The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1891-06-03

OF his doctrlnel soundness, but that OF the APP
proval OF his election by the assembly. We
have examined the constitutional requirements
| "a TO the duty and power Of the assembly in
asserting TO or forbidding such appointment or
transfer.
DR.. 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 COM
mittee 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, IL at all. We admit that iu
one view the trustees may have ground for
their denial OF the right of the assembly to veto
the transfer OF professor from Que chair to
another. Besides. the assembly is one party to
compact with the Union theological SEM
mary and must be cautious in act
ing on 1t. The trustees of the SEM
mary consider that the original appointment
gives status and that this assembly has right
20 forbid; but transfer simply assigns duty 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
relations always existing between IL and
the trustee OF this seminary, it
would be proper to appoint q committee of
conference with them to report to the next
sembly. In accordance with these views the
approve of the appointment of DR.. Charles
Briggs to the Edward Robinson chair of bibi-
cal theology OF the Union theological seminary,
and that a committee of conference with the
trustees of that institution be appointed by
This assembly to report to the next
DR.. Patton quoted the following:
Summary acts and resolutions of the general
assembly and Of the boards of Union and other
theological seminsries connected with the APP
pointment OF professors:
The directors of Union theological seminary,
in the city Of New York, presented the follow
ing memorial to the general assembly on May
Is, 1870:
Resolved That the board Of director. OF the Union
theological seminary in the city OF New York being
AL OF them of the presby teriSn
to the following effect viz; That the general as
sembly may be pleased 70 adopt 1t as a rule and
troll over the several theological semiu aries that SO
far as the election of professors is concerned the
semby will commit the same TO the respective
boards of directors on the following terms and con-
ditions;
1. That the board Of directors OF cash theological
seminary shall be authorized to appoint all professors
for the
2. That all such appointments shall be reported TO
the general assembly as such appointment of pro-
eisapproved by majority vote oil the asssmblyi and
be 1t further
Resolved That the board Of directors of the Union
theological semia Sry in the city Of New York, per-
suaded that the plan proposed in the memorial will
meet the cordial approval of the Patrons donors and
friends of oil the seminaries and contribute the
peace and prosperity of the church. do hereby agree
II the said plan shall be adopted by the general
sembly, that they will conform TO the same, the
Union seminary in New York being in this respect
on the same ground with other theological semina-
ries of the presbyterian church.
The time within which the presbyterian as
sembly may express its disapprovel or exercise
its right of veto in she election Of professor
was determined By the assembly OF 1871 as
follows:
That the assembly declare that the true act rub
ecting the election Of professor to the vet OF the
general assembly thereafter and if not vetoed
By that assembly the election shall be regarded as
complete, according to the plan ratified By the
DETROIT, May 2S.-The devotional exer-
cises at this mornings session, in which
there was a marked earnestuess in seek
ing Divine aid in the emergency thrust
upon the assembly by the Briggs case,
were closed by singing BLESSED Be the
Tie that Binds"
The debate on Dr. Briggs was resumed
and Judge S. j. Breckenridge of st. Louis,
member of the committee on theological
Summaries and one of the most eminent
lawyers in thu South, stated the legal
points in the case. Years ago, he said,
Union seminary was independent, but in
1871 became presbyterian, and OF course
the assembly controlled the appointments.
IF we don't veto now" said he, I'VE never
can. DIR. Logan's amendment for defer
ring action is impracticable. Weview the
transfer from one chair to another the
same as an appointment. We can do
nothing except disapprove. / think it is
wise not to assign reasons. Ajudge some
times cannot give all the reasons for his
decisions on the bench. But without as
signing other reasons it does seem 10 me
that the mind o. the church for some
months has been anxious and that We
should relieve il"
His last words were: "Now, gentlemen,
feel that have discharged my duty and
wish to be excused from further speak
ing"
Reaching for glass of water, he threw
up his hands and fell, striking the back OF
his head heavily on the floor. After the
judge had been carried to an ante-room
the debate was arrested and when, few
moments afterward, physicians in the
audience who hurried TO his aid, pro-
nounced him dead, the assembly voted to
do no further business, and instead of the
banquet in the rink this evening to hold
prayer-meeting in Fort-st. church.
A committee consisting OF President
Patton. the Rev. DR.. Hays, G. A. Dickey
and H. P. Smith, aud Elders J. J. Nc
Cook and Z. w. G. Humphrey, to which
the Rev. DR.. Vermilte, delegate from the
reformed church, was added, was APP
pointed to make suitable arrangements in
view of the occurrence. President Patton
asked to be excused because Of fatigue.
While this committee was absent, the as
sembly engaged in devotional exercises.
Dr. Vermilte said the Judge had, just be-
fore leaving his seat, been talking with
him in a familiar way of his wife and
family, and invited him to lunch with him