New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-15
THE REV. DIR. SMITH ON TRIAL
ASSERTING THAT HIS PROSECUTION FOR
HERESY IS IRREGULAR.
ALLEGING THAT SOME OF HIS JC"1tS ARE
PREJUDICED AND THAT THE CHAh"ES
ARE NOT DEFINITE-HIS 0BJEC-


TIoNs NOT SU-TAINED
Especial TO he Amoeiat,d Pressi
Cincinnati Nov. lathe Preslytery OF Cincinhau
assembled IN tho First PRESBYTERIAN Church OF TINS
city this morning prepare for the trial Tor heresy
OF the Rev. Dr. Henry Preserved smith, professor y.
Hebrew In the Lane Theological seminary MOS VI
the morning consumed In discussing the q"es''"
who should have the right 10 vote on the ehns''
The Rev DIR. Scott of Lebanon. presided as moderator
Recently Professor Smith created great seS"uoh
among the Presbyterians Of the West by qucsuoi'ns
the accuracy OF certain historical and scientnc Sae
mcns In ahe bile. In consequence OF the p"sS.''
assumed by the professor a committee oil pr"se"
consisting Of the Rev DR.. w. Nc ioreh' Ue NOV
Thomas o. Lowe and Elder ID. H. Shields n"Ne az
caised him OF teaching that the Holy Sp'i' "u iio'
control the Inspired writers 10 make ter utter
upc.s absolutely truthful. The declarations com
rSalncd OF were made In a pamphlet entitled MOcai
scholarship and Inspratons,7 In when fioiesS"f
Smith repeatedly questioned the accuracy Oh sa'e
merss made M the Old Testament and cited connc'hx
passages.
.ho p-esbvtcrv Professor Smith said among other
things: 81 object to the irregularity OF this action
that the committee on erroneous teaching on whose
report the action taken, was pre)udlceo anu
partisan committee, appointed to represent one op'n
and one ONLY This was av0wed In open frespy"'T!
by the Moderator who appointed the conmlt'ee' Aiu
further
itself.
Continuing no said: IL might easily show ny
quotations that the minds OF OF the Jurors Of
this case are already made up The committee oh
erroneous teaching has published lis virtual coh
demnation of me without rebuke. and TIE chairman OF
the committee Of prosecution since his appointment
has accused the higher critics of whom he supposed
me TO be one. of holding grave errors concerning 'e
person OF our Lord Jesus Christ. Even the SYNOD Oh
Ohio before which this may come by appeal
has gone OF its way to commend the zeal VI ''e
Presbyery for entering upon judicial process against
one OF its members. This state OF things Is without
= parallel in civil process
Quoting from the rulings Of the General Assem-
ply Professor smith said; An charges OF heresy
should be as definite as possible The specifications
must b. relevant to the charge" lie objected to the
first charge on the ground that IT was not specihc
and insufficient IN legal effect Inc same oDJec
lions were made 10 the other charges and spcclhca
lions. Concerning the first charge he said Ill p"r'
ain fact IL is clear that the charge is one OF heresy
because false teaching is alleged but false teaching
must be against doctrines distinctly taught In the
Confession O! Faith ! object TO this charge .,
that 1t is insufficient in form in that 1t is not DEFINITE
ard specified. 1t specifies an article OF aith, winch
/ am alleged TO impuen. namely, the doctrine OF IN
spiraton but the charge is that impugn ~ III tho
sense In which il IS affirmed in the Confession and In
the Scriptures. Now the charge TO be denite Shouu
state explicitly what Is The sense IN which ~ Is
anrfned in scriptures ana COMES SION, ana "HNh
denv How else could plead the charge Do
tho committee expect me 10 plead that am guilty
of DENYING Inspiration In the sense In when they
snpposo a. 10 be affirmed I'm the Confession when they
have NOT defined what that sense is 7"
The professor also objected TO having the Rev.
they Having criticised him in various newspapers
)r Nc Khben asserted that the ministers named had
right "a st in the case and then the Rev. DR.. Dawson
came forward and created laugh by saying;
was interviewed. but can do justice to the case
have been as friendly to Professor Smith my con
science would allow me 10 be- . ,
The Rev DR.. Frank Monfort moved hat the OBJ
fecfions TO the court be sustained and the motion
was carried by overwhelming majority. The
Presbyery also refused 70 sustain Professor Smith,
objections to the charges. 49, .
The Indications that the Presbytery VIII md
the Professor guilty OF the main charges He says
the committee on erroneous teaching did not seek a
conference with him that they simply demanded that
ne ehould retract what he had written. There are
few members OF the Prcsbytery In accord with the
Professors views as stated in his pamphlet.