The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-17
THE HEREsY TRIAL.
Dr. SIcKibbsn Speaks for the Prosecution.
A Point for Prof. smith.

APolnt for Professor smith.
CIxclSxATl, Nov. 16.-The trial of
Prof. Smith before the Cincinnati
Prcsbytery was delayed by criticism
and objections to the minutes and espe-
cially bya question us to what should
be put into the minutes and what
should 60 into the record OF the court.
After obtaining light from the order OF
procedure in such cases, the standard
Of the church was left to the. court to
decide how the minutes and records
should be made up.
DR.. McKibben was the first spesker.
He began by saying there were two
things to be settled, first the sutiiciency
OF the specifications to sustain the
charges, and secondly, did the charges
constitute an ofensc. His treatment
was plain and easy and his language IA
miiiar as we'll as torcible in illustrating
the necessity for charges to constitute
an oaense. lie said it might be charged
and proven that minister did not
dress in accordance with the taste oil
some other person, but such charge
would not constitute an ofiense. Going
to the question OF the charges, but of
their sufficicncy, he held that TO teach
that q minister may abandon essential
features of doctrine and still rightfully
retain his position in the ministry was
an ofense.
We arc not Armenians, said he, nor
free agents; we are Calvinists. One OF
the essential features OF the system OF
Calvinism is the authority OF the Word
of God. Its doctrines are inculcated
because they are found in Gods Word.
II 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 oil a minister is
to be in accord with the doctrines o. the
church when he entered into the min
istry, and then be permitted to vary
his belief afterward and still retain his
position as n minister is assuredly an
ofense Even the installation VOW was
a contract to teach the essential doc
trines OF the church.
Coming to the second charge he said
that the committee believed that the
errancy OF tine Bible meant that it was
absolutely true when we understand
what it means. Inspiration means in
fallibility, orls not inspiration, and we
want to stand where the Son of God
stood and say "every word which pro.
ceedeth out OF the mouth of God is
true" That is inspiration and nothing
else is true The committee believes
Prof. Smith does not teach any inspira-
tion at all. Is not that an oliense?
The temper of DR.. McKibben's argu-
ment was excellent. Speaking OF Prof
Smith ut one time, he said, 81 have no
controversy with him but only with his
views. believe his heart is right. My
hope is his head and heart may be
brought into unison"
At the afternoon session the Rev. DR..
McKibben continued his argument on
behalf OF the committee on prosecution
in reply to the defense of Rev. ii. P.
Smith. During its progress he made
numerous citations from the Bible,
which were not made in the committees
statement OF the charges. To this
Professor Smith objected, as it was in
PRODUCING matter to which his atten-
tion had not been called by the prosecu-
ton. The moderator overruled the OBJ
lection.
Professor Smith appealed from the de-
cision and a vote was taken. Thirty
eight voted to sustain tho moderator,
twenty-five against, and eleven mem
bers declined to vote. While this
could not be regarded as an indication
OF the voto on the main issue, the
friends OF Professor Smith were quick
to claim that it showed growth OF
feeling in his behalf.