Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-17
SMITH IS OUTV0TED.
Appeals Against the Presbytery
Moderator's Ruling Lost, but
TIE PROFESSOR GAINS GROUND.
A Clear, Good-Tempered Statement Of the
Prosecutions stand.
NOT ARMENIANs. BUT CALYIS1STs

CINCINNATI, Nov. 16.-At the trial of
Prot. Smith before the Cincinnati Presby-
terry to-day the arguments of the prosecu-
tion began with DIR. McKibben as the first
speaker. He said there are two things to
be settled. First, the suficiency of the
specifications to sustain the charges; and
secondly. did the charges constitute an
cffense? In illustrating the necessity for
charges to establish an offense, he said it
might be charged and proven that minister
did not dress in accordance with the taste
of some other person, but such charge
would not constitute an offense Going to
the question, not of the charges but of their
sufficiency, he held that to teach that a
minister may abandon essential features Of
doctrine and still righttully retain his posi-
tion in the ministry is an ofense.
"We are not Armenians," said he, 'tnor
free agents; we are Calvinists. One of the
essential features of the system of Calvin
ism is the authority of the word of God. Its
doctrines are inculcated because they are
found in Gods word. If this Presbytery is
called upon to put an end to the Presby-
terian Church, there could be no better way
to do it than to teach the doctrine which
the charges ascribe to Prof Smith
Must Not Teach Changed Belief.
sTo teach that all is required of minister
is to be in accord with the doctrines of the
church when he enters the ministry, and
then be permitted to vary his belief after
ward, and still retain his position as min
lister, is, assuredly, an otfense. Even the
installation vow is contract to teach the
essential doctrines of the church"
Coming to the second cnarge, he said the
committee believed that the inerrancy of
the Bible meant that it is absolutely true
when we understand what it means. SIN
spiration means infalhbility, or it is not
inspiration: and we want to stand where the
Son of God stood and say, every word
W hich proceedeth 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 inspiration at all.
Is not that an offense?'
The temper OF DR.. McKibben's argument
was excellent. Speaking of Prof Smith at
one time he said, II have no controversy
with him, but only with his views. 1 be-
lieve his heart is right. My hope is his
head and heart may be brought in unison.
Prof. Smith Loses Two Test Votes.
he Iuaue ClldIlOHS lTOm TIE
Bible which were made in the committees
statement of the charges. To this Prof.
Smith objected, as it was introducing mat
ter to which his attention had not been
called by the prosecution. The Moderator
overruled the objection. Prot. Smith ap-
pealed from the decision and vote was
taken. Thirty-eight voted to sustain the
Moderator, % against; II members declined
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 of feeling
in his behalf
Once again n the course of the afternoon
the Professor made another objection. This
time it was to the introduction of extracts
from the writers, Rev. Charles Hodge, DR..
H. P. Smith and others. Prot. Smith
claimed that these writings were not upon
the question of the committees views of
what the Confession of Faith requires, but
were upon the general subject of inspi-a-
tion.
DR.. Lowe, from the Prosecut ing Com