New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-01
THE ANDOVER DISPUTE.
REPLYING TO CHARGES OF HEREsY.
PROFESSOR EGBRRT C. sMYrH ANSWERS FOR hi"
SELF AND HIS FELLOW PROFESSORS.
INV TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE

TBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
Bosrox. Nov 3O-Professor Egbcrt c. smyth for him
self and in behalf OF his fellow professors OF Anuo'o
Theological Seminary who charged with heresy mas
made an extended reply the charges Of tho Board Oh
Visitors To the first charge that the professors hod Do
lefs and had taught theories not in harmony WIN o
constitution of the seminary ETC.. Professor smytn suo
mits that the charge too indefinite to require an
The charge that the accused teachers are not men Vi
sound and orthodox principles In divinity etc.
smyth declares is chiefly II not wholly Irrelevant INC
professorship" he says, (which hold Is placed py S
founder and the action Of the constituted authorities on
the Associate Foundation No professor on this fouha
ton is required to be man OF souhd anu
orthodox principles according to tho fundameh'a.
and distinguishing doctrines OF the Gospel Oh
Christ, as summarily expressed in the Westminster
Assemblys Shorter Catechism The declaration when
am required to subscribe and repeat Is not the one
quoted the charge but the contained In the foo"
ing citation ASSOCIATED Statutes ~:
Every professor the Associate Foundation sha on INC
Ses M o hs a divine revelation and unda
and distinguishing doctrines OF the gospel M oi
Himself His works OF creation providence and redemption
"Ihave never subscribed repeated any other dec
araton have been asked to do so, either by o
reverend and honorable the trustees Of Andover semn
ary, or by your reverend and honorable body
The third charge is that "Egbert C. smyth' in
breach OF the requirement OF Article III. OF the
Associate Foundation upon which he is placed Is not an
orthodox and consistent Calvinst, but, on the other
hand believes and teaches several particulars what
is opposed the seminary creed" Professor smyth TO
plies in effect that the charge is indefinite
Fourthy the professors charged with heterodoNy
and with opposition the creed Of the seminary and 70
the true intention OF tho founders as yt sb
in the statutes To this p1gfssSoT and SH HndcSe
He denies that he has taught that the Bible Is no.
! .T The charge ia that hold maintain and incncae
that Christ not during his earthly life God anu man
If this means that hold that he not two persons
admit the truth OF the allegation and deny tha, thIs -
affirm anything contrary 10 the Creed ana statutes. ~
or incarnation, both God and man | deny deny
the accusation. have nowhere denied man man ,
ree %GT5 na dr seny Sq or s y the pSrS trinity
persons is meant that the absolute person OF Goa
ber of the sentence with the same meaning admit that
| do not hold such doctrine. II ! did /
the founders creed hut by the creed Of universal
Chrstendom II the accusations mean that hold omoda
or mouaichian Trinity in contradisncton from an
entOoca Trinity. deny the charee and crave leave 10
point ont that the charge instead oi being specnrn
accusation is that hold the work OF the Holy spirit 10 DC
chiefly confined to the sphere Of history OF ,yb r.
context that the ecacOus. regenerating saving work
of the Spirit is thus chiefly confined The opposite prolo
sition would that work is chiefly confnef TO PAGAN
ism or Judaism both. There can he no doub Wch 0l
these roposons is more accOrant with the creed. with
orthodoxy or with consistent Cavinism. substituting
the words conducted within for confined 10 ana
not douhting n universal work OF the spirit
should admit the accusation
The charge that Professor smyth holds there Is and VIII
he probation death for all men who do not decisiVe
reject Christ during the earthly life and that this should
be emphasized made influential and central in sys-
temao theology. IL responded to as follows: In THIS
unqualified form do not admit that hold maintain ana
ncucae that there Is and will he probation after death
for all men who do not dccSvely reject Christ during the
earthly life and that this should be emphasized made
influential and even central in systematic theology.
God as revealed in Christ central in theology.
deny that such inference anything affirmed In the
citations adduced by the compainants Is inconsistent
with the Creed Of the Seminary"
In conclusion would respectfully call your attention
TO the number and character of the offences for which
am arragued charged with dsbelleting thc trisi
holdn, humanariau view Of Christ with denying the
dernc the Trinity; with disowning man rcc agency;
his universal sinfulness and guilt ana exposure 10 tIc
penalty of the land; with rejecting the doctrine oI
mcut nv the suierngs and death Of Christ with eaclng
that salvation is not wholly of grace and with bIeanS
i'm repeated instances solemn promises, such accsa
tons have no reality to me. accept the Creed OF the
Seminary. Interpreting 1t by no private opinion ou ac
cording TO the well understood ana c9lnoy m
laws OF Creed acceptance; laws which have been III
vogue In this country from me earnest Nh.es
and which have governed subscriptions IN thc
history OF this Seminary from tne neeniilnG
by your reverend and honorable body welcome II t0i
any you deem such scrutiny necessary or useIu
the most searching examination possible INT" , INC
to to expedite and facilitate such examination tc
the te @ 6erehy ehlet dcny nat hold any belief or have
taught doctrines not in harmony with or when are az
agonisc to- the constitution Of the Theological ins'itu
ton in Phillips Academy, Andovcr OF which an bIoWI
Professor of Ecclesiastical! History, or contrary
to the true intention of its founders" ,. -,
On Saturday last Professor Syth moved 10 dismiss hf
amended complaint of the Board of Visitors ON Nlondal
the Board declined dismiss and the above an ahsfa
of Professor Smyths formal reply TO the compliant oi
this the board will give hearing III Boston OH pcee