Evening journal., 1891-05-21

=
DIR. c. A. BRIGGS. years., for th
publication board is nearly in as bad odoI
as the Union Theological seminary, al
though for different reason, a pecnuiary
one The other persons spoken Of as can
didates, Professor w. II. Green of Prince
ton the Rev DIR. Baker, Of the First
Church, of Philadelphia, and the Rev
Ebenezer Erskine, Of Hartford, Pa. art
all unfriendly theologically, il not person
ally, to DR. Briggs.
Dr. Halls Chances.
DIR. John Hall, whose fears Of the effect
of making an issue of DIR. Briggs opinions
is greater than his fear of the opinions
themselves. would almost certainly be Sc
lected as a compromise candidate if it were
not believed that he had resigned his com
missionership to his alternate, the Rev
DIR. Wylie. Accordingly it is likely that
the Union seminary director will be de
feated because he is director, and one OF
the others elected because he IS opposed tC
DR.. Briggs.
The Briggs Matter.
The Briggs matter viii formally come
before the general assembly after the ap.
pointment of the standing committee to.
morrow. It will come up in two shapes.
One will be the announcement Of his ap.
pointment to the Edward Robinson chair
Of Biblical theology in the annual report
of the Union Theological seminary.
This will be referred to the standing
committee on theological seminaries. The
other shape viii be the overtures of the
seventy-five presbyteries which have asked
that his appointment be not confirmed by
the general assembly. Ordinarily all over
lures are referred to the committee on bills
and overtures, but as the standing com
mittee on theological seminaries viii alst
have the same matter in hand the over
lures may be turned over to IL. II, how
ever, the committee on overtures i
stronger than the other committees tbs
overtures may follow their usual course
In that event the Briggs question woulC
come before the general assembly in
shape to be voted on at an early date, fo
the committee on bills and overtures al
ways has precedence Of all other business
How He May Escape.
When it is discussed there is but littl
doubt of the action of the assembly, unles
the announcement which has reached her
by telegraph Of DIR. Briggs practical recan
tation OF his heterodox views be confirme
officially. Ifit be officially brought to it
knowledge that fearing the fate Of Serve
tus in some modernized form, he has per
formed the part Of Calico, the general as
sembly can do nothing to him. This
| have on the authority of an ex-moderato
and theologian of undoubted ecclesiasti
cal learning DIR. Briggs, according TO thi
authority, has right to hold his peculia
views if he can at the same time declar
/ that he believes as he is now said TO believe
My informant thinks that the director
i Of the Union Theological seminary hav
only to send an official report Of DR.. Brigg.
recantation here to have his appointment
as Edward Robinson pro fessor Of Biblica
theology confirmed Other dignitaries q
the general assembly have the same view
Dr. Birch WIN Oppose Briggs.
In doing So however, they reckon Will
out DIR. Birch. There is little doubt anon
those who know him that he wiz hear
DR.. Briggs apparent recantation the q
does move, though" of Galileo. At a
events, he is expected to fight with all hi
might and main to bring about DR.. Brigg
official decapitation.
| The report of the revision eommitte
will come before the assembly on Fridal
Inasmuch as the report commits the a
sembly to nothing, merely giving the pre-
byteries the opportunity to express the
opinion on the sue ject and leaving tn
| proposed changes in the confession to |
confirmed by the general assembly Of ls9
there is little doubt Of its being adopted.
xut.os n Rravca RaYf.vaa