The Helena independent., 1891-05-03
A NOTABLE ASSEMBLY.

country are now choosing their repre-
eentatlves to the general assembly of
the church, which meets in Detroit in
few days. This body will, like the gem
eral assembly of 1890, be compelled to
take cognizance of the fact that there is
spirit OF change working within the
church. Last year the issue was upon
the proposition to revise the Westmin-
ster creed. and the old Calvinistic school
suffered defeat at the hands of the
newer element, when the decision was
reached to appoint commission OF re
vision. just how far the old landmarks
of Presbyterianism will be observed and
how far dlsregarded by the commission
ers it is impossible to conjecture. The
report will not be made for Il year or
two, and when it is made the real strug-
gle will but have begun. Meanwhile, a
preliminary skirmish is about to take
place, the point at stake being the re-
Gently created chair Of biblical theology
in the Union seminary, OF New York,
next to Princeton the leading Presbyte-
rian theological school in the country, to
which Rev. DR. Charles A. Briggs was
chosen. Upon his installation in Janu-
ary last DR. Briggs delivered an address
that contained many propositions at va
rance with the generally accepted prin-
ciples OF the Presbyterian church, and
which, coming from the head of one of
the leading training schools for preach
ers OF the denomination, created no lit
tie surprise. The three fountains of di-
vine authority, said DIR, Briggs, arc the
bible, the church and reason; and to be
effective all three must be in harmony
Superstitious reverence OF the bible, be-
lief in its literal inspiration, acceptance
of the recorded miracles as historical
facts, acceptance of its authenticity in
spite of failure of fultillment Of its
minute predictions these, DR., Briggs
held, were in active conflict with human
reason and SO obstructive of the progress
OF the church. Not until the bible
should be subject to criticism based upon
scleace, history ar,sa>rsesen-c could the life
of God permeate and vivify the church
The general assembly has yet to con
firm the appointment Of DIR. Briggs tC
the chair OF biblical theology, or 1T may
decide to override the appointment
According to the rules y governing the
seminary, which were adopted by the
general assembly in 1870, every mem
Der Of the faculty is required
-, -, b,.r;l,a t,;co,;,llu or ,,.l,a,arn-
requested by the board so to do to the
declaration that II believe the scriptures
of the old and new testament to be The
word of God, the only infallible rule o
faith and practice; and | do now, in th'
presence of God and the directors o
this seminary, solemnly receive anl
ADOPT the Westminster confession o
faith as containing the system of doc
trine taught in the holy scripture" etc
and it has, excited some comment tha
DR. Briggs, right upon the heels OF th
declaration, should have expressed him
self as he did in the address alluded t.
above.
Several state assemblies have memori
selection, while in others, as in the New
York assembly, the followers of "th
new criticism" have shown themselve
sufficiently powerful to defeat action
Enough have taken ground against th
doctor to insure his practical arraign
ment by the general assembly upon tn
accusation of heresy. The case s il
many respects parallel to the Andove
case, which has disturbed the Congre
gational church for several years, and il
which Professors Smythe and Park wer
the defendants. DR.. Briggs, however, i
more prominent figure in the Presby
terian church than either of the gentle
men named had been in the Congre ga
tional church, and has, indeed, been re-
garded for many years as one of tn
foremost men in the denomination. II
was one of the four Americans who re
ceived the degree of ID. D., al the tercen
tenary celebration OF the University o
Edinburgh, in 1884.
Should he be disciplined by the gen
eral assembly the consequences are sur
to be far-reaching and the event wi
mark a turning point IN the history
this great denomination.
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The Charleston, S. c., News and Cou
Ter is out against the election of a soutl
ern man for speaker of the house OF re
.f,{