St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-28
DR.. BRIGGS HERESY.
A Committee Of the General
Assembly Disapproves His
Appointment.
The Case Will Be Up for Dis
cussion at To-Day's
Session.
DR.. ParkhurSt, of New York,
Gives His Opinion Very
Forcibly.
Conventions and Assemblies
Of Chupehmen All Over
the Land.

DETROIT, May 27.-In the general as
sembly to-day the excitement was sup
pressed but intense as the time ap-
preached for presentation of the report
which would bring up the Briggs mat
ter. The committee on foreign mis-
sions yielded to DR.. Patton, who read
so much of the report on theological
semlnaries as bears on the case of DR..
Briggs, in order that it may be printed
and distributed to the3 assembly when
1t comes up for action to-mor-
row. SiXty-three presbyteries, whose
names he read, have overturned the
assembly as to the utterances of DIR.
Briggs. Some ask specific action, but
most leave to the assembly what it
shall be. The committee praised the
presbyterles for their zeal, and thinks
their requests should have weight. The
committee reply to so much of the re-
port of the Union Theological seminary
as bears on DR.. Briggs appointment for
the chair of Bible theology. Our duty
is delicate one, especially as trying
him on the charge of heresy, as we
must not prejudice a case which
at some time must come before
us On appeal. The question before
us is not that of his doctrinal sound
ness, but that of the approval of his
election by the assembly. We have eX-
amined the constitutional requirements
as to the duty and power of the assem-
bly in asserting to or forbidding such
appointment or transfer. DR.. Patton
quoted from the records as well as from
appointments of professors that have
convinced his committee that the as
sembly has power to
Forbid the Transfer.
We should have been willing to rec
ommend the decision of the subject to a
committee to report at the next assem-
bly,, but the control of the assembly
over the matter ceases with the present
session, and SO we must act now if al
all. We admit that i'll the present view
the trustees may have ground for their
denial OF the power of the assembly to
veto the transfer of a professor from one
chair to another. Besides the assembly
is one party to a compact with the
Union Theological seminary, and
must be cautious in acting on
it. The trustees of the .sem-
mary consider that the original
assembly has a right to forbid; but
transfer simply assigns duty, and with
that the assembly has no right to inter-
fere. Now, while we think the
assembly has control of both, yet, in
view of the cordial relations always eX-
iSting between it and the trustees of
this seminary, it would be proper to ap-
point committee of conference with
them TO report to the next assembly. In
accordance with these views the COM
mittee recommend that the assem-
bly, .disapprove of the appoint
ment of DR.. Charles Briggs to
the Edward Robinson chair of Biblical
theology of Union Theological semi
nary, and that committee of confer
ence with the trustees of that institu-
tion be appointed by the assembly, to
report to the next.
Authorities.
DR.. Patton quoted the following
summary of acts and resolutions of
the general assembly and Of the boards
OF Union and other theological semna-
ries connected with the appointments
of professors: 1.-The directors of Union
Theological seminary, in the city of
New York, presented the following me-
mortal to the general assembly on
May IS, "Resolved, That the board of di-
rectors of the Union Theological semi
nary, In the city of New York, being all
of them ministers or members of the
Presbyterian church, do hereby memo
rialiZe the general assembly to the fol-
lowing effect, viz: That the general
assembly may be pleased to adopt it as a
q n6 nj in of hn
prietorship and control over the several
theological seminaries that,so far as the
election of professors is concerned, the
assembly will commit the same to the
respective boards of directors on the
following terms and conditions: First,
that the board of directors of each theo-
logical seminary shall he authorized to
appoint all professors for the same !:
second, that all such appointments
shall be reported to the general assem-
bly,, and no such appointment of pro-
fessor shall be considered as complete
election il disapproyed by majority
vote of the assembly. And be it further
resolved, that the board of directors of
the Union Theological seminary, in
the city of New York, persuaded that
the plan proposed i'll the memorial
will meet the cordial approval of the
patrons, donors and friends of all the
Seminaries, and contribute to the peace
and prosperity Of the church, do hereby
agree. if the said plan shall be adopted
by the general assembly, that they will
agree to conform to the same. the Union
seminary in New York being in this re-
spect on the same ground with other
theological seminaries of the Presby-
terian church" The time within which
the Presbyterian assembly may express
its diSapproval Of or exercise its
Right of Veto
In the election of professor was de-
termined by the assembly of 1871 as fol-
lows: "That the assembly declare that
the trpe meaning of the act Subiecting
the election of professor to the veto of
the assembly is that suclssEction be re-
ported to the next general assembly
thereafter; aDdsjf not vetoed by that as
sembly the election shall be regarded as
complete, according to the plan ratified
by the assembly of 1870" Report ac-
cepted and recommendations adopted.
The general opinion seemed to be that
he right of veto must be exercised
now or not at all. One prominent con-
missioner said Gn reply to a remark
that Prof. Briggs is probably victim of
brain disease, caused by excessive
mental activity, that he had regarded
him as man of unsound mind for the
last five years. This commissioner is
one who deprecates precipitate action
If there is any way Of avoiding abrupt
Sid final action by this assembly.
Another thought that 1t would be a
good thing for Presbyterians pecuni-
arilv as IL wOul6 create an inn