New-York tribune., 1891-05-26
PRICE THREE CENTS.
DIR. BRIGGS LOSING GROUND.
FEELING IN THE ASSEMBLY AGAINST THD
PROFESSOR.
HIS CASE TO BE TAKEN UP on THURSDAY
TALKS WITH PROMINENT PRESBYTERIAN
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES IN
DETROIT YESTERDAY.
[sr TELEsRAPn TO THE rRrBuxs. ]

DETROIT YESTERDAY.
tBY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBuxs-
Detroit, Mich May 25.-The General Assembly
began its second week with an allusiou to the
Union Seminary case and then fixed date for
its discussion. President Patton, Of Princeton,
called the Committee on Theological Seminaries
together at the morning session, and for the
greater part of the day the members were In the
church tower in confidential conference. The re-
ports of the dozen or more institutions were re-
ceved, and the overtures, nearly eighty, relating
to the teaching in Union Seminary in general and
the inaugural address Of DIR. Briggs in particular
Dr. Patton requested that the report of his com
mittee be made the first order OF the day for
Thursday morning and his suggestion was adopted.
Therefore any friends of the seminary or of Dr.
Briggs who desire to be present at what promises
to be the great debate of the Assembly and one
of the greatest in recent years will have an OPP
portunity to make their arrangements accordingly
So important are the issues that The Tribune cor
respondent has obtained two interviews to-
day on the prevailing topic Of converse
ton from men prominent in the Pres
byteran Church, Dr. Henry NJ Field, the
Editor of "The New-York Evangelist" and DR..
George D. Baker, Of Philadelphia, one Of tie
most popular men now in Detroit. where he was
nearly fifteen Wears. Dr. Field defends Dr. Briggs
on the score Of friendship admits his infehcities
and refers to the probable adverse action by the
Assembly and its effect on the Church. Dr. Baker
leaves entirely out Of the question DR.. Briggs
scholarship and his standing as a minister and
speaks of him simply theological professor,
and his conclusion is that Dr. Briggs Is not o
safe teacher, and that the more be talks the more
he makes that apparent The interviews arc
given herewith. DR.. Field said:
Professor Briggs is my friend and always stand by
friend, especially he is attached and II the batue
for him the harder. Dr. Briggs is man OF extraordi-
nary learning in his department Several years ago
nary, said to me: Z" There not two such scholars
Of the younger generation In this country as proesot
in the study Of the Bible with that most important
qualification in teacher, the power Of inspiring M tns
nary is more popular than he: The graduates who
have studied under him in the last ten years will tell
you that ever kindled such enthusiasm In them
or opened such of knowledge making the old
book new. And in spite Of all that has been said
who believes In the Bible more truly as the Word Of
God In his conversation as well as In MS writings
his mind is infused with it and charged with IT, not
only with its language but With its central ideas Its
thoughts and its very imagery as thunder cloud Is
hnrs Ghat his Ms chosen ed Of abCr instruction Of other
in the knowledge Of the book which he has studied
Heg said all this admit fully that he sa sas srs some enc
ceedlngy unfortunate He is very positive man NOS
pronounced in IN his his M & aa but Ss ysms s
@odesy his private opinions but Nserfs S se% asny =.
RSs Mssep wtR this no IS to Be ADMIRED
ton What was once said Of Macauay have ofIen
d or aeqsnt Of Professor aG 6Ts at WisDso a he
Knows nSw aysnHs g. f Z s sar
.nsv1 his aSSGs aS To Of Professor sc o
not have aroused such antagonsm by as %nngs ho ana
arrogance He puts what he says i1 such form and
with snsh tone s as to offend se o say Is nS
which not to be questioned and II ySa 40 T not n1 .nS
as DO 50 much sS e %s Tc fSG ae nS 1q S prov
essors be ignorant but we , 90 not ke s DO
s2rance S constantly thrust in our faces has not only
aroused his opponents 10 very bit'er ieeng ssa1nss
nen @ GS' To aDooge %I for hi him at the very time they
trying to defend him. For these rea sons my eelng In
ega nennSe 70 Of fendshp admton and vexaon Ths
same feeling exists among his epas dcdI, II tine me Assembly
But tho great body Of the Assembly are not REM s%.
baassed by any such personal a%s
resentment. No one who has been here since tns
Opening Of the Assembly P can ne dqgST 54s on IS Te
logical seninares, to which the question Is reerre:
e6amaG eha is also said to be wholly against him Win
the possible exception OF two or three VINO may %
Tns to tn mercy S& sa While this
feeling of the Assembly some OF the more thousnui @
sequences Of tho action which they may take: y
would be very unfortunate to commit the saon Seaer
which would seem TO discredlt the most thorough
study Of the Word OF God. Why are professors oi
in tle original tonglies il they are to be hamperd
and restricted by the feeling that they arc not permitted
to write anything beyond the confines Of narrow ana
iron bound Are Ar III not G the students 81 q eor 1ne
ing which may be furnished to them not c6a oRH ~
.uob ~ tInDOSSiDo
any growth or progress in our hnowledge Of s the
% Cod The 81 churh G ~ has saste asays
and the high standard OF negene S re rsTerss SnSqs
it 1T t and to suEsy sy S Seer % o.
teacher extend his inquiries or & his 9onGa1Ss % has %
ceived the Inheritance OF the faith but to whom he Is
not in bondage. We believe with the old Purltahs
that light Is % brh % S out b Di e eosro MSa semSy
chooses place the Presby terian Chcb across tne
track Of future progress it must hold itself responsible
Its action in it's present excited stssc o nhd tas
Which irs nav be continued for long time to y
is easy to take vote to adopt vigorous course q
Is not so easy TO retrieve the consequences of false
step"
DR.. Baker made these sententious comments:
I have. simply to say that ,,.,sny IN my iIns; indns;;
tscoofa % PqfssseS :sSSer BHSi Nth rs n is Question q
his scholarship nobody donbts that Il is snSs mot ge
Young men who are candidates for the ministry Tho
whole burden Of his defence the part of his friends
has been apOlogetic They all S say .S ana they they
tSe fSe changes upon it. that Professor Briggs. Is
misunderstood. II so. he has been misunderstood by
church and. think by great majority Of the elder
sIin. The Presbyterian ministry and laity are gem
cranv admitted to be possessed Of fair intelligence,
and II he has been misunderstood BY them, the
9nestion is whether he is safe man TO have under his
nstctions at the critical period OF their train
ing. the Young men who are 10 occupy the pulpits
~ The Church The General Assembly has the power
Of dIsanprOval No specific reason for which the DIS
approva shall rendered IS indicated In the compact
between the seminary and the Assembly. II in the
Judgment OF the General Assembly any man Is wholly
unittct by his general makeup FOR the place: Il is
entirely competent for II 10 disapprove his election
on that ground. II this General Assembly shoald fail
TO take some decided action in this the agitation
viii be increased rather than diminished. and the
probabilities Of trouble In the future in the Church
will he greatly increased The more DR.. Briggs talks
the worse he makes his case and the the Church
Is disturbed The simple question, repeat Is