The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-10-06
'OR. BRIGGS ON THE RACK.
Opening Session Of the Most Impor-
tant Ecclesiastical Court Of
Late Years.
A Majority Of the Preachers Op-
posed to the Trial OF DR..
Briggs
But the Vote Of the Elders Changes the De.
cision-What Do Presby terians
Believe?

New York, Dot. 5.--At the semi i-annual
meeting of the New York presbytery to-day,
the prosecuting committee appointed to
prepare papers in the trial of Prof. Briggs
presented report embodying the charges
against him. The charges, in brief, are as
follows: Disbelief in the:Bibls as the only
true source of divine authority; disbelief In
the verbal inspiration and innerancy of the
Scriptures; disbelief in the immediate sane
tifioation at death of tho souls of those dy-
ing in the faith. 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
Prof. Briggs solely ON his inaugural address
because it is the most deliberate and en-
phatic expressions of his doctrines. The re-
port goes on to say that 1T
has been decided by the committee
that it is neither necessary nor advisable to
embrace in the list Of charges all the doc
trinal errors contained in the inaugural ad-
dress, and, while it's teachings respecting
miracles, the original condition of man.
the nature of sin, race redemption, and
DR.. Briggs scheme of Biblical theology in
general are not in harmony with the scrip
lures, and are calculated to weaken conf
dsnce in the word of God and to encourage
a presumption on the clemency and love OF
God, it has been decided best to contine at
tention to few departures from the teach
ings of scriptures which are fundamental
to the entire discussion.
Discussion of the indictment will not be
in order for soma time. Professor Briggs
must have ten days to prepare his answer
| and the trial, if one takes place, will prob
ably be set down in the latter part of this
month. The report had not been presented
to the meeting and routine business was ir
progress when DR.. Alexander, OF University
Place church, moved to suspend the. order
of the day to present a resolution in ths
Briggs matter. It was declared out
of order by number OF those
present, but the moderator ruled other
wise and an appeal from his decision
was made, and it was sustained. Notice O
appeal TO the synod from the decision wa
then made. DR.. Alexander read the reso
luton and preamble and set forth the fac
that Prof. Briggs, since his accusation, hat
supplemented his answer to the charges b.
answering numerous questions; Thes
questions and answers of Prof. Briggs ar
part of the preamble. The resolution wa
TO the effect that the presbytery. in view o
these latter declarations of Prof. Briggs
deems it expedlens to arrest further pro
ceedings and discharge the committee from
further consideration of the matter. DIR
Robinson and others protested against tn
resolution. At one O'Clock adjournmen
was taken for an hour.
When the presbytery assembled, DR.
! Alexander withdrew his motion to suspend
! the order of the day. He gave notice, how
ever, that he would renew it after the re
port of the committee was read. DR.. Birch
chairman of the committee, then read tn
report. At its conclusion, DR.. Alexande
reintroduoed his resolution for the dis
missal of proceedings. long discussion
of this motion followed, and it was tnall.
put to vote, resulting in aves sixty-two-
twelve elders and fifty clergymen; noe
sixty-four-twenty elder and forty-fou
clergymen, thus defeating the mo
ton. Then the original motor
was adopted confirming the recon-
mendation of the committee. that DIR
Briggs be served with copy of the charges
and stand trial. The two votes seem to in
dictate that very small majority is il
favor of trying DR.. Briggs. The fact tina
q majority of the clergy was in favor O
shutting off the trial and discharging thu
committee was very pleasing to DIR. Briggs
He now has ten days in which to make hi
reply. After some routine business
the presbytery adjourned until tomorrow
To-day's proceedings were unusually tur
bulent, and several times there were call'
for better Christian spirit.