The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-10-06
DIR. BRIGGS CASE.
The Prosecuting Committee Pre-.
sents Its Report.
Three Specific Charges-The Indictment il
Based Solely on His Inauguration
Days to Prepare an Answer

NEW YORK, Oct. Sat the semi-annua
meeting of the New York Presoytery to
day the prosecuting committee appointed
to prepare papers in the trial of Prof
/ Briggs, presented report embodying the
charges against him. The charges in brief
are as follows:
Disbelief in the Bible as the only true
source of divine authority.
! Disbelief in the verbal inspiration and
inerrancy of the Scriptures.
| Disbelief in immediate sanctifcatiou al
death of the souls of those diving in the
faith
Prof. Briggs moved that his case be
! taken up the hrst thing IN the afternoon.
but the motion was defeated.
The Indictment bases the charges agains
Prof. Briggs solely on his inaugural ad-
dress, because the most deliberate and
emphatic expression of his doctrines
Inc report goes on to say it was de-
clded by the committee that it is neither
necessary nor advisable to embrace in the
list OF charges all the doctrinal errors con.
tanned in his inaugural address, and while
It's teachings respecting miracles, original
condition Of man, nature of sin. race re.
! demptlon and DR.. Briggs scheme Bibli-
cal and theological in general is not in har-
mony with the Scriptures and calculated to
weaken confidence in the word of God and
to encourage presumption on the clemenep
and love OF God, it decided it was best to
contlne attention to a few departures from
tue teachlngs OF the Scriptures which are
fundamental to the entire discussion.
Discussion the Of Indictment will not be in
order for some time. Prof. Briggs must
have ten days to prepare his answer, and
the Trial, II one takes place, will probably
DE set DOWN IN the latter part of this month.
Inc report had not been presented to the
meeting and routine business was in pro-
gress when Dr. Alexander, of University
Place church, moved to suspend the order
OF the day to present a resolution in the
Briggs matter. 1t was declared out of or
by number of those present, but the mod
orator ruled otherwise, and an appeal from
MS decision was made in which it was sus-
tanned. Notice of an appeal to the SYNOD
from the decision was then made
Dr. Alexander's resolution and pream-
bic set forth the fact that Prof. briggs
since his accusation, had supplemented his
answers 10 the charges by answering nu-
merous questions. These questions and
answers of Prof. Briggs are part of
the preamble. The resolution is to the
effect that the Presbytery, in view of these
latter declarations of Prof. Briggs
deemed II expedlent to arrest further pro2
Ceeulngs ana discharge the committee from
further consideration of the matter. Dr
Roblnson and others protested against the
resolution. AT l o'clock an adjournment
was taken Tor an hour, when some action
on tue resolution viii! be taken.
Alter recess DR.. Alexander Withdraw
MS motion to suspend the order of the dav
he announced his intention of Offering a
resolution to discharge the COMMITTEES az
soon as their report was read. Rev. DR.
Birch then read the committees report
When the Presbytery reassembled DR.
Alexander withdrew his motion to susnend
the order of the day. He gave notice
however, he would renew it after the re,
port OF The committee was read
Df. blrch, chairman of the committee
then reaG the report. At its copclUslon
Or. Alexander reintroduced his resolation
1or the dismissal of the proceedings. A
long discussion of this motion foIIo,ved
and 1t was finally put to vote, resulting.
cas-, 62 az elders and 80 clergvmen7
nays, 64 elders 20, clergymep "a. TINS
defeating the motion. Then the original
mouono was adopted, confirming the
recommendations OF the committees that
DR.. Briggs be served with a copv of tbe
charges and stand trial
Two votes seem to indicate that a very
small majority is In favor of trying DR.
Briggs. The fact that the majority of tho
clergy was IN favor of shutting off the trial
and dlscharging him was very pleasing M
DR.. Briggs. He now has ten DAYS in whicb
to make his reply. After some rontine
business, the Presbytery adjourned untiI
tomorrow. To-day's proceedings we've
unusually turbulent and several times
there were calls for a better Christian
spirit. Wall