New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-10-30
oTrpS TOWARD HARMONY.
.--ov SEMINARY STILL PRESBYTERIAN.
,ovp,cr OF 1870 ADMITTED TO HAVE BIND

,.~ien
anu -.onious settlement had been reached. Light |
h"' S.or breaking for two days, and when the |
hSN i resumed some weeks hence it is possible
eO. che clouds will entirely disappear. The hnai
'D" !. uncertain. of course. but those most
So look for one of two or three results
~. General Assembly may reconsider it's veto OF
- RrvVs and approve the entire minutes OF last
-, IN which his election is reported the SEMI
". directions may elect him again and report
-, act next May or DIR. Briggs may resign.
p.saes a pleasant interchange Of opinion on
i. ouestions AT issue, in which each party re
,.iyed considerable information. the compact Oh
,.-o WAS admitted by the Seminary directors 10
~ n binding force at present, the Assembly
C..rittee declining to consider the interpreta-
- e. the agreement unless that tunda-
-.,tal polnt was established. Other questions
vii come up NJ a subsequent meeting
To naper presented to the Assembly COM
..;,tss on "Wednesday by DR.. Hastings, tnc SUD
.+.nc, Of which was printed in The Tribune yes
,srdav was considered fully by the committee
and the following resolution was adopted;
whereas 1t appears by the written eommuinleaSuV2s
Sv As a conference between the committee ana the o
cctors that the directors adopted the following minute
sssoyed That this Board Of Directors. after having
,t.p legal advice and after due consideration see no
,asoo O. change their the subject Of the 'n'I
- pr Briggs and feel bound in the discharge oil 1h,r
eg,y under the charter and constitution 70 sohere ~
- u,oo
Whereas II appears that this action wa base1 uP9 gt
the opinion their legal adviser ana where's 5r in
Srmaton they were advised that the agTeemeH t[ va
arrangement made by the General Assembly lnU torS
Si-ecforS In 1870 was not binding upon the ult
o. MAS rev6cabe at their pleasure and whereas
President Hastings, representing the & 6irectos
riincated to this committee orally that tAe Sio Ier
reserved the right TO determine TINS QutsAot amos
after and 1T The same time eApeSseu TN 1' co1Snittee
If lie directors to hear the views OF inc 'oi'"'''
TLis committee States that the General As' rCs
Ia, always regarded the sald az I nn9u both
ment as binding. legally ana moran INV he views
psres Z, the same, md II desire 90 aV noiT for II
10 screement or arrangement IS not IetlS ION, f,
morally binding upon boh pae 61s = oi rio Of the
use u discuss what i Inv . ~
said agreement or arranseHtH" ,....-.
After considerable discussion the directors
,dont4d this answer 10 the questions raised oy te
Assembly committee: 49, i, .h oor,
tee Of the Genera Assembly. now IN conference VIZ,
his board as the attitude OF t' Do'iu ''"''O '''
arrens % That this board without surrendering It's
Inflammation Of said arrangement 1IIy IecoslIe, ~
hipding fore until II shali Oc PI''0" ~ ~ 9 ~
shall be properly abroeaied
Tho frst question having been disposed Of so
tremendously. and apparently 70 the satisfaction
nj all the second one was taken up This related
n the interpretations Of tne compact OF 1917 ana
relates more especially TO the transfer OF Dr
Pc While II was under discussion the Ques-
ton was raised whether it would be legal to re-
eject a professor whose former election had been
disapproved and whether IL would be CONSIDERED
decourteous 10 the Assembly TO do so. Before
the committee had agreed upon lts answer II was
decided 70 adjourn to meet at the call OF the d.
rectors
The following is the text of DR.. Hastings's paper
rir,, Of no nuf
was made the basis Of Dr. Pattons resolution
am requested to explain TO this committee Of
conference the views board with reference 20 the
transfer Of Dr. Brlzgs by reading d carefully pre-
pared statement upon that subject which was pre-
TIRE late meeting OF the Assembly at Detroit:
Board has considered the relations Of this Seminary
D. the General Assembly regard 70 which there has
LATELY been much discussion 81 the public prints. The
report that large number OF Presbteres have memorial
lied the approaching General Assembly 70 dsapproye
sutho-tausely the recent Transfers OF pro
the eeplrtn Mt o. Biblical theology indicates
believe msund rstandng In regard 70 authority
Of Tho Assembly IN this matter. be assumed
advance tat the Assembly itself viii misconcelve ne
IL perogatiye. and d. not deem 1t e'hel
Necessary sypedent that any resolution in regard to
should be transmit ted 10 that body. Nor in our ludg
usnt it be advisable even though the Assembly
should proceed o. take formal action Tor TINS Boao 10 raise
4, this tine an issue regard which there might pos
sy b. discussion and differences Of opinion but
masmuch a. recollection Of those who were members
Board 1870, when this seminary voluntarily
dyested itself Of Oi IT, independence, l. DIS
tine a. 10 the limits Of the concessions then made and
inasnuch Board always clearly distinguished IL
Us mole procedure between Tire election Of new professor
and the tanseEence member Of it's faculty from one
department Of Instruction % another. We recommend tla1
order prevent misconceptions OF the understand
Eg Of the Board m tbs matter, the following minute De
entered upon record
lnasuuch there appears to be in some quarters a
HseOneepion meaning and intent OF the action taken
BY IN 1870 Whereby all appointments OF pro-
i1'soss De Crcd e the Genei4i Assembly ana
ithef providing such appointment should Dc con-
sdeo oEpletc election Il disapproyc1 by majority 70
Iot q the Assembly. The Board would hereby record It,
conviction aid action Of 1870 was then understood
and has been understood by this Board 10 reief
Tie election additional members Of the faculty, aud not
70 The assignment Lew departments Of instruction o.
Iiosofs already n OiCe, or their transfer from one oo
u another as nay seem eXpodicnt Tie Board"
To this may be added the simple statement That be
lore ne last meeting Of the Assembly tins boaFo io
carefully Investigated the charges when the PirsDy-
Wnes were bringing against Dr. Brlgss ana had re-
trVed IRON lum clear and positive denial OF edch
solved to sustain ham saying: We Will stand by him
EsrIly, on the ground Of this report tiat Is SIe
yesugation.
After the adjournment Of the Assembly at Detroit
special meeting Of the Board called Oh the 9th
o. June " arrange for filing the vacancy ~ Tue 1AcuI9
caused by the death Of DIT. Henry }. Van DYKE our
prOessoeect in systematic theology. After lhs I'M,
porant business for which the meeting called had
been arranged the Board considered the action OF the
Students 70 know what 10 count upon Tor the coming
esrs instruction. and due 70 ourselves ana Dr. Brlsgs
tat We should be true 10 the promise We lad MADE 10
saIc BY him. Accordingly the following resolution was
heselyed, That this Board Of Directors, after having
hEn lega adyce and after due consideration, see no
s TO change their views the subject OF the TRANSFER
d. Briggs and feel bound IN the discharge Of thelr
N uaesr the charter and constitution 10 adhere " the
ans~
MS action was taken in the conviction that the
4,
- Iegnent, come under the jurisdiction oil tle
sSo,e4 Assembly pcdOrdng TO the arrdhgelhent
Ioped In leo. IN view Of the statement made IN
s1s ~ assembly that the transfer did not make any
t-aIse IN the status. bnt only in duties, we wOulu
.-;Es say that the transfer did not even make any
seh2nee IN duties. for Dr.. Briggs had been teaching
~. A. "a theology Tor ten years The only cimhse
va lat be gave ND two leclu-es o week I'D Hebrew