The herald., 1894-05-26
THE IaERRAACY Of THE BIBLE,
Prof. Henry Preserved Smiths
Alleged Heresy.
Arguments on His Appeal to the
General Assembly.
Thc EccIesiSstic Court Evidently Much
Pref JUDGED Against His Case.
Southern PresbyterIans
in Session.
BY the Associated Press.

ny the Associated Press
SARATOGA. May 25.-The proceedings
in the Smith case, which is an appeal
against the heresy proceeding at Gin
cinnati, today reached the last order.
and the members began to give express
sion to their individual views aH the roll
was cslled. Forty. five three.minute
speeches were delivered, and the trend
OF opinion was shown by the fact that
only ii OF them were in favor OF sustain
ing the appeal. A feature OF the pro-
ceedings consisted in the abrupt closing
of many of these efforts, occasioned by
the fall OF the moderator's gavel.
The proceedings concluded with a
speech made by member of the prose-
cutting committee, who was introduced
as "a plain man and a farmer"
Professor Smith replied in the hour
given him, and then the synod of Ohio,
as the body appealed from, occupied 66
minutes. The calling OF the roll OF the
assembly to give an opportunity to be
heard was then begun and continued
until adjournment.
1t was admitted that the address on
which the original charges were based,
contained statements which are not in
accord with the doctrine as stated by the
prosecution. Professor Smith went on
to say, however, that he had not de-
MED any thing about the original auto
graph, because he had no evidence on
the subject. The Bible as we have it is
evidenced to US by the testimony of the
Holy Spirit. But in its present shape
it con tains admitted errors, which, how
ever, do not discredit the books as given
by the inspiration OF God.
The matter OF the inerrancy of the
scriptures was next discussed and the
opposite inference drawn from the fact
that the ordinances of early scriptures
were abrogated by new doctrines, aud
quite unknown to the reformers. 1t was
added that If the assembly will restore
the accused to the ministry till the
originals of the scriptures are discovered,
he will spend the rest OF his days with
out fear.
When Professor Smith closed his ar
gument and the programme announced
yesterday as agreed upon by the synod
Of Ohio was begun, Or. Townsend OF
Cleveland opened with seven minutes to
his credit.
DR.. Townsend's argument consisted of
-
ton, W neither inerrancy is unequivocally
taught in the Bible and confession of
faith.
Rev. DIR. George l.. Kolbe of Bellefon-
tame followed. He expressed the hope
that the assembly may have grace
enolgh to enable them to restore the
gentleman to the ministry. His srgu-
ment was based upon the contention
that neither the Bible nor the confession
OF faith contains definite theory of in
epiration, and upon the assertion that
the accused holds strongly to the doc
trine OF scriptures as formulated in the
doctrinal standard of the church.
The most effective speech was that of
Elder McDougal of Cincinnati, whose
main contention was that 80 support the
appeal was to approve the teachings of
DR.. Briggs, and he exclaimed: Don't
reverse the Briggs verdictW
He called attention to the difference
between Judge and jurymen, and iiken-
ed the members of the assembly to
judges. Expressions of opinion by them
did not indicate prejudice; he insisted
that the present was not personal
question, but one of principle, because
it was the fault Of the church it Was on
trial.
Professor Smith was declared to hold
that the decisions of the Portland and
Washington assemblies were wrong and
should be reversed. He was declared
to have gone further than DR.. Briggs in
his views, holding not only that errors
may have been contained in the original
scriptures. but even specifying them.
He was also accused of throwing dis
credit, not only upon the books OF the
Bible, but also upon the author of the
same. who is claimed by the confession
to be God himself.
He closed by saying that if Professor
Smith would retract his errors, the
presbytery of Cincinnati would make
haste to receive him again in full fellow.
ship.
One of the representatives of the synod
OF Ohio, DIR. Ludlow OF Cleveland, be-
sought the assembly to remember the
church has always contained two par
ties, and that its present action might
lead to division in the denomination.
The refusal OF the assemb bly, to sit to-
night was due to WEAKNESS, but it will
give ample opportunity for the prepara-
ton OF a large number of brief speeches
which promise to prolong the session of
the assembly tomorrow by several hours.
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