PRINCIPAL LINDSAY ON THE ROBERTSON SMITH CASE.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 669, 20 November 1909, Page 6

PRINCIPAL LINDSAY ON THE ROBERTSON SMITH CASE.

• : To' the "Glasgow Herald" < Principal-Lindsaj ■;■■','■■ icontributes "a long, interesting, and; authorite "M tive review of Mrl;, Simpson's ."Life of Princi-.*':"-i pal;Eainy." ■ He takes the ivicw that Eainy'e . , action' in , the; Eobertsbn Smith case-was ■Wβ., • 'great blot;-on N : his;,aliriostj life.',;/Hev.f ; writes:—''." '': - : .,£'-'' : '"-,' ,';■:'•'■.;.■ -.V '..!•;'■'•■..•.' '■ ''■,[.'':■■; "' ,' "Dr. Eainy .was 'a..: deeply piqus" man', 1 , an<i ; .'clunk ,flith : all;',the.force',lif.-his :nature to'.the t ;' 'great ; '_facts ;bf,'.revelatioii,* but. he was' what 'indifferent to':th'e.'-'exact.intellectual- ei,-.,L-' . positional .and propteitional. statement 'of these v :facte;.. Mr.' Sinvpsoh: has'quoted , a' student's;''.' surprise', at' hearing , him ..say. that the, :de- '•: :fiiritions'of the Trinity ; ,and..the. Person".vof ,-.;: Christ wore' not-.soV much exact' statements! -',: of fact'as- the:nearest approaches :man:could V make:, to', that: which' is- inexpressible. .Such ~..,'• an-"attitude' has:-been .common' enough .in. the':, : history'of 'pietyi .and iih'confess -that there;.';' .■is:V great , .deal'-. U>. be: sail for :'it. .'(Still,: to-a".- ■< ■man:'like■•Eobertsbn ,Sm|,th : such ,i., 6tate; of; •", ; mind ; was'■ noi'eiactljr: ulndcrstobd, a'nd:f.there'., ':was'Eomo triith in'his.cliargo.that Dr. Kainy:-; not allpw;'.muoh ireiglt", to: a' conecientious.;,.. ipersuaslbn';that .certain , vi.eWs . arc. true;' Nor, ji•.was,; there .fin .tho , -latter'.;'' 'any"! real;' loving.■<(.' iatteinpt. to get>ido ; by side' with Smith siicn..',' -'the' blder' v Caiidlishi' \yith 1 .his'•" wbnderful : ',• 'openness' of mind to' , all fresh 'light! 'would, 1 ;-, have ma3e. ' He retained his disappointing ' 'inhospi'tality!.; to tho critical position. .'Be-:,, sides, Smitb. \y<ak perfectly :> correct' when ; he;..-, .declared' that Kainy 'always folded himself-.in.:,-; his' mantle.; of ■ l<radership, and ■. that:-be ;'..; .studiously., maintained>an attitude 1 of .aloofness v :whicli'.was felt by < the' sensitivo,:nervous.Smith';'■■•■ -to be'.somewhat akin ; to superciliousness; :'■'•" In .-M : t these old: days -followers ; of:-Professor' Smith ?;: ifound it-much easier to.tallc frankly . : aud'6ynii j pathetically.'to Sir; Henry .Moncriefl-; than U', >V Ui , .'Kainy; ; They knew-and could 1 more.readilj..*'; ''sympathise-'.witn his . straightforward:-antago--,:';; 'nissm. So "matters' went: ou- from bad to worse-c ..till.Smith could honestly ■■ believe-,that .'■Eainr„•■: Iwas insincere, .and E-ainy could sayV with,sad,V■;. concentrated bitterness, that Smith- was tm im-y,\ possibility!" '■''.". ...... : -.---'- : '".'-. .-'■. 7; vi,' v> ;i>