HERESY HUNT FAILS

Taranaki Daily News, 12 October 1929, Page 9

HERESY HUNT FAILS

ACCUSED EXONERATED. Capetown, Oct. 2. The trial for heresy of Professor du Plessis, of the Theological College, Stellenbosch, before the Presbytery of the Dutch Reformed Church, has closed. The Presbytery exonerated Professor du Plessis on the first two counts, in which is was held that he recognised a supernatural element in Israel’s history and did not hold views conflicting with the Netherlands confession. On the third count, charging Professor du Plessis with ascribing human limitations to Christ, the presbytery also exonerated the defendant, and the fourth charge of raising controversial issues, they declared, fell away. The decision was reached after a stormy debate, when a motion to declare Professor du Plessis an out-and-out heretic was defeated. In exonerating Professor du Plessis, the presbytery noted that he had us.ed expressions capable of being misunderstood. they, therefore, exhorted him henceforth to state his views on delicate theological points more circumspectly. Professor du Plessis promised to take the exhortation deeply to heart.' The curators have decided to carry the prosecution before the synod.