The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1886-08-25
THE GREAT WOODROW TRIAL.
Dr. Adams and DR.. Woodrow-A Clash
Of Flint and Stccl-Pcrsonal RcIa-
tiOns UndiSturbcd.

given in full the accounts Of the
great trial Of DR.. James Woodrow.
This is the first formal arraignmcnt
Of the Doctor in court of the
church authorized to try his case, ;l.
though his peculiar teachings have
been reviewed and criticised in every
assemblage Of this denomination.
EIc has been cleared Of the Charge Of
heresy, and escapes even the admo-
milton which was the mildcst form Of
punishment he could have received,
and which, | believe, would have
been the penalty selected 10y the
prosecution. The case will be taken.
on complaint, before the Georgia
Synod, which meets at Sparta in
November, and rs this body
has been against DR.. Woodrow, the
verdict of the lower court may
bo annullcd. But annnlling vcr-
dict Of not guilty does not csta0-
lish verdict Of guilty, and new
trial before the Prcsbytcry could
have but one termination. So much.
then, for DR.. Woodrow's cccl"sias.i-
cal character. Three Of the four
Synods controlling the Thcoioyirai
Seminary in Columbia may and prob
ably will vote to turn Dr. Woodrow
out OF the faculty iii acc0rdance with
the recommendation Of the General
Assembly. That Of course will sever
his connection with this institution.
DR.. Woodrow's point was that he
could not afford to resign under fire,
and that as he has been cleared of
teaching error by tic court having
jurisdiction, he will remain until lie
ls removed by the formal order of
the Synod.
AS DR.. Woodrow has two large
publications in Columbia, and rs he
occupies the chair Of Natural Science
in the South Carolina College, he
will remain in Columbia, at all
events
The features Of the trial were full
Of interest. The two persons rittcd
against each other were promjncnt
men. DR.. Adams, of Augusta, con.
Quoted the prosecution in q spirit
Of candor, courage and high ability.
His argument was said by DR.. Girar-
denu to have been the most master.
" presentation Of that side OF the
question that has yet been made. !
saw no evidence Of malice Of intol.
crancc. 1t was the clean work Of Il
man who did his duty in the most
direct way, and did it well. It was
not an cnviablc position--that Of
prosecutor. 1t was a contest with
DR.. Woodrow in his own field, among
his old friends. No man knows bet
ter than DR.. Woodrow what he does
believe, and no man marshals his
proofs so completely. 1t is hard to
faStcn error or to inputC hcrcSy
here.
DR.. Woodrow says he believes the
body Of 4 man was formed hy sue
cessivc steps through succeeding
stages Of lower animal life.
The ohjcctors say he does not give
full credit to God.
DR.. Woodrow says hr recognizes
God in the whole development from
beginning to end.
The ohJcctors say God created
man out Of dust.
DR.. Woodrow insists that the cx.
act process Of creation is not told in
the standards Of the church or in the
Bible; that science is not forbidden
to try to- work out the problem, and
that the church should not set up
arbitrary or illibcral barriers.
The personal character Of the ac.
cuscd had its effect upon the case.
Members Of the Prcsbytcry had been
associated with DR.. Woodrow for
thirty years, They refused to ne.
lieve him a dangerous man to the
church. Others Of the younger min.
istry had studied under him ut Oglc-
thropc University and at Columbia.
Thoy did not INCLINE to the belief
that his teachings were hrrctcal
All recognized him to bc pillar of
intellectual strength in the prcsbv-
terry. 1t was not easy 20 secure q
verdict Of guilty against this sort Of
man.
DR.. Woodrows handling OF wit.
nesscR was wonderful lie has a
trained and subtle faculty. Ills
mind ia alert, and bis output this
time was finer in threading evidence
from the stand than in making his
appeal to the court. He is a skilled
dcbatcr. The examination Of DR..
Girardeau by DR.. Woodrow was the
kecncst contest Of the trial. 1t was
n clash Of flint and steel. cdgc-rut.
ting and spark-throwinT. 1t was
quiet and intense. Both men arc
masters Of controversial forces.
DR.. Adams proved the better adj
vOcate; DR.. Woodrow the more
adroit attorney One is impuIsivc
and cloqucnt; the other wary and