Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1908-07-13
ARKANSAS HERESy
HUNT

Texarkana, Ark, July 13.-What
VIII probably become one OF the
most notable heresy trials that the
Presbyterian church has known in
years will be commenced today by
the Ouachita Presbytery. with the
Rev. f, +. Maddox. pastor OF the
First Presbyterian church of Tex
arkana, as the defendant. DR.. Mad
dox is alleged to have cast doubts
upon the inspiration of the Bible
and his views OF salvation are de-
clared to be heretical. Presbyterians
throughout the country will watch
the trial with interest. as il will
cover practically the same points as
have already been decided by the
northern church, but which have
not yet been brought to a final is
sue in the southern branch OF the
denomination.
DR.. Maddox holds that salvation
is an evolution from within and not
an importation from without, that IT
Is a development OF divinely i'm
planted gift and not new gift di-
Vsneiy implanted. He holds that
men are saved from sin by grace as
the child is saved from ignorance
by education. As TO the Scriptures.
he holds that they are inspired, but
that they are not inerrant. The au-
thors of them were neither remin-
iscent nor infallible, and there is no
proof that they were made so by in
spiration. The thought of the BIZ
BILE came from God. but men ex-
pressed it as they understood it and
in language most ineligible to
them and their contemporaries
Scientific and historical errors and
defective conception OF morality
are due to the defective knowledge
OF the writer's and may be account
ed by the date when the book was
written and the elementary training
of the author.
The trial of David Swing, OF Chi
cago, for heresy thirty years ago
was based on almost identically the
same points which appear in the in
dictment against Dr. Maddox. In
those days Bushnell, Beecher and
Swing were pioneers in a transition
that had just begun. but which has
since swept almost all over the
world. 1t is urged here by Dr. Mad
doX's defenders that If he is to be
prosecuted for some of the same
things for which Swing and Beech
er were years ago by the Northern
Presbyterian church which has,
since revised its creed, it would
seem that the southern church has
not made any progress in the last
thirty years. and that the difficulty
is not with DR.. Maddox. but with
the Westminster confession of faith
This trial OF DR.. Maddox will
make the fourth case in which some
OF tho younger men in his church
have had trouble. They have been
dealt with either by the local con
gregation or the higher church
courts, and two or three OF them
had to leave the denomination.
The present defendant is very
able and scholarly man, aged about
40 years, who has built magnih-
cent church. drawn around him
large following of some of the most
cultured people Of Texarkana and
section. whose congregation are with
him heart and soul.
The charges are based on utter
anccs i'm series of sermons which
DIR. Maddox delivered in his church
In Texarkana and which attracted
widespread interest in all Southwest
Arkansas and Northeast Texas.
Large audiences have heard the
sermons and seemed to approve the
sentiments expressed therein. Some
members Of his congregation com
blamed that their pastor was not
orthodox. and when Cne matter was
brought 10 his attention he asked
for an expression from the church.
which all but unanimously upheld
him in his theology.
Among the numerous members
many OF whom are the most veal
thy and influential families in the
city. only one vote was cast against
DR.. Maddox. The charges made by
the directors are in reference to DR..
Maddoxs views OF salvation and the
inspiration OF the Scriptures.
nEWArE OF OINTMENTS FOR