The sun., 1891-06-27
The Two Heretlcs.

The Two Heretics.
The committee Of inquiry appointed by
Bishop POTTER have begun their investiga-
tion Of the "rumors" that the Rev. HEBER
NEWTON holds and teaches doctrines con-
trary to the standards OF the Episcopal
Church. It will be o slow process. and even
II the clergyman is presented to the Bish-
op for trial as a hereto. and is ac-
tually brought before an ecclesiastical
court, under tho discretionary Episco-
pal power the trial will not take place
before next autumn. Meantime DR.. BRIGGS
is abroad, and the committee having charge
Of the preparations for his trial as Presby
terian hereto will not be able to arrange
for the proceeding until the autumn also.
1t is remarkable that, SO far from display
ing any desire to escape trial, both Of the ac-
cused heretics seem to be eager to be
brought to the bar. They have opposed no
obstacles to the proceedings against them,
but have rather encouraged the movements.
inviting the attack in the spirit Of men who
challenge q contest at arms with the sure
confidence of victory. Yet the result Of the
trial OF Mr.. MAcQUEARY and the well-nigh
unanimous sentiment manifested at the
General Assembly would seem to indicate
the conviction OF them both, II once they
should be arraigned.
1t is true that nowadays the penalties to
which they can be subjected will not be Sc
we're. Heretics are no longer burned at the
stake, and they suffer In no wise in person
or property. The hereto MAcQUEARY was
at once called to be the pastor Of very de-
sirable church outside Of the Episcopal
Jurisdiction, and for the very reason that he
is hereto. The Baptist hereto, DR..
BR1DGMAN, passed over easily and COM
fortably into the Episcopal Church. into
whose ministry he is likely to enter. Proba-
bly, both OF them are happier now than they
were in their former associations. So it
would be with DR.. BRIGGS and DR.. NEWTON
II they were condemned as Presbyterian
and Episcopal heretics respectively. They
would be no less prosperous and even more
popular than they are now. Many pulpits
would be open to them and the more eager
to get them because OF their heresy.
Moreover. II they are to be tried, who are
to compose the courts competent to deal with
their cases? DR.. BRIGGS has been for many
years professor OF distinction In the spe-
cialty wherein his heresy has been displayed.
He Is also celebrated as an authoIlty on the
Westminster Confession, Its history and the
views and Intentions of Its trainers. No ordi-
nary minister is capable Of meeting him In
an argument on that subject, or upon the
history Of tho canonical Scriptures and the
historical attitude OF the Church toward
them. 1t will be hard, too. to get court of
learning sufficient to meet the arguments of
DIR. NEaToN. for In this diocese the clergy
best fitted for the task are either disquaIi-
fed from sitting on it or belong to party
Of the Church which discountenances all
proceedings against him.
The divisions OF theological opinion have
always been broad and even radical among
the Episcopal clergy, and IL an attempt Is
made to enforce anything like uniformity Of
view. there is likely to he rebellion on all
sides. Even Mr.. MAcQUEARY, denying
fatty the virgin birth. was convicted by a
bare majority OF the Ohio court, and after
his heretical views had been published he
was invited to be one OF the speakers at the
Church Congress In Philadelphia. Tho Epis-
copal clergy have been accustomed to prac-
tical theological liberty SO long that they
will resent interference with 1t when they
come to understand that the discipline OF
DIR. NEWTON will involve logically tho pur-
suit Of the Ritualists. for instance. II case
can be made out against him under the
canon law,it can be made out as easily, III not
more easily. against them, with their eleva-
tion OF the Host and doctrine OF tho Real
Presence. DR.. NEwToN's equanimity o,
spirit is doubtless due to his consciousness
that even many OF his most violent accusers
are In the same boat with him, 80 far as
concerns the infraction Of Church law strictly
interpreted.
DR.. BRIGGS also is strong In the assurance
that no has back of him the support OF the
Union Theological Seminary and the great
majority OF its alumni. most OF them Pres
byterian ministers OF good aud high stand
ing. He could hardly be convicted without
disrupting the denomination. now united
after many years OF separation into the Old
School and New School divisions. II no
goes. OF course DR.. PARKHuRsT OF the Madi-
son Square Presbyterian Church would have
to go also, for DR.. PARKHURsT looks on
some of the Psalms as SO positively wicked
that he refuses to read them to his people.
His teaching Is that part OF the Bible is
hateful. devilish. and cruel. Even DR..
BRIGds has not gone so far as that In any