The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-06

Disbelief in the Bible as the only true source
OF divine authority.
Disbelief In the verbal inspiration ana IN
errancy of the Scriptures.
Disbelief In the immediate sanetiication at
death OF the souls or those dying IN the faith
The Indictment bases the charges against
Professor Briggs solely on his inaugural
address. because 1t is the most deliberate
and emphatic expression OF his doctrine.
The report goes on to say that it has been
decided by the committee that lt is
neither necessary nor advisable TO
all the doctrinaI errors contained in
the inaugural address, and. while its teach
ings respecting miracles, the original con-
dit on of them, the nature OF SIN. race
redemption and DR.. Briggs's scheme OF
biblical theology in general are not In har-
mony with the Scriptures. and are caicu,
lated to weaken confidence In the word or
God. and to encourage presumption on the
clemency and long suffering OF Ood; YET in
and the confusion of thought that might
follow an attempt to compass all the errors
contained in said address, 10 was deemed
best to coDfue attention TO few depart
ures from the teachings of the scriptures
which are fundamental to the entire dis
cussion.
The report adds that the commission IS
not unmindiul OF the fact that erroneous
and iil-advised utterances OF Dr. brigss
have seriously disturbed the peace OF the
ohense IN the list OF formal charges.
The QUESTION OF GUILT.
At the close of the report the committee
recommended that o copy of the charges
and also O citation to appear and I!ead
guilty be immediately served on DR.. Briggs.
This is the normal procedure in such cases.
DR.. Booth moved that this accommodation
of the committee in regard to the service OF
of the charges on Dr.. Briggs be- adopted
A long discussion ensued, in which the
question was raised as TO whether or not
the presbytery had the right, at the present
stage OF the proceeding, to arrest the pro.
ceedings. The Rev. L. Z. :; Clark warned
the presbytery that on DR.. Booths motion
to ADOPT the committees recommendations
the whole question would turn.
Dr. John Hall declared that be believed
there was middle course which might be
pursued to advantage. First. he favored
receiving the report OF the committee. lie
believed that in view Of the dIstinct deela-
rations made by DR.. Briggs disclaim-
ing any inclination to heresy, the
also that the Presbytery expresses regret
and disApproval of the injudiciOus Ian
guage. Questionable spirit and suggested
differences contained and embodied In Dr.
Brlggs's address; also. that the presbytery
expresses the hope that In his teachings
DIR. Briggs would, in the future. refrain
from expressing such views as heretofore.
DR.. Hastings declared nimself in favor OF
DR.. Alexanders substitute; and created an
years this man Briggsl has been bounded
all through the land with misrepresenta-
tions and lies" Cries of mo! Shame!"l
The moderator interposed here, and called
ped I wei 70 ri Hrdss Keep in 'b Bounds FL In
qualify by saying that for the past two
years, this man, my colleague, has been
under fire. Great laughterl believe Dr..
Briggs would greatly prefer vindicatlon
Briggs will suffer great deal and bear
much; that he will sacrifice personal
right for the sake of the church and it's
great interests. That man IL not hereto.
a great deal of feeling for a brother who
has suffered what DR.. Briggs has, Ii were
in DR.. Briggs place l would getup and
say did not hold beliefs attributed to me;
that was sorry and would not do SO
again."
DIR. Booth followed. and in o warm
speech strongly urged that the matter take
the regular course. He declared that Dr.
Briggss utterances had almost disrupted
the church; that it was but inst to the
church and to himself that DR.. Briggs
should answer the charges and vindicate
himself. Inc speaker made an impasslOned
plea that Dr.. Alexander's resolution should
not prevail.
DIR. CLARK's SENSATION.
The Rev. c. S. Clark followed urging
that q vote be taken on DR.. Alexander's
resolution. Dr.. Clark explained at length
how DR.. Briggs came to answer the Ques-
tIons put to HIM by the directors of Union
Seminary. "All of the directors
were satisfied, except one. and he
wanted more explicit answer to a Ger.
tain question. The query was sent back to
Dr. Briggs, who returned an answer over
his own signature. That answer" de-
clared DIR. Clark. in conclusion, was satis-
| factory to that one man. That man de-
| Clared, in the presence of all the directors
| that he was satisfied. That man was DR..
| Booth"
This declaration created decided sensn-
| ton. DIR. Booth jumped to his feet and ex-
citedly exclaimed: "Mr. Moderator. that
| is not true. | declare in the presence of
| my brethren and God that it is not true. L
| did not say ANYTHING of the sort. L said
| that would continue my opposition"
| After the uprOar had ceased DIR. Hall
| offered his suggestions as t9rmal apiend-
| ment TO Dr. Alexander's substitute. On q
| viva voce vote DR.. Halls amendment was
| declared lost. The vote was very close.
| was taken on DIR. AIexander's substitute
| tdischarging the command, preventing
| practically the service of the charges on
| DR.. Briggs.l A good deal of excitement at
tended this. While the teliers were
| making up the count. Rev. w. w. Page
asked that his name be dropped from
| the rolls as he Is about to leave the
| Presbyterian Church and enter the Epls-
| copal. He started to read a few farewell
| words" when be was shut Oft by delegate
| who asked: Have we got to listen TO this
| stuff nowp
| Mr. Page retired, and the presbyt terry
! ordered his name dropped from the roll.
| The secretary then announced the vote
| OIL Dr. AleXanders substitute. Ii
| showed that Dr.. Alexander had
| been defeated by two votes,
as follows: Ministerial vote. yeas so, nays
A; lay vote. yeas Il. nays 90; total. yeas o..
| nays "a. The substitute was accordingly
| declared lost. the papers were ordered
served on Professor Briggs aud the presby-
terry adjourned.
| BISHOP NINDE ABSENT.
| Northwest Indiana Conferences Action on
/ ali