New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-06

10. Each of them might embrace a number Of state
ments, but which he would have to answer 70 no
one tell. Any one Of the Presbytery might thinh
he had violated one principle Of the Standards ana
another another, and so he would be In position VI
not being able to plead to any certain, definite charge
II the Presbytery had not taken the course 10 did, IL
would have been necessary send the case back to
this committee, 10 appoint another committee
which should make definite the charges and return the
specifications In a more certain form.
81 think that this outcome Is TO be attributed also
very much to desire for peace and quiet In the Pres
bytery The members foresaw that II this trial should
go II would have the effect Of arrayng this Pres
byery into parts, II would array the synod INTO
two divisions and probably array the General Assembly
into two nearly equal divisions and this would go
further aid cause division in the Church ITSELF
very much hope that ts committee may conceive it to
be the right thing do TO follow the judgment OF
the Prestyery and allow this case to rest where IL IS
do not sympathize with their statement that TINS
and from the synod to Inc General Assembly and that
therefore the Prcsbytery are responsible for this loss
" time and for the litigation that will result think
N.e committee themselves will be responsible n they
continue the and do not drop 1t at the present
moment They will be fully tusihcd in following tls
will yield 10 the opinion Of their brethren and allow the
whole thing TO drop az this point
THE COMMITTEES AUTHORITY.
"what is your opinion in regard to the committee
having the authority to conduct these proceedings on
their own account and take the conduct Of the
from the Presbytery itseKi asked.
1T Is very singular condtio Of affairs if the
iudeatory that Institutes a charge against clergy
after lose entire control Of the case and be subject to
the views Of I'VE that have been chostn ey them
TO prepare the CHARGES Is not to he lenied that
charges and then To conduct the case through the
other tudicatotes they would have the entire control
and conduct OF the IN the higher tudieatones but
1t must be remembered that the Presbytery, when
they appointed .his committee, appointed them merely
TO prepare charges, but did not appoint them as
understand the mnutss TO conduct the before the
presytery and in The higher Ed dHE to- which
mtee 70 conduct the proceedings before the Presby
case I'm AL the higher Iudcatores. That matter OF TAX
ing the entirely from the control Of the Presbytery
and putting 1t into the hands OF committee OF one or
persons is so unusual and so against ordinary
legal proceedings that the section Of the book Of disc
pine which have quoted must be literally and strictly
appointed to conduct the they should not have the
power TO take the from the Presbytcry."
Assembly and the Union Theological Seminary on the
subject OF Dr.. Briggs's transfer from one chair to
another and the effect of the dismissal Of his trial upon
that controversy, Mr.. Day said:
matter that was TO be investigated by the committee
appointed by the General Assembly TO confer with the
Union Seminary directly. That matter was simply III
regard to the affairs Of the seminary corporation
and It's obligations TO the General Assembly under
certain agreement made in 1870. The orthodoxy OF
DR.. Brga had no connection whatever with that mat
Ter. trust, however. that the incidental effect upon
the Union Seminary viii be 10 show the country that
some of distinguished professors In that institution
guilty Of the heresy Of which they have been
charged In the religious press. 1t Is now certain that
large proportion OF the ministers comprising the Pres
bytery of New-York believe that DR.. Briggs Is not
guilty OF heretical opinion. / think his paper will
show that he is much sound upon tho great ques
ton Of the authority Of Scripture heing the only
nfable rule Of faith and practice than the public have
supposed
In conclusion Mr. Day said 81 suppose twenty bust
ness men, all Of them representative OF high places
in tho community, have spoken TO to-day In
gard to the action of the Prsbytery yesterday refer
Ing to II OF the most important decisions in
religious affairs that he, beer, made and
could Include in this list the Of Identified
not only with the Presby terrain Church. but with the
Protestant Episcopal, the Baptist and other denOmina
40