New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-29
sembly committee and ordered special train to take
the body TO ST. Louis.
THE GREAT DEBATE BEGUN.
SPEECHES IN THE ASSEMBLY on THE
BRIGGS REPORT.
MITTEE ON THEOLOGICAL sEMINAMEs-
SPEECHES By PROFESSOR SMITH
AND DRs. LOGAN. DlCKEy
AND BARTLETT.
rBY rELEoRAru TO THE rkBUNE.I


committee. The church was crowded at o'clock
in anticipation of a great debate, and those who
had secured their seats nearly an hour before the
time set for the debate were not disappointed. III
Patton rose to make brief explanatory statement
before the discussion began. He said;
Mr.. Moderator fathers and brethren 1 shall not
dctain you at this moment with a. long SPEECH I
se s sP tat 70 whatever differences Of opinion may
in this Assembly there Is no one here VINO Is rs mos
with the responsibility of Introducing this report
with the desire TO DO simply what Is best nov WISH 81
the possibility of mistake and error we have as
charged this duty under the impulse OF Is one nc
the oco aston, and to do II in the spirit OF kindness,
and in the fullest recognition Of all the rights OF all
Unanimous propositions We're made in the ocm.
mittee leading to different aetlo ana diTe ,,a
discussion, the COMMITTEES were clear that this Is best
1t is the least in our Judgment that the assembly can
the Assembly IS called upon TO do. We have tried
TO look at the past to study te present ana 70 an
ton II is possible that the debate may bring TO
light matters that we have not considered, but
and we are ready, when the occasion comes, to give
reason for every part OF this report. we shnod 1e
report in protracted debate but protracted debate
is necessary we trust that, so far as we are con
cerned the debate will be conducted in the spirit that
has dictated the report Of your committee
The opening address was by Professor Henry
Preserved Smith, of Lane Seminary, who said in
part:
Tho Confession Of Faith has been misunderstood
The Bible has been misunderstood. This fact In itself
is no argument against the clearness and perscuy OF
has not thoroughly worked out his doctrine think
that is true. So much CONCESSION shall pc giaG %
make But II we are TO condemn every theologlan VINO
publishes system without having 1t thoroughly worKeo
where win begin and where VII You END Mo a aHe
not redeemed are after the final Judgment consigned
to tho place reserved ,oS 0r te e srS SeV eae ed to be
punished with Or sO t SR Of So% sGu m aoh
s tsf means You HQ Know what the Population Of
time seventy human beings pass out OF me- von AccG e
ology how many OF these 40 yon suppose sar arr
ectay called redeemeG 'T nNanablcs ana oeiaSv
net one half The doctrine Of the Presbyterian Church
Is therefore that in every minute OF time thirty human
be punished with the devil and w angel, there fGre Yer
Every hour an Assembly Da D the as sse on Si f
in The DAY. thirty days in month twelve months in
at y'1s least The De- Sen %s field sen the
have rolled by and this no STfS ESOSe Do
irsvelier returHsS Now sir do YOU ever reflect upon
these scs Do you reflect upon them ana keep rS SS
Of the destiny OF the racel What do you do with IL
in your system7
Professor (cOntinung)-Now; sir think the
most OF US have a secret hope that God has reserved
restore some at least OF these lost souls. That how,
ever, would be at rate but plogs opinion; ,eo
is not held certainly theological dogma, a tleo
logical doctrine by any one in the Presbyterian Church
But sir Il one can find relief from II in me 0'I ~
lures so far as l concerned, he Is welcome Dr.
Briggs Thanks he has found some relief in that he sup
that Ss sv RsSs IN Of msRs
S that % su0ssqae q. p cSsT IF s S'2 SoM
s on stct construction Of the cOpfss.I999 Dr.
sng s srs that the souls Of believers made
perfect at death. DR.; Briggs thinks that he finds
ssRSra O1 IT least ss the process which
ward absolute perfection. goes on IN the other ne
S Sccurs here in many souls IN which we do not sec
evidence. Now, will yon hold to such radical a mod
thai All infants are saved or condemn minister Of your
Church. who desires to find relief from the oppression
oot a SPARROW ARROW fails 70 the ground without our Fathers
notice. How can God rest with prison as Dr.
Seen dwelling this morning? When Dr., Briggs, in
support Of his theory quotes He mat hath begun e 1e
Srist has he not colorado ground at least for hope
such as he NON Ma. We ou Se net 10 S con
denim Dr. Briggs the ground first OF his inaptness
70 teach when his fitness Is 80 strongly tes nHn t by
unsoundness OF his views Prejudice is easily raised
and not easily allayed
DR.. S. c. Logan, Of Scranton, offered amend
ment to Dr. Patton's first resolution. saying
I. rise specifically to suggest qualification Of the
ACT
done as they have expressed to us. all they could to
give us their best Judgment as the least that the
highest respect both for them and for what they have
reported With a single modification it seems to me
es tfe at IN Se present Condition Of the church and Of
the questions which involved. could be done Now
ments looking i'm the same direction and then after
wards, will proceed to state some reasons for them
Inc Sst the t roaton be amended by the in
setion Of the words for the present. SO that the reso
he ap % S of professor in Union theological
Seminary the General Assembly hereby dsapproveS for
t essg present briggs Be- D aRp0Ns rss Of So
aNol1 And ! want to give notice Of the second ,Ili
amendment which Is In the second resolution, namely
Resolved, that committee consisting OF eaSh i
ministers and seven ruling elders be appointed by tins ms
directors of Union Theological Seminary in regard TO
the whole CASE and also with the directors Of me
said Seminary to the General Assembly, and report
to the next General Assembly"
DR. Dickey followed DR.. Logan with an earnest
appeal in which he said:
] have no plea 10 make for DR.. Briggs abom-
mate the spirit that is in the Church. dividing Gods
ministers into ranks and calling them by names Of
that follow DR.. Biggss leadership and indorse DR..
Briggss views, but am Briggs man Il yon mean by
that any man shall have fairness and that shall
not act in haste IN Snnn ct nd n not TO only his
future OF the Institution with which he has become
SDsS %st iyS tt Efot TO fy S
the position in which am, in the providence of God
because Of any views entertain not because Of any
record of special qualifications for the place. chosen
only because coming out OF the old United Pres
byterian Church, my first charge when this union
WAS consummated CHANGED TO be In New
School Church Because OF that simple fact and trng
consideration l became member OF the board of di
reetors of Union Theological seminary. Because OF
that relationship j know that my position in this
Assembly is exceedingly delicate. and am trying
with all honor and with all caution 10 regard it,
want to say here that anything say pertaining TO
the seminary ! say on individual responsibility
am not an anti Briggs man. if you mean by that
determination that, matter what shall be said no
matter what shall be DONE that matter what Shall
be attempted that no matter what be accomplished
or attempted to be accomplished, that feeling OF
condemnation shall continue am not an anti Briggs
In that sense, but am anti-Briggs man II vou
mean by that that i most sincerely ana To the
very depths OF my nature deplore the fact that Dr.
Briggs had Issued the inaugural address which has
created this offence and this terrible state OF unrest I'm
the Church. While there Is much in him, which ]
know by personal contact, TO love and 10 admire.