The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-15
A Momentous Struggle Begun.

At last Presbyterian hereto has been
found guilty. He Is the Rev. DR.. SMITH. a
professor In the Lane Theological seminary
Of Ohio and prominent minister OF the
Presbyterian Church.
The charges against him were substan-
TALLY the same as those on which DR..
BRIGGS is now undergoing trial in New
York That is. he has taught that scientific
Biblical scholarship proves that there are
errors in the Scriptures. Like DR.. BRIGGs
and many other distinguished and nomi
nally orthodox Biblical critics. he rejects
the Mosaic authorship Of the first five books
OF tho Bible, upon which. according to tho
Rev. DR.. BIRCH. the authority Of the Gospel
rests. and generally In his teachings he has
been In agreement with this modern school
OF criticism.
On Monday the Cincinnati Presbytcry
pronounced such doctrine to lie contrary to
the doctrine Of the Bblc itself and OF tho
Westminster Confession. and 1t condemned
DR.. SMITH to suspension from tho Pres
byterian ministry until he ,cnounccs
and recants his herctiral teaching or
course. he will not purchase his rrstora-
ton at that price; and he will not he
tempted to make tho humliating submits
sion by fear thut he will DO burned at the
stake. Even II the constituted Presbyte
rian authorities rcfuse to tolerate his doc
trne. he knows that no can get federation
for IL elsewhere. and even among Presbyte-
rians themselves. The Cincinnati PreSby-
terry itself convicted him by a small ma
jority only though his teaching Is OPP
posed to the Westminster Confession in
both It's spirit and its letter. and Is utterly
subversive OF the Presbyterian faith in
the Bible as held for generations past.
lit is thus made apparent that DR.. SMITH
has sympathizers with his views even in the
conservative Cincinnati Presbytery. how
must 1t be here in New York where leading
Presbyterian ministers and laymcn have
expressed their agreement with DR.. BRIGGs
so openly? What does his suspension
amount to under such circumstances Be-
cause of his condemnation as a hereto by
the ono party he is all the stronger with
the other party. II the Presbyterian Church
drives him out as n hereto. he Is only the
first OF great company OF Its ministers
whom In justice 1t must condemn to 90 out
with him.
DR.. SMITH will appeal from the Pres
hytery to the Ohio Synod and thence
to the General Assembly. thus keep
Ing alive All issue Of tremendous importance
to the Presbyterian Church. Unless the
sentiment OF both Of these appellate courts
changes radically meantime there is no
probability of his obtaining reversal of tho
Judgment from either OF them. The great
majority of the General Assembly has been
strongly opposed to such views as his for
two years past. and there are no indications
that the opposition will DO less next
spring. 1t is more likely to become more
intense. Even at the risk Of dividing the
denomination. the Presbyterans must hold
their ministry to the teachings OF their
doctriraI standards. for it is better to split
than 10 go to pieces altogether. II the
Bible is not the perfect and absolutely true
Word of GOD received by inspiration from
Heaven. Presbyterianism has no founda-
ton of Divine authority; it rests only on
the human reason.
That is the ISSUE and the Presbyterian
Church must meet it squarcly and decide 1t
positively. 1t may be confused by subtle
theologians like DR.. BRIGGs and Dr. SMITH,
even In their own minds. but really it is the
issue between faith and agnosticism. The
conviction of DR. SMITH is only the begin
ming OF the most momcntous struggle in the
whole history of Professionalism.