Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1891-06-06

report. II the time came during the
debate they were ready to give the rea-
sons for every recommendation. If pro-
tracted debate became necessary, it
would be conducted in the spirit which
actuated the worlSof the committee.
Prof. Henry p, Smith, of Lane
Seminary, rose to the defense of DIR.
Briggs the moment President Patton
had concluded. He denounced the re-
port as proposition to put an end to
the usefulness of minister in good
standing. Tie adoption of the report
would put stain on minister harm
the church and cripple school already
hurt by death. Prof Smith was caus-
tic in his references to DIR. Green, of
Princeton. Not every school, he said,
could hope to have professors of the
physical and mental stature of Dr.
Green. DIR. Briggs had been a pro-
fessor of Union for seventeen years. He
had ability. Those who knew him in
dorsed him. Should his usefulness be
lost to the church?
1t had been said that he had been
misunderstood and was not sound in his
doctrine. Would he be condemned on
these grounds before he was heard?
The religious press composed of papers
supposed to be published in the interest
of the Presbyterian church, had become
omnipotent, and consequently magni-
fed their office. A large majority of
the commissioners had received their
impressions from these papers. In the
nature of the case, were the papers
competent as jury to decide the caseP
No man could be specialist in all de-
partments; not even the editor of a re-
ligious paper. These meek men had
misunderstood DR.. Briggs They judged
him only on the popular plane, and not
on the plane of theological training.
Continuing Prof. Smith said that in
the Presbyterian church a man was a
hereto who violated the system of
doctrine. The general opinion seemed
to prevail that man charged with an
infection was guilty. If the verbal
| form of the confession was to be in
sisted upon most of those present would
have to leave the church. There were
three charges against DIR. Briggs for his
presbytery to consider. They were his
claims of errors in the bible trans
lations, called inerrant transmission,
progressive sanctifcation and infant
| damnation.
| President Patton, of Princeton, took
the floor in behalf of the report of the
committee. He said he admired Mr..
Briggs as a friend. The committee
would not put straw in his way. Nor
would it make the position of the
directors of Union embarrassing. They
had hired the man in good faith and
were not responsible for the utterances
in his inaugural. The only difficult
point to his mind was the interpreta-
tion of the compact between Union
Seminary and the Presbyterian Assem-
bly,. If that compact permitted the
exercise of the veto, and he thought ii
did, the duty of the assembly now lay
in the direction of exercising the veto
or stopping ence for all. He did not
believe in qualified or moral condemna-
ton. The assembly must make its
condemnation direct, if it made it at all.
At the afternoon session of the as.
sembly Judge s. NJ Breckenridge, OF
st. Louis, spoke on legal phases of the
Briggs case. He held that the church
must act this year or the matter would
be ended Before he got through he
fell in a faint and had to be carried out
of the church. Several doctors came to
his assistance, but he died in few min
utes.
Immediately after the announcement
of the death of Judge Breckenridge The
assembly adjourned.
DETROIT, May 29.-The Presbyterian
assembly had got over the shock of the
death of Judge Breckenridge yesterday
morning. The morning prayers con
tanned references to the event, but bust
ness went on just the same.
The Briggs case was then resumed by
Rev. Israel w. Hathaway, of Jersey
City, who urged disapproval of ths
Briggs appointment for year rathel
than permanently. The argument o
DR.. Patton was builded upon a supposi
action, and he had said that he would
be glad if there was any way to post
pone action. 1t would be sad day TO
the church when they allowed a techni
cality of law to defeat justice.
If the point that action could be post
poned was sustained, DIR. Patton's al
gument toppled to the ground. H
+ pleaded not for DR.. Briggs, but for tn
best interests of the church. The assem-
bly, was making history Let it no
make history for which their children
might have to apologize. 1t would no
do to say the world had no part in thi
, affair The mission of the church wa
to save lost world, therefore'it woul
not do things which would give tn
: world grounds for calling the church ur
just
a Rev. G. Bowden, of Genesee, n. Y
4 hoped the assembly would not permi
e itself to be deluded from dealing wit
I the compact in technical manner
4 The language of the compact, itselt
: which they must be guided by had bee
considered by the committee, and ever
phase discussed to see if some othe
mode could be devised, but none coul