Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-06-08


had made a compact gratuitously with
the General Assembly, getting nothing
in considera lion of the portion OF their
surrendered rights, the compact had no
legal standing. Both parties under
such a compact should have equal
rights, and in this compact nothing had
been received by the seminary but the
word of mouth.
William Allen Butler further declared
that the recent action OF the General
Assembly in regard to DR.. Briggs was
an ex parte action and not binding on
the directors of the seminary.
Lawyer and Layman Director Day re-
SpOnded To this and said that he con-
Cured in both of the legal opinions ad-
vanced. 1t was declared as essential
self on legal footing the directors may
request the General Assembly to annul
the compact.
This led to a discussion which was
participated in by Directors David III.
McAlpne, d. Willis James and the
Rev. DR.. Edward l.. Clark. The ask
ing for the annulment Of the compact
was dropped for the present TO be
brought up again in the fall.
PROFESSOR PRENTIss swoONs.
While the discussion of the resolution
was spirited, in fact, animated, it was
discussed with excellent feeling. Dur
ing the discussion Professor George
l.. PrentiSs, who had occupied a
back seat, left the room, his
countenance being of ashen hue.
He reached the corridor, and steady
ing himself for an instant against a
radiator, shook like one with palsy and
then sauk into the arms Of two by
ISLANDERS. He was carried into an ante
room, where he swooned. The janitor
rushed into the meeting and hastily
summoned DR.. Henry S. Hastings. Pro-
feSSOr Prentiss recovered in few nil
uteS sufficiently to return home, accom-
panied by DIR. Hastings.
Shortly after Professor Prentiss had
gone DR.. John Hall hurriedly left the
meeting room and Scurried down the
avenue. The vote is about to be taken
and DIR. Hall doesn't intend to be
caught" remarked person who saw
the eminent divine Scurry away.
1t was the true condition of affairs,
for DR.. Hall was hardly out Of the build
| ing before President Butler called for
the vote on Lawyer Days resolution.
The poll resulted in 10 votes for the
affirmative and 3 for the negative.
These latter were given by the Rev.
| DR.. Robert Russell Booth and his aged
father, William A. Booth.
''Mr. President, | wish my vote to be
recorded as being in the negative" said
the Rev. DR.. Booth. And it was.
1t was quarter past six o'clock when
the directors came struggling out OF the
meeting room. Their session had lasted
precisely three hours. But what refer
ence or changes will the work of those
three hours make in the Presbytery In
the future?
The Rev. DIR. Edward L. Clark showed
the most exuberant spirits when talked
with him right after the meeting. His
face was bouquet Of smiles.
"Well, the directors determined to
keep DR.. Briggs in the chair Of Bibli-
cal theology" remarked.
Eyes, sir; DR.. Briggs is now professor
of Biblical theology, and just as much
so as if the General Assembly had never
been born"
''Of course that settles the matter?"
$50 far as the directors Of the semin-
airy are concerned it is settled. DR..
Briggs has been transferred to that
chair and there he will stay. In otheI
words, the Union Theological Seminary
means to stand by its guns, and what is
more is entirely independent. The di-
rectorS say to DR.. Briggs by the action
to-day: 1--WE want you to stay, and we
are the ones to settle it,"
MR.. BUFFERS OPINION.
This conversation was overheard by
Treasurer Ezra Nj. Kingsley, and the
latter was fearfully anxious lest DR..
| Clarke give away all that had taken
place in the meeting. OF course that
would not do, and the two men sought
each other and cautioned each other
about keeping mum. Treasurer Kings
! ley, however, afterwards volunteered
the statement that the seminary, by en-
terng into the compact with the Gener-
al Assembly in 1870, had committed a
very foolish act. Mr.. Kingsley had no
idea knew to what he referred.
l saw President Charles Butler at his
]
he was reclining on a lounge COM
pletely fatigued with his afternoons
work.
The General Assembly made an
error in this matter Of DR.. Briggs"
said Mr.. Butler. "Our agreement gave
il the right to approve or veto appoint
mentS of profeSSorShipS. But they have
nothing to say about any transfer we
decide To make Of d professor from one
chair to another. They can't expect to
interfere with our housekeeping. That's
precisely how the matter stands. We
wanted DR.. Briggs in the chair OF
Biblical theology. We placed him there
and there we intend keeping him."
CENSURE OF DIR. HALL.
Another member Of the directory up
on whom | called severely criticised DR..
John Halls leaving the meeting before
| the vote took place. In fact he de-
clared that DR.. Hall had never taken
any part in any way in the controversy.
He inSnuated that DR.. Hall was in an
awkward position. Lawyer Day is a
veStryman in DR.. Halls church and
friendly inclined toward DR.. Briggs,
while, on the other hand, Colonel Elliot
/ +. Shepard is opposed to the professor
and also member of DR.. Halls
/ church.
perhaps that explains it," said the
/ director. The chair Of Biblical the
ology was established by President
Charles Butler, OF the Union Theologic-