The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-05-14
TRUTH AND ERROR
Dr.. McIlvaine Don't Believe One
Tenth of Those
Who Object to DR.. Briggs Address Have Read
livery New Truth Has Been Opposed
and Condemned.

Especial toTHE HERALD-Examfner Dispatch
New YORK, May 13.-Rev Charles A.
Briggs, d. D., the accused Presbyterian
controyersialist now under examination for
teaching heresy on the occasion of his in
auguration to the Edward Robinson profess
sorship of Biblical theology of Union semi
nary, was finally defeated yesterday in the
New York Presbytery by vote of 55 to 35,
sixty voting members being absent, in the
old Scotch church, Fourteenth street. in
pursuance of an adjournment taken after
the stormy session of Monday, when the
moderator said motion to adopt the major
lty report would be made. Dr. Lambke fol-
lowed with written statement in support
OF his committees report. He saw much
to admire in DR.. Briggs personally, but not
IL his views, and he would express his
opinion fearlessly. The committee had
carefully compared the views expressed by
DIR: Briggs with the Westminster stand
ard. They radically conflicted "Amone
other things" DR.. Lambke said, 1.-The
Presbyterian church requires something
more OF its preachers than their private
view OF the Scriptures. We find the in
augural address hopelessly out of harmony
with the confession. The spirit that pre-
vades it is anti-confessional. Its author is
not only advancing his private views. but
he proposed to be the leader In a move
ment to blow the Presbyterian standards
to atoms. DR.. Briggs finds in the Bible
fictons and legends with which the fancy
has free play. Under his teachings the
Scriptures become untrustworthy.'
Dr. McIlvalne moved to substitute the
minority for the majority report. He
warmly defended DR.. Briggs. Here are
some of his sentences: 1.-The confession
recognizes middle state, and DR.. Briggs
has devoted great study to this snbiect.
We should not presume to answer it off hand
or to Judge it in the heat of excitement. It
should be left to scholars his equals, who
have gone into it as deeply as himself.
Perhaps this man has brought in great
truth. We want time to let him develop.
Let US keep cool, calm and collected in the
midst OF the cry of heresy, heresy, heresy.
1t matters not that a lot of Presbyterians
have passed upon this question | do not
believe one-tenth of them have read the
address. Every new truth that has faced
the church has been opposed and CON
demned. What of Barnes and Bushnell.
and Erskinea Were they not nailed to the
cross, My little daughter said to me to-
day: Papa, if Mr.. Briggs had lived at the
time of the inquisition would they have
burned him!'"
The motion was lost, the vote standing
ID III favor OF une minority report eXOner-
ating DR.. Briggs to 55 against it.
Rev. DR.. Birch moved the adoption of
the majority report which was done by a
rising vote OF A to 80.
DR.. Briggs entered formal protest
against the action taken, which the mod
orator thought acted as an appeal to the
general assembly and stopped all further
proceedings. DR.. Birch didn't think so.
and said If the moderator so ruled he would
himself prefer formal charges against DR..
Briggs to bring the case within the Pres
bytery's jurisdiction.
Moderator Shearer withdrew his ruling
and he was empowered to appoint COM
mittee to conduct judicial investigation,
as provided for in the majority report. The
Presbytery then adjourned to meet June
II. In the meantime Moderator Shearer
will appoint the trial committee The
committee will fix the time and place for
the trial.