Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-04-14
SOME DEFENDERS.
A GREAT TRIAL IN TAX NEW YORK PRES
BYTERY.
Rev. Or. Briggs is to be Tried on the Question Of
HIS OrthodOxy-Whst He is Charged With
How The Reverend Gentleman Regards
the Bible-The History Of the Case.

New YORK, April l3.-The meeting
opened this afternoon, promises to be
one OF extraordinary interest.
Not only is there large amount of
business on hand, in preparation for the
session of the General Assembly OF the
Presbyterian Church, which meets in
Detroit next month, but the election Of
officers for the next six months will
take place, and, most interesting OF
all, the question of the orthodoxy OF the
Rev. DR.. c. A. Briggs, Professor Of
Biblical Theology in the Union Theo-
logical Seminary, is expected to come
up for consideration.
The active agitation that has been
going on among the more conservative
members Of the PreSbyteri' church in
all parts OF the country, against the
confirmation by the General Assembly
OF Prof. Briggs in his present position,
has been second, in the general interest
which il has excited, only to the ques-
tion of revision. Indeed, the matter is
practically part of the revision queS-
tion, as Prof Briggs has been looked
ullou as Allt lltdu anu libilb Va hiAN AhN''
ment for a change in the standards. 1t
is, however, in his address delivered at
his Inauguration, in January, that Prof.
Briggs seems to have most outraged the
feelings of the conservatives OF the
church Since that time the hottest
kind of a theological dispute has been
conducted in preSbyteries and in the
columns Of religious newspapers. In
the course of the debate Prof. Briggs
has received some very hard knocks
and considerable abuse, but he has had
a number Of defenders.
Prof Briggs opponents will now
probably bring up charges accusing him
of hereSy, and committee will be APP
pointed to investigate his utterances
and beliefs. There Is no question in the
minds of MANY that there are ample
grounds for such proceeding on Such
sentences as, II shall venture TO affirm
that, so far aS can see, there are er-
rorS in the Scriptures that no one has
been able to explain away, and the
theory that they were not in the original
text is Seeer assumption, upon which no
mind can rest with certainty" Also:
I'VE iind there are errors OF transmits
sion (of the ScriptureS). There is
nothing divine in the text-in its let
terS, words or clauses. The
Bible as a book is paper, print and bind
ing-nothlng more
Prof. Briggs has been III for the past
week, and it is thought possible that out
OF consideration for his health the pro-
ceedingS may be postponed until next
months Presbyterian meeting. The
Rev. DR.. HarShaw, pastor Of the West
Fifty-frst Street Presbyterian Church,
and the present Moderator Of the Pres
bytery. said yesterday that he had not
heard that the matter was to be brought
up at this session. Prof. Briggs also
had not received any iutimatlon of such
action. 1t is urged, however, by some,
that at least committee should be APP
pointed TO look into the matter. The
trial. If such there should be, would not
occur until fall.
Mr.. John |. COvington, wac is one OF
the most outspoken opponc ats OF Pro-
iessor Briggs, said he thought there was
no doubt the PreSbytery would take ac-
tion. He said: professor Briggs GER
tainly has right TO his opinions, but he
has no right to remain teacher OF
Presbyterian doctrines after giving ut
terance to his views Of the Confession
of Faith and the Bible"