New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-15
SELECTIONS FROM THE MAIL
AN ELECTION NOT A TRIAL.
DEFENDING THE ACTION OF THE GENERAL -

AN ELECTION NOT A TRIAL
DEFENDING THE ACTION OF THE GENERAL AS-
sEMBLY IN THE CASE OF DR. BR1GGS
TO tho Editor Of Tho Tribune.
Sir: Your Just rcpute for fairness will, doubt NOT
prompt you to grant me space for a reply 70 tho
position taken In your article OF last Sunday, as ono
Of those who took part at Detroit In the case OF Dr
Briggs. have waited thus long, hoping WORD mlsnt
appear from other quarter In our defence. INC
fact that the has been dismissed by the Presoytey
still leaves IL open for consideration by the higher
courts, and therefore does not lessen the need on
justification Of ourselves from the charge OF pre)udg
Ing by three OF us who are subjected to It,
"The Evangelist" which you quote, allows Its 1udg-
ment to be msled by taking metaphor for PROPOSE
ton. To say the "prejudged" last June puts
the effect Of ecclesiastical trial upon procedure
In which the Assembly acting only in its function
as body of electors, which Is quite distinct from its
function as a court of ecclesiastical law. 1t was an
election In the completion Of which we were called
to cooperate with the seminary trustees 1t only by
figure of speech that the proceeding can be called
trial or the result " condemnation" We are not to
be mlsled by rhetorical forms OF words. The
party the principle the candidate in any election arc
often said to be trial. but everybody understands
that when man Is defeated the vote really means
that he is not approved for certain office only, Our
excellent candidate. Mr.. Fasset has been defeated,
but we hardly feel that he has been condemned.
Professor Briggs was presented to us, not as q
culprit but candidate: not as awaiting our YER
dict, but seeking our votes. The claim that ne
was condemned uneardn Is futile, for every element
of judicial process absent there were no charges
no testimony no witnesses, nd pleadiRgs, rednder
The Assembly was simply exercising It's right cf COM
plotting an election $50 expressed In the compacp,
which had been begun by the appointment OF the
nominee by the trustees. The candidate Is never
summoned to appear defend himself ut an elecuon'
the electors not required to specify ther reasons
for voting as they do. His record Is before them In
his known past acts utterances and their opinions
made up upon these. -
In what way then, IS 1t that this man was wrongeo
by the action Of the Assembly Is man wronged be-
cause he is defeated in election Can you, MT.
Editor accused Of that In the case OF the hundreds
you have helped 10 defeat! Was any renecuon cast
on his character, any impuation on his scholarship
You ask SIS Christian scholarship to be estopped'
The reproacl does not apply, as proved by your own
example Because you vote against giving salaries
and official power 10 those who desire to propagate
freetrade doctrines you hnderng in any way their
study OF fiscal economy the free expression OF the
views they may be led TO enteItain1 There Is "ide
distinction between trial condemnation for heresy
and being defeated elected to an exceptional once
like that IN question: For nominee for theological
professCrshlp stands on ground quite dihereht rom
that occupied by candidate for the ministry, or by
one whose right to preach In our Church Is Drought
in question In case OF the latter the terms are COM
paratlvely elastic great latitude is allowed to the ght
of the exercise OF private judgment. Presbyery must
ratfy the claim to cali, show clear cause LOT re-
fsing. But the nominee for professorshp Is chosen
for particular fitness, personal and professional as well
as docrina lie be objected to for reasons thso
would not be thought OF as valid against the Ordlna-
ton of minister the general conviction that he Is
unsound on any OF the numerous points OF doctrine
embraced In thc cleeds may be deemed suMcieht' vi
he may be disapproved because he Is Known 10 DO
erratc, and therefore an unsuitable man. or because
he lacks good Judgment or Is likely TO Use ms Ill
huental place to stir up dissensons In the Church
In short It Is dlscrtona with tho voter to approve
or disapprove any ground according to his con-
scientlous conviction Of his fitness.
Now there seemed TO be multitude OF such reasons
for questioning the fitness OF Dr. Briggs, aside nom
the fact that his Pesbytery had interposed (nfort-
nately as / thought and said, at the tme, while cur
hereSy The Confessions Of his best friends to his
dOgmatic, trouble brewing. impracucaDie cnaractei
confessions like that made BY Mr. Field himself by MS
10 form ample ground why should not vote In favor
Of his being elevated to place Of the most signal
emphatic ratification Of oil that ne so rssshly pro-
claimed his fixed i1entisn to leach chi. d, b.. oon,.,.n,
to Judge who IS qualified for Governor President.
and which OF two courses Of abstruse public POLICY ps
80 not US noSy Of mnissrs most Of them literally
Gated, to venture to say whether the author OF suGh
augural contains Is a tit teacher for theological
seminary We are called upon to persuade men TO
sider ourselves competent TO Judge whether 1t Is
book full of errors We are constantly en)olned' Gy
dependent In our thinking. to fern our own opinions
and bring to the pulpit the results OF our own con.
illusions how then is it that are told that our
judgments must defer to these selfcOnstituted al-
thorities, who on the arrogant claim OF exceeding
eminent scholarship to frame our opinions for
us9 1t may take great specialist like DR.. Briggs to
frame such views. but T. IS as with the judgement q
thew who are to decide Upon tee question OF their
permanent acceptance. HENRY [. SWlNNElVToN,
Cherry Valley, n. Y, Nov IL, 1891.