The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1894-11-17

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every English speaking tongne.
Removal to Chicago.
And now with your permission we will
follow him to Chicago, where he had
Just been installed pastor of the West
minister Presbyterian church in the year
1866. He is now about thirty four years
of age. He retains that same robust
constitution he acquired on the Ohio
| farm. He has lost none of his manly in
dependence. He has never swerved
from that native honesty with which
! God endowed him. He has never tried
to quench the divine light of reason in
| his own soul. His first sermon to the
Westminster congregation created pc
culiar sensation among his Pensioners.
He stepped aside from the old beaten
paths of traditional orthodoxy, and with
fearless independence he swung the
minds of his hearers away from the old
theological mornings. He rejected many
of the tenet, OF John Calvin which yet
form an integral part of Presbyterianism.
His popularity soon spread from house
to house. His name and his new say
ings became familiar to every tongue
and his attraction increased with every
utterance. Thousands of people who
had never heard of Westminster church
were attracted by his fame, his forcible
presentation of Gospel truth, his fear
less rejection of old dogmas; and his elo-
quent appeals to the intelligence of his
hearers caused millions of people to say,
"How beautiful are the feet of them that
preach the Gospel of peace and bring
glad tidings of good things" Now sup
pose he had preached the then popular
doctrines? What do you think the re-
suits would have been? He certainly
would never have been tried for heresy,
his fame would never have travelled to
the ends of the earth. Yea he doubt
less would have died in obscurity. But
God had higher mission in store for
the young prophet, and his hearers were
able to recognize in him the daystar of a
brighter hope for the race.
His Heresv Trial.
And then follows the famous heresy
trial in 1874 when the Apostle to the
Gentiles must s. and before rulers in the
synagogue and offer the defense of his
mission. He has been tried by fire. he
has been falsely accused by his brethren
and now like Paul he must go to Rome
and offer the defense of his preaching
before the leaders of the Chicago Pres
by terry. Serious charges have been en-
tered against him. The charges we're
read the witnesses we're examined and
David Swing was heard in his own de-
Tense. And that plea was so eloquent
and logical, his whole argument was so
impressive and convincing that his ac-
quittal was declared at the end of six
weeks session by vote of forty-five
against eighteen and Swing withdrew
from the church.
Heresy Expensive.
Heresy is an expensive luxury. None
but true and earnest man like Paul or
Swing wouli endure the sacrifice and
the suffering which heresy entails. On
the other hand the path is smooth for
orthodoxy. The priest or the minister
is we'll fed and highly honored, his posi-
ton is among the best. his prospects
are flattering while he conforms or rather
pretends to conform to prevailing opin-
ions. But should his ideas change al
his doubts multiply until his conscience
tells him he is not true to his honest
convictions, what would be the result?
The result would mean loss Of positic
and salary, the breaking up Of old asso-
Citations, the falling away of friends, tie
removal of wife and children into posi-
BILE want and the suffering of mental
anguish more terrible than death. NV
if he is soldier of the cross he will face
the ordeal rejoicingly and follow truth
into the most dangerous places on earth.
1t was such manifestations of honesty
that endeared this reformer to tie
hearts of humanity.
Last of all but not least. Swing was
not only an ideal reformer but he was
true patriot. He manifested an interest
in everything pertaining to the advance
of civilization and the well being OF man,
hence he was loved by his friends and
honored by his opponents. And now
that he has gone out from our midst the
world is poorer, Chicago is lonesome and
his church is shepherdless, but all find
consolation in the assurance that his
deeds live on, and his truth will con-
tinue to ripen while humanity endures.
And if men are only inspired by his ex-
ample, the new heavens and the new
earth will soon appear. Peace will soon
take the place of war, right will soon
trump over might and all men will
know the Lord from the least unto the
geatest. Amen.
A NOBLER FAITH.