New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-04

THE REV. DR. BRIGGS.
occupy seats in the body of the house and the COM
mittee has reserved seats for 120 clerymen from
other bodies, should so many be present. The
rest Of the house will be free to spectators.
The officers Of the body are DR..
John c. Bliss, moderator DR.. S. G.
Alexander stated clerk DR.. ]. H. Hoadley, per-
manent clerk and DR.. j. J. Lampe, temporary
clerk. The members of the Prosecuting Committee
are DR.. G. w. F. Birch chairman; DIR. j. j. Lampe,
DR.. r. f. Sample, Colonel John j. McCook. and
Professor j. j. Stevenson. DR.. Briggs, it is under
stood, will conduct his own case.
During the last month"; since the charges OF
heresy were formally placed In the hands OF the
accused professor there has been considerable spec
ulation in Church circles as to the probability OF
the trial going forward. The closeness OF the
vote by which it was determined at the last meet
ing to bring Mr.. Briggs to trial showed how evenly
the sentiment was divided on this important step.
A feeling exists that DR.. Briggs has all to gain,
while the Church has much to lose, no matter what
the result of o trial may be. The Union Theological
Seminary, by its vigorous support of DR.. Briggs 1t
IS said has shown that it has advanced beyond the
hide bound limits of sectaran theology into the
broader fields of liberality Of thought, which tend
to Christian unity, in consonance with the spirit
of the age and in response to the nober appeals OF
the worlds greatest Protestant leaders, Already
the seminary is embracing in it's classes students
preparing for the ministry in other denOmina-
TONS A trial resulting in the conviction of DIR.
Briggs of heresy on the Interpretation of language
employed by him in his inaugural address, would.
it is thought hold the Union Seminary up as
school of liberal Christian teachings and students
of all Protestant denominations would be attracted
to it who are now restrained from entering be-
cause it is believed to be strictly Presbyterian
school.
1t is said that some Of the prosecutors are them
selves disposed to halt, and are not quite at ease
in the work which is apparently before Them 1t
is declared to be certain that If DR.. Briggs should
be convicted there will be large withdrawal Of
the liberal element from communion with the
Presbyterian Church This will not, it is said,
be compensated for by new accessons to the
membership, the principle that the Church
will thus advertise itself to the world as discoun
tenancng entirely every tendency toward iberality
INCONSISTENCIES and universally, and thus the
young will gravitate along the more attractive
lines which lead to wider reason and greater
freedom of thought
1t is almost certain that at the meeting of the
Presbytery to-day motion will be made to re-
consider the action taken at the last meeting
ing Dr. Briggs will vote against trial while it
is reasonable to assume that none will at this
meeting vote in favor of trial who voted against
the motion in the October meeting. The tech
meal point has been made and sustained as well,
by men hitherto opposed to DR.. Briggs that under
the constitution the indictment cannot stand The
constitution provides that after indictment shall
have been declared no business shall intervene
between such declaration and the delivery of the
indictment to the accused party. In the case OF
Dr. Briggs, DR.. AbXandcr's compromise resolution
was offered discussed and acted upon before the
indictment was delivered TO DR.. Briggs. 1t may
be on this point that reconsideration will be asked.
II is believed that at this stage Of the proceeding
the element that breads the results Of trial, but
who at the same time are opposed to Dr. Briggs
and do not indose all he says. according to their
understanding of his language. will take occasion
to absolve themselves of responsibility by voting
against the case going to trial
It is evident from conversations with prominent
friends of Dr. Briggs that neither he nor his ad
herents shrink from trial. They are. however
Presbyterians, and devoted 70 the best interests
of the Church, and any measure that will tend
to avoid such issue will be met and
supported in spirit of Cancellation and
harmony, provided it is unacoompanied by hu.
initiating or retrOgrade conditions. III Is felt by
members Of both parties that the point mentioned
affords the best ground for conservative action
that has yet been offered and it is predicted by
one prominent in the case that it is here that all
hands will be joined together for the general good
Of the Church.
The trial Of Dr. Briggs is the result Of an in.
vestigation made last spring by committee Of
the Presbytery appointed to examine an address
on The Authority of Scripture" delivered by
DR.. Briggs at his Inauguration professor OF
biblical theology. After the Presbytery had or
dered trial after listening to protest from the
professor against the appointment of the CON-
mttee of. investigation, the Committee of Prose
cution was appointed in May. and made its re-
port on October 8. Its report included two
charges and several specifications, all based upon
what is contained in the inaugural address. An
effort made to prevent trial, in the interest
of peace, but this failed by vote of Ga to CO.
The following are the charges and specifications
to which DR.. Briggs must plead if the trial pro-
ceeds to-day
CHARGE |.
The Presbyterian Church In the United States Of
being a minister OF the Presbyterian Church. and a
member OF the Presbytery OF NewYUra with teaching