Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-06
ANOTHER BLOW AT BRIGGS.
Pittsburg Presbytery Overtures the Gen
eral Assembly in the Matter-Asked to
Withhold Its Approval-Regular Routine

eral Assembly In the Matter-Asked to
Withhold Its sApproval-Regular Routine
That Occupied the Day.
Dr. Briggs alleged heresy received another
blow yesterday from the Pittsburg Presbytery.
The session of that body was heid at the Fark
| Avenue Presbyterian Church, East End, yes
terday. The main feature was the passage of
a resolution asking the General Assembly to
withhold its approval Of the appointment Of
| DR.. Briggs to the chair of Biblical theology In
the Union Theological Seminary. The matter
read the following resolution;
| WHEREAS, The Rev. Charles A. Briggs, d,
Sbisa S Is hsoor% Ut ms IN rhe Union heoogs
Seminary. gave expression TO certain views whlcn
as
| Resolved First that this Presoytery respect:
fully Oyertlres the genera asseoy 70 Rraa
the chair of Biblical theology In the Union Theo-
logical Seminary. ,,
Resolved, Second, that the assembly be re.
| quested to take such action as in Its Judgment
| may seem best to counteract the harmful utter
ances of Dr. Briggs, especially those found in his
inaugural address.
Tue reading caused furore in the assembly.
| 1t will be remembered that The DISPATCH ex-
| cusively printed the announcement OF the
| alleged heresy in which DIR. Briggs took occa-
sion to question the authority of the Scriptures
as well as the physical resurrection OF Cnrlst
and the inspiration OF the writings OF the apos-
ties.
A Question for the General Assembly.
Rev. Dewitt 81. Benham thought it was
question for the General Assembly, and the
Plttsburg Presbytery ought not to interfere.
Rev. DR.. Beacon defended the resolutions.
He said he had studied the matter carefully,
and as he understood it. an investigation had
already been commenced in the New 7 ork
Presbytery. The speaker said DR.. Briggs ut
terances were doing great deal OF injury, as
men of the world had seized upon and used
them def1nSn n
Rev. Dr.. Kirk said: AS presbytery, We have
no authority to enter into an investlgatlon OF
the charges against DR.. Briggs. 1t would be
wise, think. for us to overture the New York
Prebytery for full investigation. some pres
byteries have already gone too far In this mat
ter. The general assembly can be relied upon
been done by the secular newspapers holding
DIR. Briggs and his declarations up as guide in
the Interpretation of Scriptural teachings. Let
us not add to the harm already done. Leave
the question of DIR. Briggs guilt or innocence
with the general assembly and all will ba well.
Rev. DR.. Wycof said that other ministers
hold views simila' to those expressed by DIR.
Briggs, and suggested that other investigations
could be made with propriety and safety.
Rev. DR.. Benham again stated that he OBJ
jected to the resolutions as they were an aDso-
Elder S. R. Duncan. ca wv who IS superintendent
OF the Allegheny County Light Company, de-
clared great many eminent divines held the
same opinion. He suggested conservatism in
alone should dispose of the case. In this he
was ably seconded by Colonel w. A. Heron.
All of the Malice Cut Out
Rev. DR.. Holmes then moved that the matter
be referred to a committee Of five, and after
considerable discussion his motion was
adopted. The committee appointed consisted
Of Messrs. Beacon, Holmes, Drs. Istite, Rem
shaw and Wightman.
Late in the afternoon the committee reported
the resolution as follows.
WHEREAS The Rev. Charles A. Briggs. ID. D.,
on the occasion of his installation in the chair of
Biblical Theology gave utterance to opinions
which are contrary to the Word Of God and the
teaching of the beliefs of the Westminster Con-
Resolved, That this Presbytery overture the
General Assembly TO- withhold the approval Of the
Theology in the Union Theological Seminary Of
New York.
Approved of the New Bellefeld Pastor.
The resolution was adopted as read. Among
the routine proceedings of the morning session
was the examination of James Donehoo, a son
of the noted Rev. e. R. Donehoo and also the
confirmation of the call of the Bellefeld Church
to Rev. Henry T. MoClelland.
The Presbytery reconsidered the proposed
change in the standing rules concerning the
preaching Of the sermon at the opening of the
meeting of the Presbytery. The subject
caused considerable discussion and was finally
lost
The report of the trustees Of the Presbytery
was read and accepted and a resolution was
adopted instructlng the trustees to sell the
property in the Tenth ward willed to the Pres
bytery by James Jones'
The pastoral relations between the church of
Hebron and Rev. ]. C. Young were dissolved.
and Rev. Mr.. Young was instructed to preach
the sermon next Sunday and declare the pulpit
vacant. -..r.. -.a...-.
The Session of Fairview was given leave to
employ M. j. L. Roemer. Of the Presbytery Of
Washington. for one year.
The call from the congregation Of Ingram
for the services of licentiate James b. Hill was
placed in his hands and accepted.
The Committee on Examination examined
Messrs. Sutherland. Hill and Gross, candi-
dates for the ministry. after which an adjourn
ment was taken until the evening.
Last nights session consisted of the admis-
sion of five students TO the ministry.
The students were ]. B. Hill, who takes
charge of the Ingram Church; y. q.
Graves, who goes as a missionary to India and
L. O. Sutherland, who is to do missionary work
in the West. The services were opened by tSev
DR.. Scoville, of the Wooster, O., University
who delivered the sermon and the services
incident to the ordination were conducted by
Rev. G. N. Chalfant and Rev. Mr.. McClelland,
of the Western Theological Seminary. The
members of the Presbytery were present and
tank mart in the Ordiuat tion.