DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

Evening Star, Issue 7655, 4 July 1888, Page 3

DUNEDIN PRESBYTERY.

The Presbytery met in th« First Church this morning. Tho moderator (the Rev. Mr Porter) presided, and there was a large attendance of clerical and lay members. THE INCOMING MODERATOR. On the motion of the retiring Moderator the Rev. Dr Dunlop was appointed moderator for the ensiling six mouths. VISITORS. The Cr.ERK (Rev. A. Finlaysou) called attention to the presence among them of Dr Grant, principal of Queen's College, Kingston, Canada, and moved that he be associated with the Presbytery. This was cordially agreed to, and the Moderator welcomed Dr Grant, who took his seat accordingly, and briefly addressed the Presbytery. The Rev. \V T . Will pointed out that they had another visitor in the person of the Rev. Mr Chisholm, of the Uutha. He would move that Mr Chisholm be associated with the Presbytery. _ This was al-o agreed to unanimously. THE SUPPLY OK MINISTERS. The Ci erk intimated that in connection with the proposal that additional ministers be obtained from Home, he had received replies from the Oamaru Presbytery, which approved of the proposal, and suggested that Dr Stuart be instructed to send out two or three ministers from the Home churches; and from Clntha Presbytery agreeing with the proposal and suggesting that two ministers be procured. Southland and Dunstan had not yet replied to the Dunedin Presbytery's circular, but he understood that the first-named was opposed to the idea. It was resolved to postpone dealing with the matter until next meeting. 'THE REIGN OF GRACE.' The Clerk said that the next business was the consideration of the report submitted at last meeting by the Committee appointed to inquire into and report on Dr Salmond's pamphlet entitled 'The Reign of Grace.' He would suggest that the matter be considered in private, as on the previous occasion. The Rev. Mr Cameron moved—"That the Press only be excluded." The Rev. Mr Rvley moved as an amendment—"That the Presbytery proceed to consider the matter in public." He said there was nothing in it that required privacy; on the other hand, it had received great publicity, and it would be in the common interests of truth and of righteousness if they discussed the report in open Court. The Rev. J. M. Sutherland seconded the amendment, remarking that as there was not the slightest danger of personalities being indulged in, the discussion should be held in public. The Rev. W. Will said that the matter was in a different position to that at the previous meeting, tho report hiving now been published and having now come up for discussion. Mr K. Ramsay also supported the amendment, saying that their own community resented very much the Presbytery's action in discussing the matter previously in committee, and he thought the Presbytery should now remedy the blunder then committed.

Th* amendment was carried by 20 to 6.

The Rev. W. Wiu. then stated that he had taken a great deal of trouble in com-pi-ring the pamphlet with the report on it, and had drawn up the results of his comparison in writing. He now proposed, with the approval of the Presbytery, to read this, and the meeting could deal with each clause seriatim, and pronounce judgment on them as they stood. This course being approved, the Rev. W. Will proceeded to read his paper, which was a very voluminous document. The first clause of the report was as follows :—" The pamphlet professes to be ' a discussion of the question of the possibility of salvation for all men in this life or in the life to come.'

And it was adopted without discussion. In Clause 2, which read as follows—"From reason, Providence, the state of rnind produced in ns by the Gospel, and partly from the Scriptures themselves, the author undertakes to prove that it is probable that there will be an opportunity afforded men after death to repent, believe, and be saved. From the way in which he treats the subject, it seems that this opportunity will bo enjoyed by all who die impenitent "—the Rev. W. Wi.l commented at considerable length, o.nd said that downright pure rationaUsm ran through the portion of the pamphlet to which the clause had reference, as, indeed, it did through the whole pamphlet. If Dr. Salmond's statements'' were to he accepted, no should thoy accept the writings of Parne, Ingorsoll, and Bradlaugh. The Rev. R. Waddfi.l asked which pamphlet was being discussed, for the sth edition contained the final view of the author.

The Clerk said that the Ist edition was that which wa3 laid on the tablp ; the 13th eili'ion was not issued at the time of the Presbytery's previous meeting. The Rev. W. Will said that the pamphlet was laid on the table a month ago and no one then knew that a . r >th edition, or even a 3rd edition, would ever be published. The Rev. R. VVaddell said that it was more waste of time to discuss a pamphlet part of which had been retracted. The clause was adopted. A long discussion ensued on clause 3, which was as follows:—" His fundamental principles, however, and mode of reasoning, lead fairly, if not necessarily, £o a conclusion far beyond this, and, if correct, goto prove, not a probable or possible salvation for some men, but an absolute final salvation for all men. In Note E, third edition, the author himself carries his argument to this conclusion, with the alternative of annihilation for the finally impenitent."—A motion that Note E be sti uck out was lost by 15 to B.—The Rev. W. Will, in commenting on the clause, said that universalism runs through tho whole pamphlet; that he could see nothing else in it. As an example of this he referred to the writer's story of the widowed woman whose two sons were drowned while impenitent. The Rev. J. M'Kerrow moved—" That the clause be not adopted." The Rev. J. Gibb seconded the motion. The Rev. J. Rylet said that the whole drift of tho pamphlet was to establish universalism. Dr Salmond had ridiculed tho creed that for years he had been supposed to have taught faithfully. If he had humbly and quietly given bis opinion, and left it to the church to maintain its own opinion, the Presbytery would have been the last to lay hands on him. All that Dr Salmond had attempted to prove was th.it they were all in a state of darkness, but that he himself had merged into the light. Dr Salmond asserted that there was salvation for all men—perhaps even for tho Devil himself.— (Laughter.) The arguments of Dr Salmond might fairly be taken as covering tho " old gentleman" himself. The Rev. J. Gjbb rose to a point of order; he did not think it harmonised with the dignity of tho Court that "that person" should be referred to as the "old gentleman."—(More laughter.) The Rev. J. Ryley continued that the time bad arrived when the Presbytery should put down its foot and stop such proceedings on the part of men who had subscribed to the church's articles of faith. The Rev. J. M. Sutherland rose to a point of order; he submitted that the speaker was travelling beyond the proper bounds of the motion. After further discussion, the Rev. J. G. Smith moved as an amendment —"That there ia a danger lest the author's reasoning may be construed to mean that hj« believes iu an absolute final salvation for all men." The Rev. J. M. M'Kerrow, having obtained leave to withdraw his motion, seconded Mr Smith's amendment. A vote being taken, the clause was adopted as printed. , " On clause 4—" His views extend into the region of things not revealed, and' deal wibh certain questions in a way which the Scriptures do not warrant, and which seems incompatible with the teaching of the Word of God "—the Rev. W. Will moved and the Rev. J. Ryley seconded that th* clause be adopted, which was carried unanimously. Clause 5 read as followB:—" It is deeply to be regretted that the author has spoken in the way he has done of the teaching of Jesus Christ, who is 'The Truth,' 'The faithful and true Witness,' and who testifies of Himself: ' To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into tho world, that I

The Rev. .1. Oieb moved, and the R.sv. J. Smith seconded, as au amendment—- " That it is deeply to be regretted that Dr Salmond has so expressed himself in regard to the teaching of Christ that the impression might be entertained that he looks on Christ only as a popular preacher swayed by the exigencies of the moment." After some discussion the motion was carried byJls to 6. Clause b' was adopted, as follows : "There is a very uncertain sound In some places concerning the nature of the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the method of justification by faith." Clause 7 was adopted unanimously, as follows:—" There are also some very offensive and unnecessary remarks about the manner in which many ministers and other office-bearers regard the standards of the church."

The final clause, No. 8, was also adopted as follows:—"The Committee consider the pamphlet as fitted to unsettle the minds of many of our people; to sorely grieve and wound the hearts of not a few of the devout followers of the Lord Jesus Christ: to gratify and to encourage the Rationalists, Unitarians, and sceptics; and to 'create embarrassment, vexation, controversy, and dispeace with the church.'" The report as amended was then adopted as a whole, should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.' " The Rev. W. Will moved, and the Rev. J. M. Sutherland seconded that the clause be adopted. The Rev. W. War, then said that he would follow up the steps so far taken by moving a resolution, as lollows—" That the Presbytery appoint a committee to meet with Dr Salmond, with a view (1) of representing to him the judgment of the Presbytery on the pamphlet 'The Reign of Grace,' as expressed in the report adopted this morning, aDd of asking him, in view of that judgment, to suppress the raid pamphlet ; (2) of remonstrating with him regarding the way in which he speaks of the public teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, of endeavoring to bring him to a better state of mind concerning this most important matter, and of persuading him, if possible, to express deep regret for the very offensive terms in which he has characterised the utterances of Him who is the " faithful and true witness," and who has Himself testified "Heaven and earth shall pass away" ; (3) of admonishing him to be more careful in future not to pronounce so dogmatically on subjects which the Father hath reserved in his own power, and in his sermonß and publications to abstain from teaching doctrines which are contrary to the standards of the church, and which are fitted to wound and grieve the hearts of many of her ministry and members." He would suggest that the motion be taken clause by clause. [Left sitting.]