The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-11-06
The Evasion Of tho New York Presby-
terry.

The dismissal OF the case against DR..
BRIGGS by large majority OF the ministers
and elders of the New York Presbytery
indicates that the body Is afraid to go into
discussion Of the questions involved. It
Is an attempt to avoid q dangerous con-
troversy and ON effort to escape the neces-
sity OF expressing an opinion as to the
specific teachings Of the accused hereto.
The Presbytery dismissed the case by the
great majority Of "a to 80. because 1t desires
1.-THE peace and quiet Of the Church" and
"in view OF the declarations OF DR.. BRIGGS
touching his loyalty to the Church and the
Westminster standards" and Ibis dis
Chalmers OF interpretations put on some Of
his words" That is. it refused to defend
the Protestant position from fear Of
the trouble and danger involved in
tho contest. and It proclaimed the novel
principle that the law Is to be inter-
pretcd and applied by the individual &C
cused and not by the authority which
makes the law. Whether mans teachings
are consistent with the doctrinal standards
Of his Church is to he decided by himself
and not by the Church. He Is to be his own
Judge and jury and the sole authority COM
petent to decide his own case. That may
be very comfortable principle for the &C.
cused and q convenient way Of getting rid
Of the vexation Of trying him. but where
does it leave the Church? When brought
TO the ecclesiastical bar the man has only
to plead not guilty to be pronounced guilt
less without trial.
The New York Presbytery has announced
practically that the fallibility or the infalli-
bility Of the Bible is debatable question as
to which a Presbyterian theologian may
think as he pleases. The General Assembly
at Detroit last spring was OF Q different
mind. It was not afraid OF disturbing the
peace and quiet Of the Church by standing
by its standards. It would not accept DIR.
BRIGGs's plea Of not guilty as q settlement Of
his case. but inferentially brought him in
guilty by refusing to confirm his appoint
ment as professor in the Union Theolog-
ical Seminary. Thus the supreme author
him for the offence which the subordinate
authority now refuses to consider. The
whole Church. as represented ut Detroit.
came to the defence OF the Protestant posi-
ton, but the New York Presbytery lodges
the responsibility.
This Is q very remarkable contradiction.
and it implies. Of course. that the case Of
DR.. BRIGGS will not be showed aside by tho
evasion OF the New York Presbytery. 1t
will remain to vex the councils Of Presby-
terlanism until 1t is settled on Its merits.
Already the committee OF prosecution in the
Presbytery has given notice Of an appeal to
the Synod. and instead Of having been
quoted. the controversy will grow more
violent. Great principles cannot be evaded.
The trial Of DR.. BRIGGS by the Westmin-
ster standards. and coincldcntly the trial of
the truth Of his position by the test OF
reason aud scholarship. must go on the
same. and can end only when tho whole case
has been submitted TO the jury OF the
Church and the public and a positive verdict
las been rendered. The objections OF DIR.
BRIGGS are Of the nature OF demurrer
only, and the case must he tried on its
mcrita.