ALLEGED HETERODOXY.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9181, 2 September 1908, Page 6

ALLEGED HETERODOXY.

BY TELEGRAPH —PEESS ASSOCIATION. WELLINGTON, September I. An "overture" practically indict" ing the Rev. J. Gibson Smith with having uttered heterodox views concerning the Presbyterian Church's doctrine as it concerns the Atonement was discussed at the meeting of the Wellington Presbytery to-day. In speaking to the overture, the mover (tha Rev. Kennedy Elliott) said he wished it to be understood that he was not endeavouring to invoke the power of the Church to unfrock the author of "The Christ of the Cross," the book written by Mr Gibson Smith, and expressing his theological views. His feeling was one of intense and affectionate sorrow that Mr Smith should have brought himself and the Presbjtery into this trouble.

Mr Gibson Smith, who is Moderator of the Wellington Presbytery, in his reply, said he had been accused of having denied the base 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 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 the Rev. Mr Smith.