Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-28
DIR. BRIGGS CASE.
1t Comes Up in the Presbyteri.
an Assembly.
PATTONs REPORT ON THE MATTER,

The Question Before the Assembly
stated, as Viewed by the Learned Di-
yines-The Proposition That the Fight
VIII bo Made Over Accepted and the
Report Ordered Printed-Parkhurst
Expresses Himself on Revision. Big
money in Churches and Parsonaces.
DETROIT, May 2S-The case of DR..
Briggs, protessoro OF biblical theology in the
Union Theological seminary, New York,
who is charged with heresy in not believ.
ing certa,n parts of the Bi bic, came up for
mally forthe first time in the Presbyterian
general assembly yesterday. DR.. Patton
obtained leave to read so much Of the re-
port on theological seminaries as bears
on the ease of DR.. Briggs, in order that it
may be printed and distributed to the as
sembly when it comes up for action.
Slxty-three preshyteries whose names he
read, have Overturned the assembly as to
the utterances OF Dr.. Briggs. Some ask
specific action, but the majority leave to
the assembly what it shall be.
Question Before the Conference.
The committee replies to so much of the
report of the Union Theological seminary
b bears on DR.. Briggs appointment or
transfer to the chair of biblical theology.
as follows: Our duty is delicate one
especially as the presbytery of New York
Is trying him onthe charge of heresv, asswe
must not PREJUDICE a case which at some
time must come before us on appeal The
question before Us Is not that OF his doc
trinal sounduess but that of the approval
OF his election by the assembly. We have
examined the constitutional requirements
as to the duty and power of the assembly
IN asserting to or forbidding such ap-
pointment or transfer"
Must lie settled Now if at All.
DR.. Patton quoted from the records. as
well as from appointments of professors
that have convinced the committee that
the assembly has power to forbid the
transfer I'VE should have been willing
TO recommend the reference of the subject
10 committee TO report to the next as
sembly, but the control of the assembly
over the matter ceases with the present
session. We must act now II at all. We
admit that IN one view the trustees NAV
have ground for their denial of the ricut
OF the assembly TO veto the transfer of a
professor from one chair to another.
Besides, the assembly i one party 20 a
compact with the Union Theological sem
mary ana must oe cautious in acting
on II.
Views of the Trustees.
The trustees OF the seminary consider
that the original appointment gives status.
and that this assembly has a right to for
bid; but transfer simply assigns duty and
with that the assembly has no right 70 in.
tertere. Now while we think the assem-
bly, has control Of both, yet. in view of the
cordial relations always existing between
1t aud the trustees of this seminary il
would be proper TO appoint committee
OF conference with them 10 report to the
next assembly.
Disapproval Recommended
Ia accordance with these views the
committee recommend that the assem-
bly, disapprove of the appointment of DR..
Charles Briggs to the Edward Robinson
chair Of biblical theology of Union Theo-
logical seminary, and that COMMITTEE.
OF conference with the trustees of that
institution be appointed BY the assembly
10 report to the next assembly The re.
port was accepted on motion of DR.. Proud
Mt, OF Baltimore, and the clerk ordered to
have the report printed.