" THE CHRIST OF THE CROSS."

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 2 September 1908, Page 7

" THE CHRIST OF THE CROSS."

(Per Press Association.)

WELLINGTON, Sept. 1. An overture jpractioally indicting the Rev. ,F. Gibson Smith with having uttered heterodox views concerning the church doctrine as it concerns the atonement, was discussed at a meeting of the Wellington Presbytery to-day. In speaking to the overture., the mover, the Rev. Mi Elliott, said he wished it to be understood that he was not endeavouring to invoke the power of tho church to unfrock the author of '•The Christ of the Cross." The book was written by Mr Gibson Smith. His feeling was that of intense and affectionate sorrow that Mr Smith should have brought himself and the Presbytery into this tiouble.

Mr Gibson Smith, in his reply, said ho had been accused of having denied the base of the Christian doctrine.. As a matter of fact, he had made a distinction between "satisfaction to justice" and "satisfaction to retributiva justice." He quoted from theological writers to prove his contention that retributive justice was a thing apart from justice.

Tho Presbytery finally decided to set up a committee to confer with Mr Smith.

Later

The,Dunedin Presbytery, having coil* sidered the Rev. Sutherland's overture, re the Rev. Gibson Smith's book "The Christ of the Cross"—decided that if was not competent for the Presbytery to adopt the overture and forward it to the. General Assembly.'