The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1894-05-25

smith was carly MnpHcstou tnlh iuoEh-
ing and during tho devotional service
tho gallery was unusually full.
Tho judicial committee askod to have
their report OH tho Smith case returned
TO thcm for slight change. This was
granted and tho proposed change was
made affecting the rulo for tho hearing
OF members OF tho assembly. It was
provided that tho assembly shall be
heard upon roll call, three ninutca be.
ing granted to zach member.
Notice was read that the hours glvon
to tho synod OF Ohio hul boon appor-
toned as follows: TO Rev. Charles
Townsend, OF Cleveland, eeven minutes;
to Rov. George L Kalb. D. D., Of Belle
fontalne, ten minutes; Thomas Nc
Dougal, Cincinnati, twenty minutes;
Rev. William N. Powell, OF Athens,
sevcn minutes; Rev. Arthur G. Ludlow.
OF Cleveland, si1 minutes, and Thomas
McDougal, ten minutes.
Tho assembly was then constituted rs
n court and the reading OF tho records
in the case proceeded with. These pa
pers contained tho record OF tho synod,
tho notice Of appeal Gnd tho appeal Of
Prof. Smith.
PROP. sMtru's ARGUMENT.
After the reading of these papers, at
1890, tho argument on tho appeal was
begun by DR.. Smith. Tho reading OF
the full records was waived. except so
far as they wcrc 10 DO used in tho argu.
mont. Prof. Smith stated that he pro-
posed only 70 argue SIX Of tho grounds
OF appeal ine.oad Of twelve. The argu-
mont ct the start concerned tho exist
ence Of prejudice in tho membors OF tho
presbyterr which originally ttied him.
Professor Smith sought to show that
tho records OF tho original trial proved
that the judicatory was prciudiced In
that it allowed members OF tho body to
sit In tho case who had published state
ments touching tho guilt OF the accused.
II was further shown that the regular
third point argued had reference to the
form in which the changes were cast,
and here II WAS argued TINT those
charges wero fatally objective in that
thoy did not formulate tho doctrine
against which ohcnco was alleged. It
was expressly said that tho doctrine OF
of inspiration mentioned in the charges
was one implied" in the confession Of
faith, whereas the constitutional law OF
tho church demanded that the doctrine
offended against shall bc fundamental.
That which Is fundamental will never
be left to inference. Tho doctrine Of
the inspiration alleged in the charges
was contended to be ono not
taught in Scripture or in tho con-
icsaion Of faith. and IN fact to be
contrary to tho doctrine OF the conies-
sion OF the faith Of the church. Tho
incrring OF tho original autographs Of
Scriptures was claimed to bc entirely
outside Of tho doctrine OF inspiration
and independent OF it. 1t was further
shown that the doctrine Of inerrancy
was theological origin, not biblical
origin, and Tint the confession as it
stands gives no support to the position
OF the prosecution.
Prof. Smith then went on TO arguo
that tho Implication Of tho charge con-
tanned contraction OF truo Presbyteri-
an doctrine. at this point the speaker
said: And now We hayo reached the
point where we may examine the uttor-
nnces OF the last general assembly. l
do not mean, OF course, that it is tho
duty OF this assembly TO review or 70.
wise any particular decision OF the us.
scmbly Of 1883, with tho idea OF getting
1t aside. Tho confession OF fuith says
that all synods may err or have orrod,
and that the their decisions must be OK
aminod." Prof. Smith wen. on to show
that the Washington assembly ovaded
tho issue raised by tho doctrine OF tho
confession. in failing to declare that tho
Scriptures not only "are" tho word OF
God, but ''Rrc" incrrant.
10 say that the original autographs
"wero" iucrraht makes 1t necessary to
say that the Holy Scriptures "wnro"
tho word OF God. But. on the con-
trary. the doctrine set forth by tho con-
fession was stated to be that the Biblo
is contained in "the present Hebrew
and Greek copies rs the present arbi:er
OF present controversies.
The next objection had reference to
the identity OF tho two charges upon
which ne was found guilty and the lack
OF dofnitcness in their allegations. At
tho close OF this aec,ion OF tho defense
the assembly took n recess.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the afternoon session Prof. Smith
continued his argument, conioniing
that by It's verdict OF guilty the presby-
terry affirmed that the accused had com.
miIted the crime charged, but that the
evidence adducod had failed to sup.
port the accusation. The speaker then
went on to speak Of the occasion Of the
address on which the charges Of heresy
were based and the circumstances OF the
church at the time. it being then in the
midst OF tho controversy ovcr revision
OF tho confession OF faith, and in debate
over substitute for the verbal theory
OF inspiration. which was no longer ton
able. Tho inspiration insisted upon by
the prosecution laid tho Bible open to
dangers which threatened its complete
rejection. To meet this danger the ad-
drcss was delivered at tho call Of duty.
Tho argument was concluded by the
claim thut 1t cannot bo Crimo 10 assert
that Gods work 10 moro edectually
done by His permitting some human
error to show ilgelf In his instruments.
This fact has always been rccoauized in
the office Of tho PREACHER, and why not
elscwherc? The whole argument was
briefly summarized and nn appeal made
for, careful consideration aud the on.
lightment OF the Holy Spirit.
Dr.. McKibben. OF Cincinnati, chlir.
man OF tho committee on prosecution,
presented the case OF the appellee. He
defined inspiration. as % divine In: