which would have frequently
testified its admiration for the speaker,
and shown its commendation of his
course. Though consuming only thirty
minutes, DR.. Woodrow's argument COW
cred every point, and disposed Of every
question german to the issue. He
proved conclusively that he had been
unjustly dealt with that he had suffered
condemnation and punishment without
ever being confronted by his accusers, or
given fair trial, or offered an opportu-
nifty of vindicating himself from the
charge of heresy. DR.. Woodrow stated
most emphatically that he had never de-
clared his intention to continue to teach
evolution in the Seminary, except in an
expository way. He denounced as false
the statement that he had ever asserted
his purpose to maintain in his teaching
the truth of the evolution hypothesis.
This disclaimer produced no small sen.
satiou, and we'll it might, for it should
be remembered that it vas upon this
false assumption that the action of the
Synod and the board of directors was
based. DR.. Woodrow, in a noble pero-
ration, feelingly declared that during
the twenty-five years in which he has
labored for the cause of Christianity he
has never swerved hairs breadth from
the straight line of duty, or taught any
thing not strictly in harmony with the
Scriptures. "But," concluded the doc
tor, eff am guilty, try me, and if I am
guilty, convict me. I onl ask for trial
before the rightly constituted tribunal,
and that justice shall be done me-"
DR.. Woodrow's address was listened to
with the closest attention throughout,
and produced most favorable impress
sion upon all.
THE OPPOSITION SPEAKS.
DIR. Frierson, OF Anderson, one of the
anti Woodrow most aggressive and able
champions, replied to DR.. Woodrow in q
long speech. He was followed by Mr..
Morris, one of the members of the COM
mittee that signed the majority report, in
short and powerful argument in favor
of its adoption. Then came one of the
big guns of the opposition, the great
agitator and fiery anti.evolutionist, DR..
j. B. Mack. 1t is held generally that
DR.. Mack instigated the crusade against
DR.. Woodrow, and is therefore response.
BILE for all the trouble in the Church.
He came we'll equipped for another des:
perate attack on his victim, and he did
not spare him. The audience gave him a
respectful hearing, but he produced an
exceedingly disagreeable impression.
DR.. Mack spoke nearly two hours. MIR.
Holmes then made a feasible argument
for the report. Here motion was adop-
ted limiting all speeches to FIVE minutes.
This was done to bring the debate within
such limits that the Synod can finish its
work by tomorrow night, otherwise this
discussion might have gone on for sever
al days. At six o'clock a recess was
taken till eight.
The discussion on the Woodrow mat
ter was kept up until near midnight,
when the question was demanded and a
vote taken. Some half dozen members
spoke on both sides, and the audience
seemed tired, and when DR.. J. L. Gi.
rardeau, the most formidable of all of
Woodrow's opponents, took the stand,
this revived a general interest in the
debate 1t was expected that he would
make the great speech of the session,
which was proved true.
DR.. Girardeau gave clear and dis.
tinct review of all the proceedings in the
case from its inception to the present
time. He maintained that the Board of
Directors of the Columbia Theological
Seminary had done no injustice to the
complainant; that they had performed
only their plain duty. When the fact
that DR.. Woodrow was teaching probable
truth of the evolution hypothesis was
brought to their attention, they were
bound to make inquiry, and when the
Perkins professor announced his inten-
ton to continue this teaching so long as
he occupied the chair in the Seminary,
they felt it to be their duty to ask his
resignation. When he refused to comply
with that request he was expelled.
DR.. Woodrow at this juncture rose to
his feet and said: Mr.. Moderator, the
statement just made by Dr.. Girardeau is
not correct. | assert that I never, at
any time, said to any person that it was
my intention to continue to teach evolu.
tion as long as remained Professor in
the Seminary, save in an expository way.
did say that I held to the belief that
the evolution hypothesis is probably true.
/ now believe 80"
DR.. Girardeau, resuming, said that DR..
Woodrow had condemned himself out of
his own mouth by his own confessions.
He said that the complainant had put
himself in opposition to the Church and
the Synod and the large body of Presby.
terians. He had insulted and de6ed
them.
DIR. Girardeau made some sublime
flights of oratory, and his eloquence ex.