New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-06-07
DR. BRIGGS AND THE ASSEMBLY.
THE SITUATION AS AFFECTED BY THE ACTION
OF THE SEMINARY DIRECTORS.

OF THE SEMINARY DIRECTORS.
The prompt and decisive action Of the directors OF
Union Theological Seminary at Fridays meeting Is
regarded by all Presbytenans OF every shaoe Oh
opinion as drawing dangerously distinct line In the
relations between that institution and the General
Assembly By a vote Of 40 to so, the General AS
sembly acting under the terms Of the socalled com
pact of 1870 declared that the transfer OF Dr. Bnegs
to the Chair of Biblical Theology in Union Theooglea
Seminary should not be considered as complete cleo
ton In turn, the seminary directors, by vote Oh
90 to In a board consisting at present OF tweny-sh
members have responded by saying; Professor
Briggs was appointed several years 70 I'LL chair
in the seminary, and his appointment was approved
by the General Assembly OF that date. We, as tho
directors Of the seminary have seen 1T TO transfer
him to another chair. This Is a matter pertaining |"
the internal management Of the seminary, exclusively
within our Jurisdiction. We decline to recognize
your right dictate to the course We should pursue
In this particular, and we have now voted 10 lnoor
our own previous action
Thus two determined bodies meet on the line Oh
conflict The question asked is which will Weld
The personnel OF the Assembly changes yearly thss
OF the board of directors of the seminary remains pao
tically the from year TO year. The inquiry
comes from both sides: as IL reasonable 10 %
lIeve that the personnel OF the Assembly OF lev2
will represent the sentiment which prevails To-Day ia
the board Of Union Seminary The friends Of Dr.
Briggs are confident that such will be the case; tho
opponents OF Dr. Briggs regard such condition OF
affairs as beyond the bounds OF possibility. Neith@
side can tell which is the correct prophecy unul the
General Assembly Of 1892 shall have met and acted.
| and there the matter rests. The committee Oh hi-
een appointed by the General Assembly to confer VITA
the directors Of Union Seminary, may communicate
with that body at any time. They may communicates
early but there will probably be no meeting OF 'il'
Union board OF directors until November. MeinWhis
the friends of DR.. Briggs In tho board point 10 'no
resolution and remark, There is all we have 10 say,
and it has been said very distinctly
The Rev. DIR. Robert Il. Booth, who, with MS
father cast the two dissenting votes al FRIDAY neeS
| ing said yesterday: "The question hinges upon
technical point In language. l believe tat III INC
original compact il intended to give the Deherd
| Assembly authority over the seminary. Inc "ou
| appolntmenp was used In the compact and that u
seems 70 me- covers original election TO one professor
| shin ana transfer 10 another. Dr. Briggs was chosen
as the professor to I'LL this chair lie was indicted
into office and following his election delivered an IN
.no,l address As TO the effect upon the seminary.
would say that tho General Assembly. in the exercise
., ,ts power is the Church. To rosist the Assembly
,s 10 resist the Church. II is true that the per-
sonnet Of the Assembly changes from year 10 year,
hut n "a Incredible that such body could be brought
70 AN entirely different attitude this subject IN saeh
brief space Of time For my part, think Una, ,.,e
action taken by the board was entirely premature
II seems 10 me have been the result OF an Impulse
ars,ng nossibly from vexation, Or perhaps you may
saw from sense OF Indignation buI whetner . .
| for or not such action should only have been taken
after the most careful deliboraon, and after exhAust
ing every possible means for reaching harmonious
result