St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-30
BEGINNING OF THE END.
Routine of the Debate on Briggs
Doctrinal Weakness.

OOctflnaI w eaKneSS.
DETROIT, May 29.-Dr. Hathaway,
Jersey City, SAID he knew the assembly
did not want long speeches, and he
would make none. He hoped that DR..
Logan's amendment would be adopted.
This is the very least the major
ity should concede to the minority.
Samuel Bowden, of Genessee presbv-
terry, New York, followed in the same
line with the closing words of Judge
Breckinridge. At the close of DR..
Bowden's remarks Gen. Alger's tele-
gram announcing the safe arrival of
Judge Breckinridge's remains in st.
Louis was read. John j. McCook, of
the prosecuting legal advisers of
the committee of the New York presby-
terry, spoke of the relations between the
assembly and the Seminaries, and ar
gued that now was the time to take ac-
tlou on the Briggs case, if any was to
be taken. DR.. Logan said if we veto
the appointment made by the board of
in effect, impeach the Judgment
of the assembly that assented to their
election? [Cries of "No! nor'] DR..
Logan thought that, if DR.. Briggs
should prove unfit, the directors of the
seminary would exercise their rights
and remove him. Also that to go slow
now will save much pickering and
misunderstanding hereafter. Elder
James S. Ramsey, of New York,
favored DR.. Logan'S amendment.
DIR. Worcester, of Chicago, offered a
substitute to the amendment of DR..
Logan, and to the entire report of the
committees; that committee of eight
ministers and seven elders be appointed
tn 0nn fer with tho diraafOrc of tho caro
mary; that the directors be es-
pecialy requested to reconsider
this action in transferring DR..
Briggs; and that they be requested
that DR.. Briggs should not be allowed
to perform the duties belonging to said
chair for the ensuing year; DR.. Wor-
ceSter said: Il stand not as supporter
of Dr.. Briggs, but as all advocate of
peace. DIR. Patton's report says this is
the least we can do. l say, what more
can we do? We cannot put him in Jail,
or even turn him out of the church for
heresy. What DIR. Patton suggests is
straining the power of the assembly
to the utmost. it SCENE to me.
DR.. McKibben said: 81 want to call
your attention to another side of this
matter. If we do not approve of DR..
Briggs and wait until this. investigation
has been gone through, and then if the
Unicn Theological seminary is satisfied
and the church is satisfied that. after
the experience through which he
has passed, he will be not only
a sound but safe teacher, and allow
them to re-elect him, they lose nothing
by this disapproyal on our part, as far
as the law is concerned. They have got
all the power. And yet we are asked to
surrender the mere pittance of power
which we do possess, to say that
we diSapprove a teacher who is not
able to make himself understood.
DR.. Worcester said we did not give any
reasons. How he has mlsconceived this
theological seminary committed How
utterly he has Inexperienced the
sense of love which pervaded our
silence! Why didn't we put our reasons
direct? We did give you reasons.
Brethren, this is a scheme to de-
feat disapproval ou any ground. II
ask you TO bear in MUD that with the
exception Of a few expressions which
have fallen, l believe inadvertently.
from the lips of those who are supposed
to be DR.. Briggs enemies. | think they
are his best friends. That every per-
sonal discussion of DR.. Briggs has been
introduced by his friends. l have found
my heart warming out to DR.. Briggs,
and Saying, save DR.. Briggs from
his friendsl Why, that paper of DIR.
Worcester gives his.whole Case away;
(Cries of Question; question:. After
Some confusion DR.. Carlisle got the
floor and maintained that the question