DR SALMOND'S " REIGN OF GRACE."

Otago Witness, Issue 1911, 6 July 1888, Page 22

DR SALMOND'S " REIGN OF GRACE."

DISCUSSION IN THE PRESBYTERY.

At a meeting of the Presbytery of Duned : n held on Wednesday the report on Dr Salmond's pamphlet " The Reign of " Grace " was considered. The Daily Times publishes a full report of the discussion, but our limited space will only allow of our giving a brief resume of the actual business done.

It was decided not to go into committee.

The moderator (the Rev. Dr Dunlop) presided, and tbere were also present: Revs. R. J. Porter, W. "Will, R. R. M. Sutherland, H. Kelly, R. Waddell, A. Greig, J. Christie, J. M. Sutherland, J. Kirkland, W. Campbell, J. M. M'Kerrow, J. Gibb, J. Ryley, A. Cameron, J. Gibsou Bicith, D. Borrie, A. Bett, A. M. Finlayson (clerk), Professor Watt ; elders — Messrs D. Hnoti, J. Puterson, W. Randall, T. C. de Lacy, J. FtmHny, X t'aimay, W. Dyraock, R. Findlay, W. llitton, J. Wangh, and J. Runcimnn.

Tii« Rev. Mr Will proceeded to argue in support of th« different clauses of the report. II v sad that for the sake of convenience he had (HvMud the report into eight clauses, and he woul'l now examine the pamphlet to see whether these clauses were all of them warranted. Iv the fi> ft place the pamphlet professed to be " a il'seusMou of the question of the possibility of salvat ioa for all men in this life, or in the life to come " This was the first clause of the report, and the title page of the pamphlet clearly proved this.

The statement was agreed to.

Clause 2. — " From reason, Providence, the state of mind produced in us by the Gospel, and partly from the Scriptures themselves, the pufchor 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 be enjoyed by all who die impenitent."

Clause 3— " His fundamental principles, however, and mode of reasouing lead fairly, if not necessarily, to a conclusion far beyond thiy, and, if correcb, go to prove, not a probable or possible salvation for some men, but an absolute final salvation for all men. In Note B, third edition, the author himself carries his argument to this conclusion, wibh the alternative of Hiinihilation for the finally impenitent."

The question arose as to whether Note B, from the third edition, should be retained in the report.

It was resolved to rjlain the reference by 15 votos to 8.

The Rev. Mr M'Kwmow said he wished it to be understood thab he did not say he agreed with Dr Salmond. He only said that the charges had not been borne out.

The Rev. Gibson Smith moved that the following bo substituted for the clause :—" That there is danger lest the author's reasoning may be construed to mean that he believes in an absolute final salvation for all men."

The Rev. Mr M'Kerrow agreed to withdraw his motion in favour of the amendment, which he seconded.

Mr Gieb agreed also to this course.

The Rev. D. Borrie said the statements of the pamphlet were utterly at variance with the reasoning. They might take the pamphlet as it was and utterly confute the reasoning aud the statements that were laid down.

The Rev. J. Ry ley said the whole drift and reasoning of the argument of the pamphlet was to prove UniverEalism.

The Rev. Mr Cameron held thab the pamphlet did not support Universalism. It simply went to show that God would not abandon any soul until he had exhausted all means of securing the salvation of the individual.

The amendment was, after some further discussion, put and lost, the voting being nine for aud 22 against.

The Rev. Mr Will read clause 4 of the report as follows :—": — " His views extend into the region of things not revealed, and deal with certain questions in a way which the Scriptures do not warrant, and which seems incompatible with the teaching of the Word of God." Speaking to the clause be referred the members to several passages of Scripture— viz, Matthew xxv, 41, 46 ; Luke xvi, 19, 31 ; 2 Thessalouians i, 8, 9 ; Hebrews ix, 27 ; Revelations xxii, 11 ; John v, 28, 29 ; 2 Coiiuthians v, 10. He moved the adoption of the clause.

The Rev. Mr Eyley seconded the motion, which was agreed to.

The Rev. Mr Will then read clause 5 as follows, and moved its adoption :— " It is deeply to be regretted that the author has spoken in the way he has done of the teaching of Je&uti Christ, who is ' The Truth,' ' The faithful and true Witness,' and who testifies of Himself, ' To this end was I born, aud for this cause camo I into the world, that I should bear witness unto tho truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth My voice.' "

The Rev. J. M. Sutherland seconded fclv. adoption of the clause. He pointed out that the last edition of the pamphlet should qualify to som'3 extent the severe language that Mr Will h:id u&ed with reference to the contents of the first odition.

Rev, Mr Giisn moved as an 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 uuoinenb."

The Rev. Gibson Smith seconded the amendment.

Ihe motion was carried, there being 15 votes in favour of it and 6 against it.

Clauses G aud 7 of the report, which read as follows, were then agreed to : — " There is a very uncertain sound iv some places concerning the uature of the atonement of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the method of justification by faith. There fre also some very offensive and unnecessary remarks about the manner iv which many ministers and other office-bearers regard the standards of the church."

On Mr Will proposing that clause 8 be 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 di'peace with the church,' "

The Rev R. R M. Sutherland thought this was not strong enough. So far as this presbytery was concerned they should state that the charges were entirely unfounded.

The Raw Mr Will: How do you know tiiat ?

The Rev. R. R. M. Sutherland: Well, let us put it to the vote and settle ifc. — (Laughter.) The clause was agreed to as orkmiilly printed. Th* repon. as amended and a, v whole was then put and agreed to on the voices.

It was n- >w 2 o'clock, and as the presbytery had open hitting continuously sinco 10 a.m., it was proposed to adjourn.

The Rev. Mr Will gave notice of a motion regarding further action, to b, cotoiocrcd nt the afternoon sitting.

The 'presbytery theo adjourned for an hour, ami on resuming, After some further discussion, Mr Will

agreed to put his motion in three parts.' He moved the first clause as follows :—": — " That the presbytery appoint a committee to meet with Dr Salmond with a view to represent to him the judgment of the presbytery on the pamphlet •• The Reign of Grace " as expressed in the report adopted this forenoon, and ask him in view of that judgment to suppress the said pamphlet." He spoke at some length in support of his motion.

The Rev. Mr Gibb moved the following amendment :— " The presbytery having had its attention drawn to a pamphlet entitled "The Reign of Grace," greatly regrets its publication as having a tendency to unsettle the faith of many, earnestly protests against much of its teaching on the subject of future probation as being either agaiust Scripture or beside it, travelling into the region of things not revealed ; regards as especially unfortunate, the reference to Christ as a popular preacher swayed »y the exigencies of the moment; censures the tone of certain passages, uotably those referring to the creed of the church and its ministers, but in view (1) of the fact that there is a widespread feeling in the church in favour of a modification of the doctrines of the confession relating to the salvation of infants and of the heathen ; in view (2) of the probability that the church may be called upon to formulate a declaratory statement similar to that adopted by the Presbyterian Church 6f England, the United Presbyterian Church" of Scotland, and the Presbyterian Church of Victoria, whereas the docbrine specified is distinctly modified; and iv view (3) of the fact that the author of the pamphlet is not nor is ever likely to be a minister of any congregation in the church, the presbytery considers it inadvisable to travel further in the matter.

Mr Keith Ramsay seconded the amendment,

A vote was then taken, with the following result : — Mr Gibb's amendment, 8 ; Mr Will's motion, 16.

The motion was declared carried.

The following additional clauses were then moved by Mr Will, and agreed to :— " To remonstate with him regarding the way in which he speaks of the public teaching of the Lord Jesus Christ, to endeavour to bring him to a better state of mind concerning this most important matter, and to persuade him if possible to express deep regret fov the terms in which he had characterised the utterances of Him who is the faithful and true witness,' and who Himself has testified — ' Heaven and earth shall pass away, bub My words shall not pass away.' "—"" — " To admonish him to be more careful in the future nob to pronounce so dogmatically on subjects which the Father has reserved in His own power; and in his sermons 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 ministers and members."

The Moderator, the Rev. Mr Will, and* Mr Paterson were then appointed a committee, and

The meeting terminated, after a seven hours' sitting.