New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-04
TIE NEW.YORK PRESBYTERY.

The meeting OF the NeW-f 0rk PreSDytery,
which begins in this city tomorrow, is likely to
be one of the most noteworthy and Important
in It's history. For it will discuss the question
of Greed revision, and in all probability will try
Professor Briggs for heresy. AS TO revision, the
presbytery will be called upon 10 give its opin-
ion of the report Of the Revision Committee
submitted to the last General Assembly. Doubt
less much time will be devoted to this subject;
but as the attitude Of the Presbytery is already
known to be favorable to revision, its action
on the committees report Is pretty well dis
counted. The revisioniss will probably ap
prove of it in the main as being all that can
be hoped for at.the present time, though not all
that many of them desire. And the anti-re-
that, on the whole, its suggestions are in the
line of wise compromise which will make for
the peace of the Church, even if it does not
satisfy everybody.
The question Of revision, however, important
as it is, is just now entirely overshadowed by
the questions arising out of Professor Briggs's
probable trial for heresy by the Presbytery.
In the first place there are few PreSbyterians
even among those most opposed to the views
of Professor Briggs who do not feel that HIS
trial at the present juncture of affairs is terrible
mistake They believe that it will work in
calcuabie mischief to the Church, not to speak
of the fact that it is grossly unfair to the ac-
cused Professor. The relation of professor
Briggs to Union Seminary, ard of Union Sem
mary to the Church, is at the present moment
before the Church for settlement The in:
tercsts involved in the settlement of this ques-
f.. l.. Dnol
the whole future of PresbyterianiSm in this
country depends on the decision that will be
arrived at in regard to it, And yet at this
critical moment, when the largest measure of
wisdom and impartiality is needed, the Pres
bytery of New-York raises the hue and cry Of
heresy against the Professor and proposes to
nfame the mind of the whole Church by putting
him on trial The unwisdom of thus confusing
the issue must be apparent to all.
But the conclusive argument against the trial
of any Presbyterian for heresy at the present
time lies in the fact that the Church is revising
IT'S Creed. Stripped of all verbiage and tech
nicaities, a trial for helesy means that the
accused man is charged with denying the teach
ings of the Church, or refusing to believe some
articles of its Creed as interpreted by the Church.
NOW, dl lnS DTpSeHJ HlOlItHU lnc OHufCH II re-
vising it's Greed. II has declared through its
highest legislative body that its old Creed does
not represent the beliefs of it's members, and ii
has taken measures to revise it accordingly.
Nevertheless, while this work of revision is
going on, and when no one can possibly know
Just what the Greed as revised will teach one
of the mos. eminent clergymen and scholars in
the Church is put on trial for denying the
doctrines of the Church Surely the folly and
unfairness of SUI. proceeding must be evident
to all candid men. Professor Briggs may be
hereto, but while the Church is engaged in the
task of finding ont what its beliefs really are il
is in no position 10 decide whether he is a hereto
or not and its attempt to do so will not only
add to the bitterness Of feeling already exist
ing, but will ALLEVIATE from the Church the sym
pathy of all who love fair play.
The truth is, the action of the New-Yorli
PreSbytery, which led to the arraignment Of
Professor Briggs, was the result OF panic 1t
was born of partisan passion ON both sides and
does not really represent the calm and unbiased
judgment of the Presbyterans in the New-Yorl6
Presbytery. At n time when theological Opin-
ions are in state of flux, and when tho wisest
leaders in tho Church are patiently striving to
bring about an adjustment between the Chuichs