The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1890-05-15
Prof. Briggs and The Sun.

Prof. Briggs and The Sun.
During q debate In the New York Presby.
terry last Monday concerning the policy OF
admitting newspaper reporters to Its meet
ings, Prof. BRIGGS Of the Union Theological
Seminary made these remarks:
liam rrievsd over what was said about In the
erS OF Sunday. 1t 10 specimen Of the numerous mis-
representations of the press OF this city don't con
slider tho religious press much better than the secular
3ho conscience OF editor considers a thing once
printed ~ nnh."
We should be no less grieyed than Prof.
BRIGGS II THE Sun had In any way mlsrep-
resented him; and however it may be with
other journals, we do not consider thing
once printed as final, unless 1t Is true. II 1t
is not true and II it has been printed in The
Bun we are indebted to any one who shows
us Its error and enables us to make the nee
essary correction.
But In the article to which Prof BRIGGS
refers there was no Misrepresentation Of
him. We simply expressed the opinion that
he Is pursuing q course in theological criti-
Oism which leads logically to agnosticism.
He seems to US to be applying tests of ordl-
nary reason to the dogmas Of religion;
and these tests tend to the destruction OF
faith. Religion stands outside Of the domain
OF reason and theology Is not susceptible
of proof by tho methods Of common science.
Their basis is in assumptions and dog
matic declarations, which must be taken on
faith purely, for they cannot stand in the
analytical fires Of rationalistic criticism. The
inspiration OF the Bible and its authority as
Divine revelation, the fountain of theology,
with the doctrines Of the Trinity, of the
Dad Io-
proved, but must be accepted with unques-
tionlng faith.
Therefore we say that when Prof. BRIGGS
and the school Of theologians ofwhch he is
master, set out to subject the Bible and the
dogmas Of theology to criticism, after the
modern German method, rationalistc
rather than religious. they start on q road
which leads straight to agnosticism, or the
rejection OF all faith at the dictate OF reason.
II they go on, they are sure to be lost in the
morass Of unbelief, for more and more,
and further and further, they must apply
the test Of reason to beliefs and dogmas
which cannot stand against such methods
Before they know OF their loss their faith
will have gone, and the spirit in which they
approach the Scriptures will be coldly SCI
entiilc and not religious. SO regarded. reve-
lation passes away as superstition, as
Ioetic dream. On the other hand. when full
faith remains, holding the reason as its sub
missive servant, it can believe all, and re-
move all the mountains that may be raised
by skepticism and intidelity.
If We had said that Prof. BRIGGS has aban-
doned orthodoxy and knowingly allied him
self with agnosticism, we should have mis-
represented him. But we did not say
that We said, and we now repeat
1t, that the effect OF his teachings
and his methods OF criticism Is to
stimulate unbelief, whittier he leads.
not yet discerning the goal to which
he Is marching. 1NGERSoLL and HUXLEY
and the whole band OF avowed agnostics
and infidels are not doing 50 much to bring
about tho downfall Of religious faith as the
majority Of tho delegates to the Pres
byterian General Assembly at Saratoga to-
day are unwittingly doing by assailing the
very foundations of faith with the weapons
and the strategy OF mere human reason.
Why Is 1t that the discussion arises at all ?
Is it not because faith Is dying out among
the Presbyterians, and they are searching
about to find something upon which it can
rest in its decrepitudep So agnoeticism
begins. It does not start In rancorous de-
NAL, after the manner OF the infidellty OF
tho past, but in cold criticism Of the prop
ositions and dogmas OF theology, and its
end is not violent rejection, but the quiet
conclusion that the problem is insoluble by
man, and that tho result is Interchangeable by
belief or unbelief.
As to whether the proceedings of the New
York Presbytery shall be public or private.
that is its own affair. But we can assure
the members that whatever may be the de-
hciencies of summarized newspaper re-
ports. tho rumors arising about secret dis |
cusson will cause them infinitely more |
trouble II the newspapers report what |
goes on, 1t is because 1t is interesting to the |
public; and. being 80. the public will satisfy |
their curiosity by less authentic means. If |
no other can be had. The way to escape mis- |
representation is to let the reporters In.