The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-06
QUESTIONS FOR THE SYNOD.

QUDOllUND FUN LIE DlNUU
THE PREsBYTERY MUST DEFEND II,
ACTION, DIR. BRIGGS SArS.
He Aesutescss In Its Decision for the Saks
OF the Peace OF the Church. but for Hi
Own Sake weuld Welcome = Trial.
"The Briggs case is far from ended" said
the Rev. Robert II Booth yesterday to q Bur
reporter. Tho action OF the Presbytery In
Diminishing the case without permitting any
trial will delay and complicate matters. but
that Is the only effect It will have. The Prose-
cutting Committee will appeal to the Synod. and
the whole matter will have to be gone over
again there Then tho decision Of the Synod.
whether It ueholdsthe action OF the Presbytery
or does the contrary. will in turn probably be
appealed. from and the question will be
brought before the General Assembly for final
settlement The next Synod does not meet
until October. 1892 and the General Assembly
to which the appeal would 60 meets In May.
1893. so the end OF the matter Is a long way
OF But the questions involved are too i'm
portant to be allowed TO drop. and sooner or
later conclusion is sure to be reached.
Some Of DR.. Briggs's friends challenge the
right OF the committee to appeal to the Synod.
They say that DR.. Briggs and the Presbytery
are the only original parties to the trial.
| and that the committee is only creature
Of the Presbytery and consequently without
power to appeal from its decision. But
the Presbytery itself decided yesterday BY .
vote Of "a to 81 that the committee represent
cd the whole Presbyterian Church. and was
independent OF the Presbytery. consequently
1t has the right Of appeal"
Dr.. Briggs. whom questioned In regard to tho
action OF the Presbytery In Diminishing his case
without trial. said:
Il am satisfied with the action the Presby-
tory saw ut to take. but only because believe
1t was for the peace and unity Of the Church.
From personal point Of view should
have preferred q thorough investigation.
I fatter myself that I know the Biblo
and tho Westminster Confession as we'll
as any OF them. and there is not single valid
charge or Specification they could have
votes than were cast Tor the Dismissal ri the
You are not Of the opinion. then. that the
Whole e. case will be g, taken up again and gone
In an entirely different way The ques-
ons to 60 6sfqrS tie Synod are atogether
called upon to defend it's action in Diminishing
The case without going through with the trial;
upon to represent Il IN this aofenee e0'ns eA''
Two legal questions will be brought up be-
s5s ss syGSd toG 5s na the
sSmmIttee which shall represent ,the whole
were ths reasons given By, the Pres6ytery e
Tho Presbytcry decided yesterday By
vote that the committee did represent the
w w6Ss e sh eh o e Th S
tested against this decision. and Dr., Moore.
late Of and
members q the Presbytery:, 3r. Craven, tho
Book Of Discipline. holds the other view. The
question is an important one. and will have to
be decided By the Synod before any action can
II the Synod should decide these two aues-
tons in favor Of the committee, we should
Which viii vii meet meet in May, 1853 In case the
General Assembly should also uphold the
no right to dismiss my case without trial. It
might then order the Presbytery to proceed
7" In that case the committee would have to
lions that would be acssptable to the Presby-
sordns 70 he nit valid
Hs new to st e snSsss wsla
tf s Td have the right
70
valid charge or specification that can be
These whole proceedings are not without
president; In the last great heresy trial that
and eight specifications were presented by the
against to the General Assembly, where, It was
cation were valid. o''0'
There are differences between my doctrines
have never made any attempt to conceal the
fact; Indeed. both in my books and on the y
@y ID N Wes
minister Confession. where our Church allows
rsason Of c sRo5a Ss to Inv.
regular trial carried out is not because have
z slightest fears as to my orthodoxy # is
ties all Of which would be most harmful to the
SR ssd rh ast that there
was no possible question as to the Prosecuting
seash rfst f mSke ths
issss iits ths s cas Is Ssa! q9ss!i ss. thu
made .,, mandatory Sy the VS. 81 the word
whole Presbyterian Church nsequently L
m %soak PARTY and can SHppeS
nyoSed instead 81 directns thy the case
Il out 81 e hands
Presbytery and try it themselves.
Speaking OF the Presbytery's action in dis
THE responsibility Of Dr.. Briggs's views
before the, Church at large has now been
from his shoulders to those Of the
esult: DR. Briggs has not Withdrawn or re-
anted the statements. contained In his in
vening to some Of the committee his in
entlon 81 Immediately publishing new
did not venture to proceed to a full
rial and give the Prosecuting Committee OPP
'ortunity to present their arguments in de-
ence OF the charges and specifications. In |
ny judgment a trial must be had before the
eace unity. and purity OF the Church. which |
70 all SO much desire. can be secured"
The Assignment of the Bishops.
CINCINNATI. Nov. 5.-The Board of Bishops