The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1906-05-29


: ing the action of the session. or in
other words, Of declaring the action
OF the Synod unconstitutional.
80 DR.. Caldwell is still member
OF the Fort Worth Presbytery, in
full and regular standing, and is also
pastor OF the First Presbyterian
church, of Fort Worth. Texas. .,
The case has been an unusual and
exceedingly intricate one. Nanv
questions of great Importance to the
denomination were at stake, and the
Assembly fully realized that the
general public would construe it's ac-
ton in reversing the Judgment of
Synod i'll the case as endorsing the
views of DR.. Caldwell. Today repre-
sentativcs Of daily papers were earn
estly requested to make clear the
fact that the Assembly merely judged
the action Of the Synod illegal, and
that the views entertained by DR..
Caldwell and fully outlined in The
News and Courier Of several days
ago, were not up for discussion at all,
but while the question up was for
the greater part matter of Church
discipline, the question Of the ortho-
doxy of DR.. Caldwell was uppermost
in the minds Of many commissioners,
else the vote would not have been so
close. DR.. Caldwell or the session
of Fort Worth. was sustained by
majority Of one.
Tt is very doubtful if any other
proceedings will be taken against DR..
William Caldwell. TIe will return
to Fort Worth as pastor Of the First
Presbyterian church.
| Possibility of a real Trial.
The Presbyterian can institute pro-
ceedings for a trial on account Of
heresy. If this action is taken, it
is believed that the case would be at
once appealed to the General Assem-
bly,, and it is thought in many quar-
ters that a vote on the question of
DR.. Caldwell's orthodoxy would re-
suit in his favor.
The broad, liberal views which he
is alleged to maintain are believed to
be growing yearly, and there are
many persons who think that the old
rigid, stern Presbyterians of other
days are fast passing from the scene.
1t has been stated OH the floor of
the Assembly that Dr.. Caldwell is
| fln of
Presbyterianism, and that so far as
the principal points are convened
he is in accord with the Presbyterian
standards. On the other hand, many
of the commissioners, who were
brought up in Presbyterian homes,
deem any divergence from the old es-
tablished Zines rank heresy, and some
rather unfortunate speeches have
been made OH that account. But for
the main part the brethren have been
remarkably temperate i'll their speech,
and there. has been forbearance and
brotherly kindness manifest that gave
the visitor to understand that he was
in the presence Of no ordinary civil
ed Il motion was made that a COM
court
After the vote had been annomc-
) mission Of five be appointed to meet
and confer with those parties who
had voted in favor Of sustaining i'll
part the first section.
The commission consists of DR.. j.
; ". Staff, of Birmingham, Prof. W.
S. Currell, Of Lexington, Va, DR.. c.
r. Hemphill, Of Louisville, DR.. S. NJ
Neel, Of Kansas City, and }. C.
Cowan, Of Nashville.
This commission will report on
Friday. 1t is understood that this
commission will merely render 6
mdement Of the eleven votes which
favor in part the complaint, and il
is not thought that their judgment
, will materially affect the case.
A Summary of the Case.
4 The history of the case has already
T. been told. DR.. Caldwell was choscl
+ nastor Of the First Presbyterian
4 church. of Fort Worth, Texas, in '04
t He was also recognized as membe
+ Of ,hc Fort Worth Prcsbytery. Some
=. Of the members Of the Presbyter.
made complaint to the Synod of Tex
q rs, alleging that DR.. Caldwell wa
l. not sound in his theology.
Il The Synod referred the case bacI
Y TO the Presbytery, which again sup
C ported Caldwell. Later the Syho
| ..a,.o.sod thn aciion Of the PresbYtery