The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1891-06-04
THE PROFESSOR BEFORE THE
THERN PRESBYTERIAN
ASSEMBLY,
CHARGED WITH BEING A HERETO
Judge Breckenridge, While Speaking
Against DR.. Briggs, Falls Dead
in the Midst of the
Assembly.


yotional exercises. morning. session, in
which there was marked earnestuess
in seeking Divine aid in the emergency
thrust upon the assembly by the
Briggs case, the exercises were closed
by singing BLESSED be the tie that
binds" The minutes were read and
approved.
DIR. Patton said he would not speak
long He said:
You are no doubt ready to credit
our committee with desire to do sim
plv what is best. Recognizing our liza
bility to error, we have had only
desire to do what is demanded
by the exigencies of the case;
in a spirit of kindness and
recognizing the rights of all parties
concerned. Our report is unanimous
although preparations were made Tor
different action, but after discussion
we could see no course but that which
we took The past, present and future
were fully weighed. If the discussion
brings new liz ht we will welcome 1t.
We are ready 10 give a reason Tor
every decision we have made. We
hope there will be no long debate,
though we are prepared for it. We
hope it will be conducted in the same
spirit that has actuated the committee:
Prof. Smith of the Lane Theological
seminary said the proposition TO ter
inmate the usefulness of a minis er
should be discussed carefully. What
ever the committee may say-no
doubt conscientiously-it will be in
ferred DIR. Briggs is guilty of some
offense. We shall thus cast reproach
on his good name, and a great school
already stricken cries out that its
powers for good will be crippled for
at least the immediate future. This
is a reason for caution. | know my
sideis unpopular. Therefore, hear me
candidly and patiently, and will try
to show that the committee nave
erred.
Flrst.-It is doubtful whether such
an assembly is able to judge OF other
than doctrinal qualifications.
Second,-Dr. Briggs is not new
man. for he was elected seventeen
years ago. Many OF his colleagues and
Students say he is man of ability,
an able teacher, spiritual
and pious man. This assembly, to
whom he is a stranger, ought not to
be in haste. The bresoyterles ougnt
to act on our wisdom in the premises.
May not this be to continue him? Inc
arguments against him are two.
l. He is misunderstood.
2. That he is not sound in doctrine.
1t is said in quarrels that both sides
are wrong. Why not in a Inisunder-
standing? DR.. Briggs published four
books of acknowledged weight. Why
ry him by sylabus2 The second
charge that he is unsound may be
based upon misunderstanding
Some say he endorses the spiritual
theories of Martineau. In foot note
in Hodges Theology similar testi.
mony is borne to the spiritual status
of Schleiermacher, a noted nationalist,
and the expectation OF meeting him III
heaven.
But fault is found with his idea that
the knowledge of God could and has
been reached by mans reason.
Schleiermacher did so, Hodge thinks.
If DR.. Briggs can historically justify
his positions he has a right to hold
them. l do not know what he could
do in that line. My last point is this
A man must be proved unsound after
careful trial if need be in all the
church courts. But in cases like this
a man if charged with I'M
soundness is considered unsound
from the first. l don't see that his
ideas ON the errancy of the Bible, the
redemption uf the race and the pro-
gressive of sanctification after death
are not according to the standards.
The Westminster confession has many
points that are often misunderstood.
The doctrine of the Presbyterian
church is that every minute thirty
human beings drop into the unspeak-
able and amending torrents of hell.
Think of this awful belief! You can
net do it and keep out of the lunatic
asylum. l think most of us have a Sc
cret hope that in some way God
will find way out of this.
If DR.. Briggs can find this in the bible
let us be glad. On strict construc-
ton of the confession OF faith OF course
he is wrong, but will you who mean to
make such a radical change of our
confession as to say that all infants are
saved, not leave little margin for DR..
Briggs2 Prejudice is easily raised but
not allayed. The theological stomach
is delicate, easily made squeamish.
DR.. Logan of Scranton, Pa, sug-
gested modification of the action
proposed by the committee. They
say they have given their best judg-
ment. That is the least the assembly
can do in the premises. l agree with
these two amendments. Insert for
1.-THE present assembly disapproves of
the present appointment" etc. (This
he moved and it was seconde0 THAT
a committee of eight ministers and
seven ruling elders be appointed to
confer with DR.. Briggs and the direct
ors of the seminary"
DIR. Patton thought but one amend
ment could be proposed at time.
DR.. Logan said the second was only
given as a notice.
DIR. Dockery said: Spare the fig
tree, let it alone this year. We will
dig around it and if it bears fruit, well;
if not / will help you to cut it down.
DR.. Evans charmed the ear and sad
dened the hearts Of his hearers for two
hours by his defense Of DIR. Briggs.
The eighty presbyteries that have
l. ID