The herald., 1894-11-21
A FAMOUS CHURCH.

The news came recently of the death
OF Prof. David Swing of Chicago, the
pastor OF the Central church of that city,
and now it is stated that the organiza-
ton will disband and cease to exist.
This determination on the part OF a
large, and. to all appearances, prosper
Dus organization, will seem strange to
no one who is acquainted with the pc
culiar circumstances of the latter's for
nation. In 1876 Prof. Swing, then a
minister in the Presbyterian church,
popular. not in q sensational way, but
rather for the fine literary tone OF his
sermons and the breadth and intelli-
gsnce of his views, was tried for heresy
and. although found not guilty, he was
subjected to experience that his sensi-
tive nature could not brook. and the
result was his resignation from the
church.
Prof. Swing was in no sense a profea-
sional hereto. Indeed, one of the most
entertaining things connected with his
trial was the astonishment felt by num-
members OF his congregation that he
should ever be accused of such fault.
When subjected to a rigid cross.exsm-
ination as to his convictions by Rev.
Francis Patton, who conducted the Gaze
against him and who is noted as an as
tute theologian of the Scotch Calvinietic
type, it was developed that Prof Swing
was not in accord with the doctrines of
his church on number of points which
had never been brought out in his ser.
mons. The synod before which the trial
was conducted did not agree as to the
importance of these points, but Prof.
Swing became convinced that il would
be disagreeable if not impossible to re-
main longer in the Presbyterian church,
and sorrowfully resigned his paatorate
1t is now nearly twenty years since
the famous trinl took place, and the
change which has come about in the
spirit of the Presbyterian church with
regard to such mild forms OF heresy as
that OF Prof. Swing is eptly illustrated
by tho almost universal expression OF
ministers of this faith, when the news
OF his death was promulgated, of regret
that the trial should ever have occurred,
and their declaration that it could not
take place at the present time.
A church organization was promptly
formed. having for its nucleus about IS
per cent of the professors former cons
gregation, to which was added q great
number OF people of religious tenden.
cies and moral aspirations, who had
never been able to find a church
with views broad enough to euit
their desires. Prof. Swing began
to preach in McVicar's threater,
and from the first the building was
crowded full of people every Sunday.
The organization was known as the
Central church. Its creed was go broad
o. to demand of its acceptor little else
than plain Christian morality. The
congregation contained many wealthy
men, and number OF them voluntarily
Joined in a guarantee, which was re-
newed from year to year, to make good
OIs
Swings salary-which was liberal one,
at first $1,000 and later $10,000-and the
other main expenses of the organiz.-
tion. Seats were rented by the year, as
in other churches. and the income was
sufficient from the very start to protect
the guarantors from loss. nor were they
ever called upon TO make good de-
fciency. In course of time large hall
was constructed in a central location,
particularly adapted to the needs of the
church, and for the last 10 or Is years
that has been the home of the congre-
CATION.
church organization founded as this
one was, especially for the purpose OF
enjoying the ministrationB OF particular
individual must OF necessity come to an
end when that indiviGufl departs.
Prof. S wing was no, the rginator of a
new propaganda. He was not eIdssyor~