Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-17
REV. HENRY PRESERVED SMITH.
The Examination of the Charges Against
Him Continued

-
Him Continued
CINCINNATI, o., November 16.-The
trial OF Prof. Smith before the Cincin-
natl Presbytery was delayed by criti-
cism and objections to the minutes and
especially by question as to what was
proper to put in the minutes and what
should go into the record Of the court.
After obtaining light from the order OF
procedure in such case, the standard
of the church was left to the clerk to
decide how the minutes and the records
should be made up, This settled the
argument Of the prosecution. DR.. Nc
Kibben was the first speaker. He began
by saying there were two things to be
settled, first the suficiency of the spec
ifications to sustain the charges, and
secondly, did the charges constitute an
offense. His treatment was plain and
easy and his language familiar as well
as forcible in illustrating the necessity
for charges to constitute an otfense. He
said it might be charged and proven
that q minister did not dress in &C
cordance with the taste OF some other
person, but such charge would
not constitute an offense. Going
to the question not Of the charges bat OF
their sufficiency, he held that to teach
that minister may abandon essential
features of doctrine and still rightfully
retain his position in the ministry was
an offense. We are not ArmenianS, said
he, nor tree agents; we are Calvinists.
One of the essential features OF the sys-
tenn of Calvinism is the authority OF the
word of God. Its doctrines are inculca-
ted because they are found in Gods
word. If this Presbytery was called
upon to put an end to the Presbyterian
Church there could be no better way TO
do it than to teach the doctrine which
the charges ascribe to Prof. Smith. To
teach that all that is required OF min
iSLer is to be in accord with the doc
trines Of the Church when he entered
into the ministry and then be permitted
to vary his belief afterward and still re-
tain his position as minister is assur-
eddy an offense. Even the installation
VOW was contract to teach the essen
tial doctrines OF the church.
Coming to the second charge he saio
the committee believed that the errancy
of the Bible meant that it was absolute
ly true when we understand what it
means. Inspiration meant infallibiltty
or is not inspiration and we want to
stand where the son Of God stood and
say "every word which proceedeth out
Of the mouth Of God is true" That is
inspiration and othing else Is true.
The committee believes Prof. Smith
does not teach any inspiration at all.
Is not that al offense?
The temper of DR.. McKibben's argu-
ment was excellent. Speaking of Prof.
Smith at one time, he said Il have no
controversy with him, but only with his
views. l believe his heard is right. My
hope is that his head and heart mag be
brought in unison"
At the afternoon session the Rev. DR..
McKibben continued his argument on
behalf Of the committee on prosecution.
During its progress he made numerous
citations from the Bible, which were
not made in the committees statement
of the charges. To this Prof Smith
objected, as it was introducing matter
to which his attention had not been
called by the prosecution. The Mod
orator ,oVerruled the objection.
Prof Smith appealed from the decis-
ion, and q vote was taken. Thirty-eight
voted to sustain the Moderator, twenty
five against and eleven members de-
clned to vote. While this could not be
regarded as an indication Of the vote on
the main issue, the friends OF Prof.
Smith were quick to claim that it
showed growth o. feeling in his be-
half. Once again, in the course oil the
afternoon, the Professor made another
objection. This time it was TO the intro
ductAn of an extract from the writer's
Rev. Charles Hodge, DR.. H. p. Smith
and others. Prof Smith claimed that
these writings were not upon the ques-
ton OF the committees views OF what
the confession of faith requires, but
were upon the general subject of in
spiration.
The moderator again overruled the
objection, and again the professors
appeal was lost, though without
division. The Presbytery voted to hold
no session on Friday aud Saturday.