New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-12
DR. BRIGGS FREES HIS MIND.
SEEKING A TRIAL FOR HEREsY AT ONCE.


axrEaY FOR APPOINTING A COMMITTEE
no xxAMINE HIS ADDREss-rBE NEW.
YORK MEN REFUSE TO cENsURE
THE PREsByTERY OF CHESTER
m. presbytery of New-Yorlx met Yesterday after
,.oon IN the lecture-room of the Scotch Church in
west Fourteenth-st., but after the opening prayer
hy The moderator, the Rev. DIR. G. L. Shearer, the
hodv adjourned TO meet in the auditorium, where
sor twelve days the revision Of the Confession of
Faith was discussed little more than a year ago.
The faces familiar in that memorable debate were
not missing yesterday. The galleries were filed
os before with visitors, many ladies showing by
their presence their deep interest In the theological
contest promised. DR.. Gregg, the new Brooklyn
Presbyterian pastor; DR.. Behrends, his Congrega-
tional neighbor; Dr. Virgin, another leading Con-
cregationalist, and Dr. Allison, of Pittsburg, the
veteran Editor of The Presbyterian Banner" y
we're among the visitors.
The large gathering was Que TO the publicity
given TO the inaugural address delivered last Janu-
ary by Professor Charles A. Briggs, Of Union The
ological Seminary. In April the Presbytery ap-
nointed q committee TO consider the address and
report at the May meeting what action, II any,
be appropriate in relation thereto" In the pre-
smble it was stated that this address ." has been
very generally criticised as containing statements
which are seemingly contrary to the teaching of
our Confession of Faith Action was also urged
because complaint had been made against the ad-
dress by several Presbyterians The committee
appointed By Dr. Shearer, consisted of DIR. G. w.
n Birch. of the Bethany Church, who offered the
resolutions calling for the investigation; the Rev.
] F. Forbes of the Adams Memorial Church; DR..
Henry van Dyke, of the Brick Church; DR.. j. j.
Jampe. of Christ Church; DIR. J. II. Mcllvalne,
of the Church of the Covenant Professor j. D.
Stevenson, Of the University of the City OF New
York. an elder of the Scotch Church; and waiter
Edwards an elder in the Fourth Avenue Churoh.
Dr. van Dyke resigned, and several attempts 70
ill his place having failed the six members OF the
committee struggled TO agree on unanimous re-
mort. But the struggle was in vain. Two re-
norris have been prepared; three members sign the
majority report one signs it with the omission OIL
n single word, one has prepared minority
report. and the sixth man finds mmseu
unable TO sign either report and has not been
able to prepare one for himself
DR.. HASTINGS PRESENTS PROTEST
The reports were not submitted yesterday, the
entire afternoon being consumed IN Nvo protests
one presented by DR.. Hastings, president OIL tne
Union Seminary, against the action oil the rresoS
,or,, % Chester. Penn, which, he thinks, ocn-
demned Dr. Briggs by its overture 10 tne "eneiai
Assembly asking it not to approve his appoint
80 os nrofessor of Biblical theology in Union
Seminary. This complaint or overture, read by
nv Hastings was lost by vote of &C TO 3D. The
Second nrotest that presented by DR.. Briggs,
oolled forth good deal OF discussion. No action
,yos taken ON il. however, and the Presoytery ad-
,ournad N meet this morning TO hear the reports
of its committee.
The paper read by DR.. Hastings was AMENDED
nm the motion of DR.. c. S. Robinson, the part ap-
nearing in parentheses being cut OIL
wbereas The constitution of the Prsby Church
declares that Original fook of Discipline,
&C. 81 and that the iudicatory 70 whcn elS
Sec he or minister belongs shall have sole urlsdic-
i S The trial of offences whenever or wherever com
United by him (Book OF Discipline SEQ losl anu 10
Whereas Condemnation without ti1a1 Is coh"~' "
oil law civil and ecclesiastical; and /, .,o, =.
Whereas The Presbytery OF Chester IN session ve a.
.Ds tn He General Assembly condemning the Rev
Professor Charles A. Briggs, D. d. InenOeF u "n'
PrsSyer a. The directors of Union Theological Semi
nary in the city Of New York have esteDDs'a em
Biblical eooy and have Transferred
Professor Charles A. Briggs ~. ~, nO of Rbca1
Hebrew ond installtd him as piOie''O' u
Where's 1t appears from the neSgTSs adSTss and %
IN, t,dS and from his book entitled 'WmtheT dllu
from various articles that he has written ana @
that his views IN relation to me ~ ,Se judgment
% so pSbytery not In accordance with the Confession
~ Eaitb and the Catechsms Of our Chufeh anu, 40
~wher e ae esaFscter Of the impaired t.
aur Candidates for the ministry found in our theOOe
That this Of ChsstsT S0
yened at & General eean Assembly to refuse to
confirm the aforesaid appointment OF frolessor Df'es
70 the chair Of Biblical Theology serure Of the Psbytery
of Chester, -, ,,,.u- ~ Nevv Work. hereby
1aTfgTs The General Assembly to pronounce that the
Presbytery OF Chester mas, .,, ,oh. % Predecessor
First violated the CONSTITUTIONAL pe Sat his views
are not in accordance with the Confession Oh rae
while he is member of this Presbytery III soou e''iu
ang S has violated the constitutional rights Of the
Presbytery of New York winch has Sole
fr9 W6eTeas s PresSytcry has learned that other
Pbye besides the one Of Thi q W sEaT Character
10 that herein cited the Prcsbytey Of New Org reev
y oysrss the General s DTn S to the Pres
byteries sending them any overtures pronOucns Js
ent upon Rcsessog S e6as or ns such
Syterles that they have enc0aChed upon the a1.Sri
Of the Presbytery OF New foTk ana nahs "'''" ."
violation of the constitution OF our Church|
THE DISCUSSION BECOMES LIVELY.
DIR. Hastings prefaced the reading Of bis paper
nv the statement that he jealous for the honor
~ tho Presbytery of which he is member ana
that he desired to see its rights and dignity pro-
tected. He had used the Presbytery OF chester
through no personal feeling, but because ne han d
certified COPY of it's actions. He did not protest
In the paper against the right of the New-York
Presbytery to take up the question of Dr. Briggs
orthodoxy. but against the action of another Pres
byterv to condemn him before his own Presbytery
had taken up the question
DIR c. S. Robinson moved to lay the matter
on the table until after the consideration OF the
,enort Of the committee appointed month ago.
DIR r. r. Booth seconded the motion, but II was
lost.
DIR Briggs understood that the paper had been
laid IN the table and rose to question OF privi-
ueOe This was to enter protest against the
amendment of the committee to consider his au-
dress lie was informed that the previous mouoh
had been lost and sat down. lie was appmuded
rs he took his seat, and the moderator announced