Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-06
He is Indicted as a Hereto on
Several Points.
THE PRESBYTERY WRANGLES.
Confusion Prevails and the Moderator Loses
His Head for Time.
One Clergyman Gives Notice of Appeal to
the Synod-A Split in the Church
Imminent-The Report Of
the Committee.
The Briggs Heresy Case.

New YORK, Oct. AT the semi-annual
meeting of the New York preSbytery, held
this morning in the Scotch Presbyterian
church in West Sixth street. Rev. JohS -
Bliss. pastor of the Washington Heighss
Presbyterian church, presided as moder-
atOr The prosecuting committee APP
pointed lat spring 10 prepare the papers
in the case of Charles \. Briggs, presented
its report embodying the charges against
him.
The charges i'll brief are: Disbelief in
the Bible as tine only true source OF divine
authority; disbelief in the verbal inSpir;l-
ton and inerrancy of the scriptures: disbe-
lief in the Immediate sanctitication at death
of the souls OF those dying in the faith.
The presbytery must now decide whether
Professor Briggs shall be tried. It has
power 20 quash the Indictment, but there is
little probability of this course being pur-
sued. The discussion of the Indictment
Will not be in order for some time.
Professor Briggs must have ten days to
prepare his answer, and the trial, if one
takes place, viii probably be held in the
latter part of this month. L has been ru-
mOred that the indictment will be laid on
the table in view of the prospect of split
in the Presbyterian church This course
would be adopted i'll order 10 get Professor
Briggs and his followers quietly out of the
church if possible. There is, howeN er, Il
powerful demand among Prcsbyterians
that the presbytery set an injunction at
once, so that the church may know to what
extent its ministers can step beyond the
prescribed laws. The outlook for Il COM
promise is very favorable at present.
Prof. Briggs was one of the first to arrive
this morning. He looked cheerful. Rev
Dr.. George Y. Scherer opened the meeting
Rev. John Bliss of Washington Heights
church was then chosen moderator in place
of DIR. Scherer or the ensuing term. Prof.
Briggs moved that his case be taken up the
first thing in the afternoon. but the motion
was defeated.
The indictment bases the charges against
Professor Briggs solely on his inaugural
address. because it is the most deliberate
and emphatic expression of his doctrine
The report goes on to say that it has been
decided by the committee that it is neither
necessary nor advisable to embrace in the
list of charges all the doctrinaI errors con-
tanned in the inaugural address, and while
its teaching respecting miracles, the origi-
nal condition of man. the nature of sin, race
redemption ami DIR. Briggs scheme of
biblical theology i'll general are not in
han mony with the scriptures and are calcu-
lated TO weaken confidence in the work of
God, yet i'll order that lie may avoid an I'M
due extension of the trial and confusion of
thought that might follow an attempt to
compass all the errors contained in said ad-
dress. we have deemed it best to cunfine
our attention to Il few departures from the
teaching of scriptures. which are funda-
mental to the entire discussion The re-
port adds that the committee is not M
mindful OF the fact that the erroneous and
ill-advised utterances of Dr. Briggs have
seriously disturbed the peace of the church.
but they do not include this grave otfenSe
in the list of formal charges
The report had not been presented to the
meeting, and routine business was in pro-
gress when DR.. George Alexander of
University Place church moved to suspend
the order of the day to present a resolution
IN the Briggs matter. Immediately the
meeting was thrown into Il state of ferment
a dozen of the clergymen jumped to their
feet 10 protest against Alexanders motion
Some declared that it was out of order, and
during the confusion the moderator seemed
to lose his head. He finally ruled that the
motion was i'll order.
DR. George Birch, chairman of the
Briggs prosecuting committee appealed
from the decision of the moderator, but it !
was sustained. Birch then gave motive of |
appeal to the synod from the decision
Alexander was called upon to state the |
nature of the resolution which he intended !
to offer. He said it was to discharge the |
committee from further consideration and |
rest Judicial proceedings.
This, OF course, could have the effect of |
bringing up a general discussion of the !
Briggs case with little or no reference to |
the report DR.. Alexander. in giving his |
reasons for asking for suspension of the |
rules. read Il series of resolutions The |
preamble sets forth the fact that Prof
Briggs, since his accusation, had supple /
mented his answer to the charges by an
Swering number of questions. These /
questions and Prof. Briggs answers are
a part OF the preamble. The resolution of |
was 10 the effect that the Pres
bytery. in view of these latter declarations
Of Prof. Briggs, deemed it eXpedient to an
rest further proceedings and discharge the
from further consideration of the
matter.
Charles S. Robinson protested against
resolution. 1t was IL scheme.
he said, to try DR.. Briggs By speeches,
NOT BY TESTIMONY
1t was simply deadly to Briggs
Birch said it would be condemning with
out trial
Other members of the preSbytere spoke
n similar strain. and at l O'Clock adjourn
nent was taken until O'Clock. when some
ictiOn on A!eXander's resolution will be
aiken.
After recess at the presbytery meeting
Alexander withdrew his motion to suspend
he order. dis claiming having had any inten-
ion of being discourteOuS to the committee |
IL Offering it. He announced. however
lis Intention of Offering resolution to dis
'harge the committee as soon as their report !
lad been read
Rev. DR.. Birch then read the committees
'eport.
IN CENTRAL AMERICA