A MINISTER INDICTED.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 213, 2 September 1908, Page 2

A MINISTER INDICTED.

THE AUTHOR OF " THE CHRIST Ok THE CROSS.' By Telegraph.—Press Association. Wellington, Tuesday. An overture practically indicting the Rev. .i. Gibson-Smith with naviag uttered heterodox views concerning tie Clniß'li's doctrine as il concerns atonement, was discussed at a meeting of t'he Wellington Presbytery to-day. la speaking to the overture, the 'mowr, the ltev. ,1. K. Elliott, said he wished it to be understood that he was not endeavoring to invoke the power oi the Church to unfrock the author of '■The Christ of the Cross," the book written by the Rev. Gibson-Smith, lira feeling was that of intense and 'affectionate sorrow tiiat Mr. Smith sh<iu«] have brought himself and the Presbytery into this trouble.

Rev. Gibson-Smith, iu his reply, said he iiad been accused of having dmied tile base of Christian doctrine. As 8 matter of fact lie had made a distinction between "fatisfaction to justice" and '-satisfaction to retributive justice." He quoted from theologiial writers to prove his contention that retributive justice was a thing apart from justice. The Presbytery finally decided to set up a committee to confer with Mr. Smith.

Dtmedhi, Tuesday. The Otago Presbytery considered liev. Sutherland'!! overture in reference to the Rev. ,T. Gibson-Smith's book ''The Christ of the Cross." ' Jit was decided that the Presbytery was not com|K'U'iit to accept the overture, but should forward it to the General As-i sonibly.