The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1891-04-13
GOOD PRRSBYrgRIANs AMAZED

n GOOD PREsBYrERnNs AMAZED
At the BSok.Aetlon switch Of Professor
Who SwSars He Believes the Scriptures
and In AImo,t the same Breath De
nouncss Them.
NEW YORK, April 12.-Rsv. Charles A
Briggs, D. D., Professor OF Biblica
Theology Of the Union Theological Sem
mary, will in all probability be tried fol
heresy. Charges ofthis character are tc
be preferred against him at once, and
1.-THE General Assembly Of the Presby,
terian church, which meets in aunu6l
sessions next month in Detroit, will be
asked to act upon them. DR.. Briggs Is
amenable to the General Assembly only,
but as the seminary is situated in this
city the New York Presbytery Is moral.
ly responsible for uusound teachings
within Its domain. The Presbytery will
therefore take the preliminary action in
the matter at q meeting Monday after.
noon in the Scotch church, Fourteenth
street, this city.
DR.. Briggs was installed in his proles.
sorship on January 20, 1891, taking the
following oath solemnly, in the presence
Of the Directors and students Of the SEM
mary:
~ believe the Scriptures Of the Old
and New Testament TO be the word OF
God, the only infallible rule OF faith and
practice; and | do now, in the presence
OF God and the Directors Of the semi.
nary, solemuly and sincerely recsive and
adopt the Westminster Confession OF
Faith 'as containing the system OF doc.
trine taught in the Holy Scriptures. l
do also in:like manner approve OF the
Presbyterian form OF government, and
do solemnly promise that / will not
teach or inculcate anything which shall
appear to me to be subversive ofthe said
system Of doctrine or Of the principles OF
said form OF government, 30 long as !
shall continue to be q professor in the
seminary"
With this emphatic assurance OF his
orthodoxy still ringing through the
ball, DR.. Briggs began his address in
which he brushed aside the Westmin.
ster Confession OF Faith, and declared
the Bible to be fable and Of minor
importance TO the reason as rule OF
faith. Here is summary Of his ad.'
dress:
"Three great fountains OF divine au.
thority-frst, the Bible; second, the
Church; third, the reason, and these
three must be in harmony. To make |
them harmoniza the distractions erec.
ted by misguided men must be removed.
No one is so obstructed as the Bible. Its |
obstructioDs are superstitiSus reverence
OF the book-beliet in the inspiration OF
each word-mistake as to its authen-
ITCHY, belief in it's inerrancy, acceptance
OF It's miracles as historical truths, the
failure in fulfillment OF Its minute pre-.
dictions. Not until the human race re-
moves these obstacles can the Bible and
the Church exert their full power. Re-
move every incumbrance out of the way
for a new life; the life Of God iS moving
throughout Christendom. The spring |
time ofa new age is about TO come"
Good Presbyterians were amazed at
the Inconsistency between the avowal
and the address. The New York Pres.
bytery was expected to act at once in
the matter, but nearly ninety days
passed in silence. The denominational
papers
BITTERLY AssAILRD THE PROFESSOR,
The Presbyteries outside OF New York
City waited patiently for the New York
body to take action, but as the time OF
the meeting OF the General Assembly
expressions decidedly an.
tagonistic to the professor were heard
from many Of the Presbyteries. One Of
the Preshyteries in the South demanded
an investigation OF the doctrinal
teachings and belief Of DR.. Briggs;
another in Missouri asks the Assembly
TO say whether or not the Union is a
safe training school for young men, and
Philadelphia demands the dismissal OF
DR.. Briggs. These represent the atti.
tude taken by the Presbyteries in nearly
every State in the Union. With these
memorials before 1t the Assembly must
act, and action over the heads of the
New Workers would ba chagriniug to
the Eastern Presbytery.
The students are very mnch con-
cerned at an intimation that no places
will be open to the graduates oil this
years class and Of future classes go long
as DR.. Briggs remains at the seminary.
The orthodox elders OF the church are
not hesltating in denouucing all forms
OF heresy, and they are not to be ex.
pected to employ preachers whose faith
In the Westminster Confession and the
Bible has been assailed. The directors
OF the seminary, too, have been ad-
vised that the next years crop OF stu.
dents is likely to be short unless some
curb is placed upon the faculty.
Nearly all the theological students are
benefciaries Of the several PreBbyteries,
and their choice OF a seminary is subject
to the approval Of the Presbytery. The
enthusiasm OF Directors aud students
which first greeted Or, Briggs a. the be.
ginning Of his professionally has disap.
peared, and the seminary is now ready
to second any action looking TO the dis.
cinlinin0 NJ fhe prnfaaanr.