Evening journal., 1891-05-28
DEFEAT FOR DR.. BRIGGS.
The Assembly Committee Has
Decided Against Him.
HE CANNOT ACCEPT THE CHAIR


Upon His Alleged HereticaI Views but
Debars Him from His Appointment at
the Union Theological Seminary.
DETROIT, May 2s-The case of Rev. DR.
Briggs came up before the Presbyterian
assembly late yesterday afternoon and was
decided against him. DR.. Patton asked
leave to read so much Of the report on the
illogical seminaries as bears on the case of
Dr. Briggs in order that it might be print
ed and distributed to the assembly when it
came up for action today. Sixty-three
presbyteries whose names he read had
overturned the assembly as TO the utter
ances Of DIR. Briggs, he said Some ask
specific action, but the majority leave to
the assembly what il shall be. The com
mittee reply to so much Of the report Of
the Union Theological seminary as bears
on DR.. Briggs appointment or transfer to
the chair of Biblical theology.
A Delicate Duty.
DR.. Patton continued: "Our duty is a
delicate one, especially as the presbytery
Of New York is trying him on the charge
of heresy--as we must not PREJUDICE case
which at some time must come before us
on appeal. The question before us is not
that of his doctrinal soundness, but that
of the approval of his election by the as
sembly.
1--WE have examined the constitutional
requirements as TO the duty and power of
the assembly asserting to or forbidding
such appointment or transfer" Dr. Pat
ton quoted from the records as well as
from appointments Of professors that have
convinced his committee that the assem-
/ bly, has power to forbid the transfer. I'VE
should have been willing TO recommend
the reference of the subject to a committee
to report to the next assembly, but the
control of the assembly over the matter
ceases with the present session, and so we
must act now if at all
The Right of the Assembly to Veto.
1--WE admit that in one view the trustees
may have ground for their denial of the
assembly to veto the transfer Of professor
from one chair to another Besides the
assembly is one party to a compact with
the Union Theological seminary and must
be cautious in acting on it. The trustees
of the seminary consider that the original
appointment gives status, and that this
assembly has a right to forbid, but trans.
fer simply assigns duty, and with that the
assembly has no right to interfere.
"Now while we think the assembly has
charge Of both, yet in view of the cordia
relations always existing between it anc
the trustees Of this seminary it would b.
proper to appoint committee Of confer
ence with them, to report to the next as
sembly.n
Against Or. Briggs.
In accordance with these views the com
mittee recommend that the assembly dis
approve Of the appointment Of DR. Charlie
Briggs to the Edward Robinson chair o
Biblical theology of Union Theological
seminary, and that committee of confer
ence with the trustees Of that institution
be appointed by the assembly, TO report {,
the next assembly.
DR., PToudtit, Of Baltimore, moved tn
acceptance Of the report. The motion wa
carried and the report was accepted, ant
the stated clerk directed to have the repor
printed for circulation.
On Church Erection.
The standing committee on church erec
! tion, through its chairman, William A
? Bartlett, ID. D., Of Washington, presente,
/ its report The report said:
I I'VE are not allowed TO incur debt, bu
we have been enabled to meet all appro
, priations pledged
! "The steady advance of the church re
quires advance in church erection. Ou
: income for the year has been Sl25, ,6i2 2s. .
careful estimate OF the total value Q
churches owned by the churches Of ou
: assembly in the United States gives SIS
!, sol ,s94, and that Of manses gives S., Al, ,40l
total Of S74,249, ,294; allowing for omi,
{ sions we may say a round S75,000,00
! Twenty-six per cent. of our churches hav
Z manses. The average value Of all churche
J is about sl0,S00 and Of manses $500,
| About two-thirds Of the Si5, 600, 600 belong
/ to the churches in the synods Of NeN
!. York New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Ba
timore. The church contributions of tines
synods were $50, s34 13, out of a total q
$50, ,592 37-almost two-thirds.n
One hundred and fifty thousand dollar
was named as the sum to be aimed at
this board this year, aud the formation (
a large loan fund was recommended.
Reformed Presbyterians Meet.
PTrTsBURG, May est was exactly 10:,
z z q. IN. when the sixty second annual syno