A CLERGYMAN’S VIEWS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVI, Issue 2285, 2 September 1908, Page 2

A CLERGYMAN’S VIEWS.

CONSIDERATION BY PRESBYTERIES. [Peess Association.] WELLINGTON, September. 1. Ail overture practically indicting the Rev. J. Gibson Smith with having uttered heterodox views concerning Church doctrine as it concerns atonement, was discussed at a meeting of the Wellington Presbytery today. In speaking to the overture, the mover, the Rev. Mr. Elliott, said lie wished it to be understood that he was not endeavoring to invoke the power of the Church to unfrock the author of “Christ of the Cross,” i book 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 trouble. Mr. Gibson Smith, in reply, said he had been accused of having denied the b.iso of Christian doctrine. As a matter of fact he had made a distinction between “satisfaction to; justice” and “satisfaction to retributive justice.” He quoted from theological authors to prove his con-tenti/on-that retributive justice was a thing apart from justice. The Presbytery finally decided to set up a committee to confer with Mr. Smith.

DUNEDIN, September 1. The Dunedin Presbytery considered the Rev. Mr. Sutherland’s over-, turo re the Rev. Gibson Smith’s book, “Christ of the Cross,” and decided that it was not competent for the Presbytery to adopt an overture and forward it to the General Assembly.