The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1891-05-29
Battle Over the Briggs Appointment
Case Fiercely Waged i'm the
Detroit Convention.
Final Decision Prevented by the Death
Of One of the Delegates While
Speaking.
Briggs Resignation as President of
Union College Tendered-It May
Be Accepted.


assemblys opening hour
arrived the church was filed, and when
the minutes were read the assembly
squared away for the battle with heresy,
which has divided interest in this as
semtly with the report of the commit
tee on the revision of the standard of
faith. President Patton opened the dis
cussion on the report of the committee.
He spoke for the committee what he
termed few words of explanation, but
what was really an argument in defense
of the report favoring the veto Of DIR.
Briggs appointment. Prof. Henry p,
Smith of Lane Seminary, rose to the
defense of DIR. Briggs the moment Pres
ident Patton had concluded. He de-
nounced the report as q proposition to
put an end to the usefulness Of minis
ter in good standing. Professor Smith
was caustic in his references to DIR.
Green, of Princeton. He said the COM
missioners had formed their opinions Of
DIR. Briggs inaugural address from the
versions given in the papers. 1t was
upon this slight testimony they had
acted. The second charge, that he was
not orthodox, was the graver one. But
though there were a number of asser-
tions in the address which might not be
prudent they could not be said to be
contrary to the tenets of the confession.
There were
Three Charges Against DR.. Briggs
for his presbytery to consider. They
were his claims OF errors in the Bible
translation, called inerrant transmits
sion, progressive sanctification and in
FAINT damnation. DR.. Warfeld, of
Princeton, published book showing
that certain portions of the new testa-
ment were irregular. Should not he also
be proceeded against? DR. Briggs desired
to find theological grounds for the doc
trines set upon in the confession of
faith. The most serious point was that
of progressive sanctiicAtion, He did not
fully understand what DR.. Briggs meant
ON this poiut. Perhaps DR.. Briggs could
explain. The Bible and the confession
has been misunderstood, why not DR..
Briggs position2 -TheS doctrine of the
Presbyterian church meant that every
minute of time thirty human beings
dropped into hen. This went ON for cen.
turies. Did they ever reflect and face
the problem and keep out Of the lunatic
asylum.
Rev. S. C. Logan, D. D., of Scranton,
Pa, wanted the action proposed by the
committee modified. In the second res
olution he wanted change made, add
ing the name OF DR.. Briggs to those
TO be conferred with. Not only was 9
professor to be tried, but whole sys
tenn of control of the education of min
listers for the Presbyterian church. I,
would tendto the peace of the church il
they could
Postpens Action.
President Patton Of Princeton, tool
the floor IN behalf OF the report Of the
COMMITTEES. He said he admired Dr.
Briggs as o friend. The only Difficult,
point to his mind was the Interpretation
of the compact between Union and the
Presby terian assembly. If that compac,
permitted the exercise of the veto, and
he thought it did, the duty of the assem-
bly, now lay in the direction Of exercis
ing the veto or stopping once for all
He did not believe in qualified or mora
condemnation. The assembly must make
its condemnation direct, If it made it a,
all.
DIR. Dickie, of Union seminary, rather
disappointed the assembly by his failure
to back Briggs as strongly as he hai
been expected. He asked for year,
delay and he would do all in his powe,
to bring about reconciliation.
Judge S. nj. Breckenridge, of st
Louis, spoke ON the legal phases of th,
Briggs case. He held that the church
must act this year or the matter would
be ended. Before he got through he fel
in faint and had to be carried out O.
the church, Several doctors came /.
his assistance, but he died in a few min
utes. Judge s. nj. Breckenridge rep
resented the Missouri synod as one o
the elders and was a conspicuous figur,
in the assembly. immediately after tn,
| announcement of the death of Judg,
Breckenridge the assembly adjourned
Briggs Resignation offered.
DETROIT, May 29.-It is not general,
known, but it is fact, nevertheless
that Professor Briggs resignation is il
the hands of the trustees of Union sem
mary. They decided to stand by him
| but the veto the assembly will coubt
less place upon his appointment
may, it is thought, make them conside,
it best to accept his resignation and 3,
relieve the seminary from coming il
direct conflict with the highest boo,
known to Presbyterianism. 1t is be
ieved that Professor Briggs has nov
under advisement an invitation to ioi,
the faculty of the Cambridge university
i