The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-10-08
DR. BRIGGS CASE AGAIN
THE NEW YORK pREsBYTEEY CoNsIp-
ER1NG THE COMMITTEES REPORT.
Considerable Trouble and Possibly a Split in
The PresbyterJ is Anticipated Before a
Final Verdict is Reached in Regard
to the Doctors Alleged Herssies.

presbytery, held this morning in the
Scotch Presbyterian Church, on west
10th street, Rev. John c. Bliss, pastor
Of the Washington Heights Presby-
terrain Church, presided as moderator.
The prosecuting committee appointed
last spring to prepare papers in the
trial of Prof. Chas. A. Briggs, pre-
sented it's report, embodying the
charges against him.
The charges are in brief as follows:
Disbelief in the Bible as the only one
source of divine auth GRITTY. Disbelief
in verbal inspiration. Disbelief in
the immediate satisfaction at the
death of the souls of those dying in
the faith.
The Presbytery must now decide
\ whether Prof. Briggs shall be tried.
- has the power to quash the indict-
mt, but there is little probability OF
tins course being pursued. Discussion
of the Indictment will not be in order
/. for some time. Prof. Briggs must have
item days to prepare his answer,
and the trial, if one takes
place, will probably be set down in
the latter part of this month. 1t has
been rumored that the Indictment will
be laid on the table in view of the
prospective split in the Presbyterian
church. This course would be adopted
in order to get Professor Briggs and
his followers quietly out of the church,
if possible. There is, however. a
<powerful demand among Presby-
terians that the Presbytery sit in
Judgment at once, so that the church
may know tOwhat extent it's ministers
can step beyond the prescribed
laws. The outlook for compromise
is not very favorable at present. Prof
Briggs was one of the first to arrive
this morning. He looked cheerful.
Rev. DR.. George l.. Scherer opened
the meeting. Rev. John Bliss OF
Washington - Heights Church was
then chosen moderator in place of DR..
Scherer for the ensuing term. Prof
Briggs moved that his case be taken
up the first thing in the afternoon,
but the motion was defeated.
The Indictment bases it's charges
against Prof. Briggs solely on
his inaugural address, because it |
is the most deliberate and en-
phatic expression of his doctrine.
The report goes on to say that it has
been decided by the committee that |
LIT is neither necessary nor advisable |
> embrace in the list Of charges all
G doctrinal errors contained in the
Sgural address, and while it's
D tty3hings, respecting miracles, the
) original condition of man, the nature
Of sin, race redemption and DIR.
Briggs scheme of biblical theology in
general, are not in harmony with the
scriptures and are calculated to weak
en- confidence in the work of God, yet |
in order that we may avoid an undue
extension of the trial and confusion of
thought that might follow an attempt
to compress the errors contained in
said address, we have deemed it best
to combine our attention to few de-
partures from the teaching of the
scriptures, which are fundamental to
the entire discussion. The reports
4 adds that the committee is not I'M
.slindful of the fact that the erroneous
and i'll advised utterances of DR..
\ Briggs has seriously disturbed the
peace of the church, but they do not
grave III tiiO IloV vi
Normal charges.
The report had not been presented
10 the meeting and the routine busl-
ess was in progress when, Dr. George
AleXander of the University Place
hurch moved to suspend the order
Of the day to present resolution IN
Ythe Briggs matter. Immediately the
meeting was thrown into state OF
y ferment. A dozen clergymen jumped
to their feet to protest against Dr;
AleXander's motion. Some declared
that it was out of order, and in the
confusion the moderator seemed to
lose his head. He finally ruled that
the motion was in order. DR.. George
vBirch, chairman of the Briggs prose-
cutting committee, appealed from the
decision of the moderator, but 1t was
sustained. Birch then gave notice OF
an appeal to the synod, from
the decision. Alexander was
called upon to state the nature
e the resolution which he
intended to offer. He said it was to
discharge the committee from further
consideration and the rest of the judi
'cial proceedings. This OF course
would have the effect of bringing up
general discussion Of the Briggs case
with little or no reference to the re-
nort. DIR. Alexander, in giving his
reasons for asking for the suspension,
read his resolution. The preamble
set forth the fact that Prof. Briggs,
since his accusation, had Q supple
mented his answer to the charges by
answering number Of questions;
tThese questions and Prof. Briggs
answers are part of the pre-
\ amble. The resolution of DR..
Presbytery, in view of these latter
DECLARATIONS of Prof Briggs 3, deemed
expedient to arrest rest f tbe cop n0iffa
rom lS further consideration of the mat,
e T1i Charles S. Robinson protested
(nainst Alexander's resolution. 1t
%was scheme, he said, to Try d.
Briggs by speeches, not no IT. testimony Rriggy
1t was simply deadly 10 ~, nr,SgS.