New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-05-13
VOTE IN DETAIL.


FOR HIS FRIEND-THE
VOTE IN DETAIL.
The Presbytery of New.York has given official
utterance TO its opinion of the views advanced by
the Rev. DIR. Charles 4. Briggs of Union Theologi-
cal Seminary. At meeting in the Scotch Church
yesterday, by vote of So to 35 the members re-
fused to adopt the recommendation Of the minority
of the committee that no judicial proceedings
should be entered upon; by vote Of "A to 80
they adopted the recommendation OF the majority
of the committee that the Presbytery enter at
once upon the judicial investigation of the case,
and thirty-seven members voted for the following
resolution, while only sixteen negative votes were
cast: n
Resolved, That a Committee be appointed TO arrange
and prepare the necessary proceedings appropriate IN
the case OF DR.. Briggs.
The Presbytery met at 10 a. m. and proceeded
with little delay to the business in hand The
house was filled again, many clergymen from
other cities being present Three or four had
come from Philadelphia, including DR.. X NJ rat
terson Editor of The Presbyterian Journal;
Dr. Vance and Dr. Graham. One or two OF this
trio belong to the Presbytery of Chester, over
whose action the debate of Monday took place.
Dr. John r. Paxton desired to have the visltors
invited to sit as corresponding members, Dut as
this courtesy would have given each man the
privilege of speaking, Dr. Briggs asked II they
could not be invited to sit with the Dody WIN
the understanding that they were not to exercise
that right. 1t was found that this was not pos
sible and the brethren were not invited al all
THE TWO REPORTS READ.
Tho six napes of printed matter comprising tne
renort of the majority of the Investigating Com
mittee was read by Dr.. G. W. +. Birch, the chair
man Of the committee. He read the report de-
Iberately. with great distnctness, emphasizing
bera and there q sentence word from the au-
dress in question or the Confession OF falth Inc
substance of the report has been aiready pun
psbed The report closed with this seemingly
inoffensive paragraph;
The committee therefore recommends tae Ce .,
bytery enter at once upon the Iuulc'ai INV
the case. r
DIR. Birch. DR.. j. ]. Lampe and Professor D. ''
Stevenson signed the report, and the Kew Jesse
F. Forbes appended this line:
sign This report with the exception OF the "oru
"iudicaIn in the recommendation as ABOVE
DIR. ]. II. Mcllvaine prefaced the reading OF
the four printed pages of the minority iep'i'
with this statement Aha oor,,o,ttee an apology
for calling this minority report o AZ Of 's rs 'e Would be
printed it supposed tat Two w. V on ~ in the first
SSrt of It some points Of difference AS M We nrt1 ar1
just heard however one other sUep s VarS d judicial" in
V Therefore there is really no minority ana
majority report so far a !i judicial estgaon
and three recommend no judicial g 10 mt it.
fSres as so reeommend judicial Investigation and three
recommend any amoInt of friendly investigation
The minority report goes OUTSIDE Oh ohe liz
augural address to see by Dr. Bflggss o'n''i
writings what lie meant by some of the statements
in tho address to which exceptions have been taken.
The report closed with this recommendation:
NOT sufficient. to establish char6es v!
chow that he Is at variance with certain Phrases aliu
Po9de9 With the the sgse@ o @ which
fans Believing that this is not the case tat Garses s
,d And That such trial for heresy would DC
cause OF mmeasurabe disturbance and injury 70 tns
CS1;ych Your committee in the minority reeommeno
that no judicial proceedings be entered upon
Mp EDWARDS MAKES A STATEMENT.
Walter Edwards, the sixth member of the COM
rittee WAS unable to sign either report or TO-
nresent new one, and be asked permission 10
make a statement of his position lie SAID
Mr. Moderator l owe an apoloey-or would II 10
,oSn ' nv fanltNfor placing before this gathering
report containing any remarks In ADDITION can , o,iS
cannot help R IT. tbdr asn SANDING e bere as making
third report or l am standing here 10 speak 70
qaeslo9 of privilege SessS as un@e % e sn either
report or to make one for myself. taAe ~ uas @
nna aAj sves le me @ the right to define y position have
votd with the majority in regard TO tne hst so!gos
ayqE said Sy in hoH III: tF EFsf declining to come
our Committee, and it is the position have taken
irDi nnrned that we had nothing before under this
resolution except this inaueural address that We
comd not go either 10 Dr. Briggs for explanation nor
70 his other writings TO be taken in consideration with
them. Upon that l voted win the na!Qrl.S, anu anu
st express the opinion % a as can cxeen S0e that nat he
three sources of divine authGrty-tne cauien; taa @
aca cas anu n rerd ge 10 tbe other wo sources am Will
ing to tho reasoning Of The minority report.
not because sympahize with the doctrine " errancy,
lut |
put IL is contrary TO the Confession Of Faith am
Willing to unite with the minority report to tho
doctrine of progressive sanctlncaon not because IL ts
clear to me- but because 1t may lneiude ti"0 WHICH,
Now may make an explanation for myself Per.
hps should complete df G my 6 & repo not HF' for tho
reason given In the minority report but for reasons
that are opposed by every member OF the COMMITTEES,
different conclusion 1t IS because this matter Is now
before the General Assembly because the promlneht
regard to the position occupied by Dr. Briggs In the
Union Theological seminary and not t. n h reS1 70
as / told, for hfeon years. Now thnk tnJ
until the uttcragce Of that body which & Sa y mas asHn ANY
II s have Oa wG a %ns f Sg S@g % %y na And for that e
only | recommend action.
Now one word Of personal expanatLon and ! VII VII
The last meeting OF the committee one week ogo yes
erday Afternoon. 1t was understood that IhortS rs 70
port should 4f Rpqa %a sc1t oRd to my h
read it over and over again. H., trylnE Sio+ ,dS 70
very fs,y lines in substance embodyng what have
said on this floor aud asked that 1t be added to tnae
ng This minority report on Tuesday morning,
showed him what ! had written. He said 10
= ~ put n in that Mr. Biwards. OF the members
Of this minority committee and unslng in this re-
mort exnraSses IL as his opinion" There was no
ppronise | am calling no one TO account / am COM
piaining Of no one but was left with the understand
tis In INV mind that what asked to have put In
ls was ~ put in ana should sign IL. received that re-
nort ~ o O'Clock on Sunday night II was not the
p"le ptrt ,s orienaly presented 10 The pbraSeol
ogy was altered and contrary 70 that which at nrst
suSa Sa rclock sunday night to yesterday morning
was absolutely absorbed. had no option but to
come here and say what have done.
DR.. McIlvane explained Mr.. Edwardss state
ment in these words;