The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-28
THE DR.. BRIGGS HERESY CASE.
The Committee DiSapprOYeS Of the Trans
fer Of His Position.
THE ASSEMBLY ADOPTS THE REPORT.
What DIR. Parkhurst, DIR. Briggs Defender,
Thinks of the Case-Tbe Final Fight
to BE Made To-day.


to-day Dr. Bartlett yielded the floor to DR..
Patton, who asked leave 10 read so much of
the report on theological seminaries as bears
on the case Of DR.. Briggs, in order that it may
be printed and distributed to the assembly
when it comes up for action tomorrow.
Sixty-three presbyteries, whose names he
read, have overturned the assembly as to the
utterances of DR.. Briggs. Some ask specitica-
ton. but the majority leave to the assembly
what it shall be.
The committees reply TO so much of the re-
port of the Union Theological Seminary as
bears on Dr. Briggs appointment or transfer TO
the chair of biblical theology, says: Our
duty is a delicate One especially as the Pres
bytery of New York is trying him on the
charge of heresy a case which at some time
must come before us on appeal. 1he question
before us is not that of his doctrlnal soundness,
but that of the approval of his election by the
assembly We have examined the constitu-
tiOnal requirements as to the duty and power
of the assembly in asserting to or torblddlng
such appointment or transfer"
POWER TO FORBID THE TRANSFER.
DIR. Patton quoted from the records as well
as from appointments of professors that have
convinced his committee that the assembly
has power TO forbid the transfer. We should
have been willing to recommend the reference
of the subject to a committee TO report
TO the next assembly. but the control
of the assembly over the matter ceases
with the present session, and so we
must act now. if at all. We admit
that in one view the trustees may have ground
for their denial of the right of the assembly to
veto the transfer of professor from one chair
10 another besides, the assembly Is one party
TO compact with the Union Theological
Seminary and must be cautious in acting on
it, The trustees of the Seminary con-
slider that the original appointment
gives status, and that this assembly has right
to forbid, but transfer simply assigns and
with that the assembly has no right to inter
fere Now. while we think the assembly has
control of both, yet in view of the cordial re-
latons always existing between 1t and the
trustees of ths seminary, 1t would be proper
TO appoint committee To a conference with
them to report to the next assembly
THE APPOINTMENT DIsAPPROyED OF.
In accordance with these views the com
mittee recommend that the assembly disap-
prove of the appointment of DR.. Charles
Briggs to the Edward Robinson char OF
Biblical Theology of the Union Theological
Seminary. and that a committee on Golfer
ence with the rustee of that institution be
appointed by the assembly to report t9 the
next assembly. DR.. PrOudht, of Baltimore.
moved the acceptance OF the report. Inc
to have the report printed for circulation to-
morrow morning
DIR. BRIGGS DEFENDER.
DErRorc. Nay 27. Rev. DR.. ParkhBrst.
pastor of the Madison-Square Presbyterian
church. New York, whose sermon Sunday in
favor of Dr. Briggs attracted so much atten
ton arrived here last night 10 be on
the ground for Briggs defense when the
case comes up in the Presbyterian Assembly
The Parkhurst sermon rather altered the
aspect of the Briggs case. leading member
of the Assembly gave II ont that arrangements
had been made last Saturday whereby the
whole case was TO 90 over until the next meet
inc of the General Assembly, but the Park
hurst sermon. in which he gave Princeton
such a lively shaking up, had quite changed
the situation and the probabilities now are
that the Briggs case will be handled without
gloves
WHAT DIR. PARKHuBsr SAYS.
In an interview here Dr. Parkhurst reiter-
ated his belief in his statements of last Sun
dav. He qualified however, as follows:
Il am willing 20 cOncede, as friend OF Dr.
Briggs. that he has been strangely untortu-
nate in his expressions, has talked and written
ALTOGETHER too much and, while thoroughly
opposed TO dogmatism, has been one Of the
most dogmatic men IN the world; l nave
told Dr. Briggs that every time ne writes
a book he ought TO attach glossary TO II, so
that hsreaders can understand the sense III
which he uses certain words And so ! at
tribute all of his trouble TO that unfortunate.
infelicitous way that he has of writing things
that are susceptible of a far different con-
struction than he intended having placed
upon them and of saying and writing things
without exercising proper care
If DR.. Hitchcock president OF Union sem
mary. had uttered the words that have caused
such an onslaught on DR.. Briggs they would
never have caused ripple:
"If the General Assembly condemns DT.
Briggs il is simply going TO drive some oi our
BRIGHTEST and best minds out OF the Presbyte-
rian Church, for as | said IN my sermon last
Sunday, the question that IS on the lips OF
thousands of young men who are on the
Threshold of the ministry, IS: Can | enter
tain my intellectual self-cOntrOlH Mr.. own
idea is there is plenty of room for celebration
within the limits OF Presbyterian principles.
The genreal belief is that Dr. Briggs critics
have fired at him from long range. and IN
many instances without UNDERSTANDING the
facts in the matter at all. One distinguished
minister wrote three-column article altacA-
inc DIR. Briggs. and afterwards admitted that
he had not read Briggs inaugural or even
seen it.. There is this thing about II all: Ihey
NAV crush Briggs, but they cannot crush the
spirit he represents"
OUTLOOK FOR DIR. BRIGGS
AT noon to-day the condemnation OF fro-
fessor Briggs was regardedas q certainty. Ihe
eloouence of Dr. Arthur Mitchell IN appealing
for foreign missions diverted the commission
ers' attention for the moment. But as the
moment for submitting the report approaches
the excitement is everywhere rising. Dr;
Paxton: Of Princeton. arrived yesterday, ana
his guidance in the Briggs matter Is being
eagerly sought.
SAWS THE SEMINARY.
Regarding Chairman Patton's report on DR..
Bripes' case. Colonel j. b. McCOok of Dr.
Iohn Halls church of New York, said: This
report If adopted. vindcates the truth and
saves the Union Seminary TO the Presbyterian
Church. Dr. Patton said he had but little 70
add 10 the report. Regarding the future of
Briggs in case the assembly adopted the re-
port he did not care 70 talk.
Dr. Nicolls OF St. Louis said that the report
was defective, as it did not state why Dr.
Briggs was disapprOyed
Dr. Baker of Philadelphia said Il am per-
fectly satisfied"
Rev. q. T.. Dunn of Albany expressed his
disnleasure in one word when asked If he
would vote for the report. Never" was his
reply. -,
asked where this leaves DIR. Briggs-in the
faculty or outy
DIR. Wylie Of the Scotch Church Of New
York. said: The sentiment in the assembly
from the beginning has been very strong. and
the action OF the committee has been antlci-
pated from the beginning"