The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1892-10-25
A TRIAL FOR HERESY.
THE CASE OF REV. II. p. SMITH At
CINCINNATI.
The Charges Made Against Him ana the
Specifications on Which These Charges
Arc Based-Case Like DIR. Briggs.

Cincinnati, O., October 17.-(Speclal.)--
The great heresy. case of the Clnclnl'tl
presbytery against Professor Henry Ire
served Smith, of Lane Theological semi
nary, began in the First presbyterian
church this morning. The formal charges
were presented; but in accordance WIN
the rules of the church in such matters
the defendant was allowed to appoint
such a reasonable time as he might eject
when the trial should begin. lie set
November 18th as the date for his trlal
and the presbytery adjourned to tlia'
date.
The interest in the case is widespread
When the proceedings began this morning
the church was crowded not only win
Presbyterans but with members and the
clergymen of other denominations.
Several months ago it was strongly sus-
pected that Professor Smith was not au-
herring to the orthodox methods III nls
course Of instruction at Lane seminary
| and he was requested to write his views
on the subject of the literal inspiration
of the scriptures He complied with the
request and the result was u joint pamph-
let by himself and DR.. Llewylln j. Evans,
a fellow professor, in which both adVo-
Gated doctrines which brought horror ana
dismay to the many ministers OF inns
| prcSbytery.
Dr. Evans died this summer in wales,
or he would probably have been arfaign-
ed with DR. Smith. When this prespy-
tery undertook to take up the case or
DR.. Charles Briggs, DR.. Smith, whose
IDEAS are substantially the same opposed
it with all his might, and this ADDED 10
the feeling against him.
AT a meeting of the Cincinnati prespy
terry last spring it was decided by an
| overwhelming vote that he should De
brought to trial unless he would renounce
his heretical views, which he posl'Neiy
refused to do Rev's William McClbel
and Thomas O. Low were appointed to
formulate charges and act as prosecutors
Of the case and they brought IN thelr
reDort this morning Before the charges
were read to the presbytery there was
some preliminary skirmishing, but no
! display of feeling, as is sure 10 De the
case before the trial is over.
The accusation against Professor Smith
contains three distinct charges with q
series of specifications. The first is:
Tive Eirst Charge.
Charge /. The Presbyterian church III
the United States of America charges inc
Rev Henry Preserved Smith, ID, y
minister in said church and member ol
the prcsbytcry of Cincinnati with teaching
in two articles in The New York hyan&el,
list. dated respectively March II, 1872, and
ADril Z, 1892 contrary to the regulations
and practice Of the church. founded on the
Uoly Scripturps and set forth in the CON
stitution of said church that munster III
said church abandon the essential FEATURES
of the system of doctrine held by sal9
church. and which he received and adopted
at his ordination, and rghtfuliy retain AIS
position as minister in said church
The second Charge.
The second charge is that he teaches III
a pamphlet entitled Biblical ScnolafSlllp
and inspirations" contrary TO Fundamental
doctrine of the word of God and the con,
fcssion of faith that the holy spirit did MOI
control the inspired writers III their core
siton OF the Holy Scriptures - lAnf /. los
their utteranccs absolutely trulfM4 hHi
fraa from errors VIII: intoTp; }rE.:: 80 b.
natural and intended sense. .. =.
The specifications charge that he tcache,
that the Inspired author Of Chronicles ha'
been guilty of asserting Sun1ry errors OF
historic facts, of SURPRISING sundry his
torc truths, owing to inability or unWil
lingncss to believe them, and that he in
corpOrated into his narrative aud indorScG
by his authority material drawn from TN
reliable sources. He teaches that the his
torical unrcliablity of the inspired 0uthol
OF Chronicles was so great that the truth
of the history therein contained can only
be discovered by such investigation, dis
the discovery of the truth in histories by
uunspircd aud fallible men, that his his
t0ric unreliability was such that the truth
of events cannot be aScertainpd from what
he actually asserts, but from what he I'M
willingly reveals. He teaches that the
historical unreIiability of the inspired author
of Chronicles is extended to other inspired
writer's of the Old Testament: that the
historic unreiability charged by him upon
the inspired historical writer's of the Old
Testament is Chargeablc, though in a less
degree, upon the inspired writer's of the
New Testament that the disclosures Of the
religious experience given by the inspired
authors Of the Psalms are not in accord
with the mind of the Holy Spirit and free
from moral defect, but simply the express
sion of imperfect and fallible though pious
men and their assertions are not TO be re-
lied upon as absolutely true; that the last
| twenty chapters of the book of Isaiah
| are not correctly ascribed to him. lie
specifically atiirms the mpossibility of the
Old Testament scriptures being free from
all error, whether of doctrine, fact or pre-
| ccpt.
= he Third Charge
The third charge is that in the same book
I while alleging that Holy Scriptures are in
Spired and an infallible rule of faith and
I practice, he denies in fact their inspiration
i'll the sense in which inspiration is attrih-
/ utpd to the Holy Scriptures by the Holy
/ Scriptures themselves and by the confession
! of faith.
Their gentle action and good effect on the
/ system really make them perfect little pill.
! They please those who them Carriers
Little Liver Pills may well be termed Per
| lection
PLACE SELECTED