New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-05-27
PROF. SMITH CONVICTED.
FOUR TO ONE AGAINST HIN.
THE PRESBYTERIAN ASSEMBLY VOTES ON
THE HEREsY CASE.
THE ASSEMBLY STOOD s9s TO iO1 AGAINST THE
LANE PROFESSOR AND THE HIGHER CRITI-
CIsM-ANALYsIs OF THE voTE-RECOM-
MENDATIoN THAT LANE SEMINARY
RE pEORC ANTZFD
THE ASSEMBLY ste
fBY TELEGRAPH To THE TRrBrsI.l
BE REORGANIZED.

fBY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBrNEl
Saratoga. May 2s-The Rev Dr. Henry Pre-
served Smith is still under suspension from the
ministry Of the Presbyterian Church until such
time as he shall make manifest to the satsfac-
ton Of his Presbytery his renunciation OF the
errors he has been found to hold and his solemn
purpose no longer to teach or propagate them"
The Presbytery Of Cincinnati found him guilty
OF heresy eighteen months ago. and suspended
him. The Synod Of Ohio affirmed the sentence
last fall, and now. after a three days hearing.
the General Assembly. from whose decision there
is no appeal. has also affirmed the judgment by
a vote Of four to one The vote was by rocall,
and was announced as follows: To sustain the
appeal made by DR.. Smith from the Judgment
Of the Presbytery, S. to sustain In part, 45; not
to sustain 1896. The effect Of vote to sustain in
part is to sustain the appeal the vote is then 10l
for Dr. Smith and 800 against him.
Several commissioners who voted to sustain In
part said that they dsapproved Or. Smiths
teaching but considered suspension from the
ministry too severe a sentence for simply holding
these views. At Washington last year when
Professor Briggs was suspended the vote was 1l6
for Dr. Briggs 3S3 against him. Mr.. Briggs sat
with Mr. Smith throughout the trial this week
HOW THE ASSEMBLY VOTED.
These Synods voted solidly against DR.. Smith:
Atlantic Kentucky. Missouri. Nebraska, New
Mexico, Oregon and Utah; Of 13 votes Baltimore
cast one for the appellant; California. with 12
votes. gave tim 3; Illinois. with 32. gave him 3.
Dr. y. ID. Hills and the Rev. Henry Nell. of the
Chicago Presbytery. voted to sustain the appeal.
but Dr. d. r. Breed. DR. d. C. Marquis, the Rev.
Cary F. Moore and the five Chicago elders
Henry H. Hill. Charles F. Klmball Charles J.
Merritt, John Shepherd and Samuel ". Coe
cast their votes against II. Twenty-one Iowa
commissioners voted. one to sustain the appeal,
one to sustain in part. and 10 against sustaining
Professor W. G.. Craig. OF the Mccormick Sem
mary. an Iowa commissioner. voted against Dr.
Smith. as did Or. W. c. Young, president OF
Centre College and Professor George T. Purvis
OF Princeton Theological Seminary. Ohio was
not represented in the vote, as 1t was the Synod
from which the appeal was taken. OF the 10
Michigan votes were liberal in their effect
New-Jersey gave liberal and 20 conservative
votes: New-York 2S liberal and SO conservative:
New-York City sodly against Dr. Smith,
twelve votes being cast against sustaining the
appeal Two commissioners from New-York Dr.
W. D. Buchanan and Colonel A. r. Ketchum
were absent. The names Of those voting were
the Rev DR. Howard Duffleld G. w T. Birch, c.
s. Robinson. James G.. Patterson. Thomas Doug
lass and w c. Sttt and Elders Colonel John j.
McCook. George f. Sterry. w. r. Worral Logan
c. Murray. James Yereance and Richard Drum
mond. The question Of Dr. Arthur J. Browns
position was settled authoritatvely to-day for
those who were In doubt. He voted against his
former Instructor. Pennsylvania cast liberal
and 73 conservative votes. DR.. Mutchmore, the
Moderator. voting with the majority.
THE VERDICT NOT UNEXPEcrED
For three days the rain has been the principal
feature at Saratoga, outside Of the Baptist an
niversarles at one end Of the town and the Cen
eral Assembly at the other. To-day the sun
broke forth and every one seemed more cheer
fu and in better frame OF mind TO receive
the verdict Of the Assembly. For months it has
been understood by those conversant with the
trend Of religious thought in the Presbyterian
Church that DR.. Smiths chances of being re-
stored TO the ministry without a renunciation of
the higher critical theories which he has held
was an impossbty. Yesterday in earnest
speech Thomas McDougall, fellow presbyter
Of DR.. Smith. and equally frank in expressing
the opinions which he holds. entreated his friend
to return to the fold. assuring him that the latch
string was out. and that no one would welcome
his return more than those who had been active
in his prosecution. No response came from DR..
Smith. and his friends. while defending him to-
day. have more than once taken occasion to in
sst that not only should he be restored TO the
ministry, but that he should rot be called upon 10
renounce the views for which he has been placed
on trial.
AS soon as the vote was announced DR. Henry
c. McCook. Of Philadelphia, offered a resolution
calling for a committee Of five TO confer with DR.
Smith relative to the decision Of the Assembly
and to suggest such further action as may
seem judcious. DR.. McCook said to the corre-
spondent that he did not know what the result
OF the conference would be. but he thought per
haps Dr. Smith would be willing. having heard
the voice OF the Church. to abide by its decision
as a loyal Presbyterian and promise never to
preach the objectonal doctrines. especially the
ore relating to the inerrancy OF the Scriptures
DR. Smith said that he had expected the defeat
which his appeal met. He did not think II wise
n make any statement for publication yet.
Having disposed Of the Smith case. the AS |
sembv took up It's routine business this even
ing and considered strong report from the |
Theological Seminarles Committee against Lane !
Seminary. from which Or. Smith resigned last
year. The election Of Professor Henry Hubert
was disapproved. and the reorganization OF the
institution was recommended.
PROTEST AGAINST CONTROL OF sEMINARIEs.
DR. ~ ID. Hills. OF Chicago, In pehah oi MINI
self and twenty-five others read the following |
protest to-day against the action Of the Assembly |
this week in assuming direct control of its semi
naries.
The undersigned enter respectful and earnest pro
,ost arains the action OF this Assembly In adopting
The majority report OF the Committee on lheologca.
SemInaries we protest against this action, hrst.
berause the General Assembly OF 1899 declared that
the plan OF direct control OF theo.ogca semharles aries
.eraI 30 Assembly, eNlnues 1929, report made by !
Charles Hodge and Archibald AeSander ,s1 sSc3ha. ha
as to any project by which the entire control ana
admnis,ratlon OF our theological communication |
aSannle a. 10 the election OF trustees-can be trans
ferrcd to the General Assembly on any prlnc1pi.e,
~ complete uniformity, your committee regard IL |
os os ,yhafv impracticabe, and the attempt 70 ac-
az oniish II altogether undesirable" Third because
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