Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-01

day. It's progress was delayed by long
discussion over the form of the record OF
yesterdays action, and still further by the
discovery that no full copy Of the amended
charges and specifications had been given
the accused
The Prosecuting Committee, by direction
of the Court, began to introduce testimony
in support of the first charge. They read
two articles written by Prof. Smith, and
published in the New York Evdnqes@ In
March and April last, in which he discusses
ordination VOWS and freedom of American
ministers. He declares therein the aD-
surdity of expecting an entire conform lty
of views among ministers, and says 1t would
be simply an impossibility for every min
lister to conform, even to the views OF the
majority of the General Assembly.
Speaking of the suggestion that II one
finds himself unable to conform to the views
of the majority he should seek some other
church, he says he cannot find congenlal
church, and to found a new one he regards
as schismatic and sinful. There are too
many sects already.
Ministers Not Too Closely Bound.
He argues in the articles read that there
is no ironolad standard of belief covering all
questions in the theology to which minis
ter is bound to subscribe in order to justify
his continuing the work to which he feels
he has been called.
Prot Smith admitted that he wrote the
articles cited from the EUdngelist, and said
he had no testimony to offer in defense.
DIR. Lowe, of the prosecution, urged him to
offer something by way Of disavowai OF
what the committee had charged his articles
taught, but the defendant stood on his
rights and said he preferred to disprove the
committees charge, not to disavow or to
give an Interpretation He held that the
committees Interpretation Of his language
is not warranted.
This being the issue, Rev. Mr. Lowe
made the opening argument He main
tanned that Prof Smith, while inqulrlng
into the principles of the church, had done
it in such a way in these articles as to IN
jure the peace and purity of the church,
because if the chnrch organization is to be
maintained it is indispensable that the
Bible be regarded as absolutely lnfalllole.
Prof Smith Makes His Reply.
Prof Smith replied with brevitv. He
complained once more of the ambiguity OF
the church, which might mean to charge
him with disloyalty, denial of the right
of discipline or o violation of his vows.
While a majority might not convict of him
of any of these charges, this ambiguity
allows any one who finds him guilty OF
these charges to vote to sustain the charges.
He denied disloyalty to the church. and
said the articles were written to MAINTAIN
the authority of the church. Summing up,
he said there is no evidence to show
that he impugned the Westminster doctrine
or that he assailed the fundamental prin-
ciples of church order as set forth in the
form of government; that he taught dis
LOYALTY to the church, or that he had In
any way injured the peace or purity OF the
church.
The closing argument was made by DIR.
McKibben, of the Prosecuting Committee.
His argument followed closely the language
of the article to sustain the committees
position, namely, that Prof Smith taught
that q minister may abandon essential
features of doctrine of the church and still
rightfully maintain his position.
The Presbyterian Church Is Calvinistic.
He quoted from Henry B. Smith, DR..
Hodge and others to show what the posi-
ton of the PRESBYTERIAN Church is and that
Prof Smiths teachings are not in conform
itv with the standards of the church. He
repeated declaration made earlier in the
trial that the church is not Armenian or
Pelagian, but Calvinistic, and he corrected
O tormer misquotation of his remarks which
made him say Presbyterians are not free
agents.
He regretted that Prof Smith had not
disavowed any intention to teach what the
committee had asserted he had taught. He
hoped be might yet do So He closed, with
a. ain calling attention to the question to
be decided-not what Prof Smith holds or
believes, but what is a fair Interpretation
OF his teaching in the articles cited.