Year: 1870

tee-The hebukc nnd HOW the Kew Smythe
The New York Sun OF this morning says:-The
trial OF the person who styles himself the Rev.
at O'Clock by the Presbytery in the Eleventh Street
Presby terian Church. After prayer the committee
appointed to review the evidence handed In their
port. They feund:-


/. That the accused, having invited two gentle
men to take lunch with him on Sabbath April 10.
1870, conducted them for this end to restaurant in
which is kept bar for the sale Of intoxicating
D. That in the course of the repast the accused
called for and drank or slipped quantity Of gin and
milk, one OF his guests, in like manner, obtaining
and drinking glass OF ale, and the other calling for
and dsposing OF pitcher OF gin and milk. This,
too, occurred at time when to sell Intoxicating
drinks on the Sabbath was violation Of the law OF
g. That the bill incurred in the entire entertain
ment was paid by the accused, although not on the
4. That although the company was seated in pri-
vate room, no blessing asked, at least audibly
or apparently, on the repast.


8. That the accused in accordance with promise
made to one OF his guests, reporter for the sun
Sabbath in question to aid him in deciphering
writing out the notes or manuscript OF the sermon
. preoChed by the accused on said day.


ExTENUATNG CIRCUMSTANCES.


First. That the accused did not ask either OF his
guests to take any intoxicating drink. If they called
virtue OF any specific invitation by him. but on the
presumption that his general question, "What will
you have 2" warranted them to do 80.


Second The accused appears to have been labor
ing at the time alluded to under considerable
degree


Third. The quantity OF gin used by him on the
occasion seems to have been not large.


Fourth There has m been zee. no evidence presented to
occasion any symptoms OF intoxication


BALANCING


all these matters and taking survey OF all the evi-
dence in this cannot but think that the spe-
cfcatiors extracted from newspaper OF this city,
and embodied In the complaint, are In variety OF
convey an unjust impression OF the deportment of
the accused. But at the same time enough has been
admitted or established by testimony to prove that
the accused acted in


VERY UNBECoMING MANNER
on the occasion referred to In the complaint. Not
only does appear have transgressed the law of
the Sabbath but also to have acted part reprehen-
sble on other grounds; and left at liberty by our
ecclesiastical law to take into account not merely
the specific charge preferred, but also the sins
which may incidentally be proved in the
course of investigation, we shall call attention
First. BY resorting to restaurant in which liquor
is sold the accused acted at least ndiscreetly,
surmising and suspicion As it appears he knew
beforehand that he could not return to his home
for necessary refreshments he shoald have made
arrangements for taking lunch in some place where
he would not have been exposed to the imputations
referred to, or have laid a stumbling-bock in the
way OF others.


Second. In calling for


GIN


the accused was guilty, we apprehend, OF tempting
the barkeeper proprietor OF the restaurant To
violate the law Of the State. w
Third. II may be fairly questioned whether he did





may be said on the abstract question to the pre-
priety OF using such "a drink under any circum-
man to resort to such stimulants according to his
own ideas Of utility or necessity.
Fourth. The conduct OF the accused was calcu-
lated to cOuntenance them in


USING INTOXICATING DRINKS
even without the plea OF special exhaustion. In
view, however Of the ruin which intemperance is
causing in the world, minister of the Gospel
should be exceedingly careful to avoid lending any
sanction TO the use OF Intoxicating liquors beve
rage. He above all Others, should beware OF placing


A STUMBLING BLOCK


in the way of his felow-men. In view OF all these
considerations, we recommend the adoption OF the
following action, namely


First That while the specifications contained in
the complaint preferred against Rev. g. b. Smythe
have in variety Of particulars not been proved and
while there is reason to believe that said spec ca
tions are IN considerable degree exaggeratons and
distortions OF facts yet in the Judgment OF the Pres
byery the conduct OF the accused in the which
| has been under investigation, is censurable, as
having been inconsistent with proper regard for
| the sacredness OF the Sabbath with that
CHRIsTIAN PRUDENCE
which dictates the avoidance, as far may be, OF
the appearance OF evil; and with that tenderness OF
| conscience and love for men which prompted the
or countenance others In sin.
Second. That for the onenses now enumerated the
censure known In our Book or Sacrifices as ''re-
| buke" be administered to accused and that he be
solemDy warned to guard hereafter not only against
| the sins which have brought upon him
| THIS GRAVE CBksURE,
| and upon the Church and cause OF Christ so much
reproach but also against everything at variance
with his standing as a professed Christian.
] Third. That on the submission OF the accused
to the decision now Indicated, and his engaging
to walk by the grace OF God more cireumspectiy in
| the future, the case be entirely dismissed.
The report was received ana discussed seriatiDs,
though running commentaries were made upon the
| whole ease.


! After some sparrng among the divines who
thought he did not show enough contrtlOn, one re-
marked that he would rather call that ibellous
| article in the SUM- because


| THE FACTS HAVE BEEN PROVED.
Mr.. Smythe then agreed to say:-"I am sorry that
have committed the sins or onenses that the Pres
bytery find that have been guilty Of"
This pill was prepared by the Doctors and Mr..
Smythe swallowed it with wry face.
The ayes and noes were called on the adoption OF
the sentence and was carried by six ayes to one no.
| DR.. Findlay, the Moderator, requested that an
older man be selected to carry out the sentence OF
| the court, and DR.. Harper was appointed.
| THE REBUKE.


Brother Smythe, said DR.. Harper the circumstances
| IN which we are placed at this moment are very
| solemn and serious You have been declared guilty
OF ofense which to many may appear light and fri
standard 1t is the Judgment OF this Presbytery that
yeur conduct was reprehensible In the eyes OF God
and man. 1t has been prejudiclal to the cause OF
Christ and TO the good morals OF the community at
large.


We have come to the conclusion that you have
violated the Sabbath and the cause OF religion In
general Your conduct WAS not OF that character 70
avoid the appearance OF evil; you could have
stunned that place. you were guilty In countenanc-
ing what waR wrong-the sale OF intoxicating drinks
thereby encouraging others; yeu tempted Others