Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1892-12-08
SEARCH THE soRIprUREs.

DIR. Birch II Resumes the Argument fol
the Prosecution in the Briggs Trial
The Perfect Bible Reveals the Per.
feet Christ.
NEW YORK, Dec. 1.-THE trial Of Pro.
lessor Briggs was resumed to-day. DR..
Birch continued his argument for the
prosecution. He FIRST took up the charge
that Professor Briggs has taught that
Moses was not the author of the Pentateuch.
DR.. Briggs biblical study, said Dr.. Birch,
had not ghost of an excuse for such pub
LEGATION. He maintains that one must
study the bible in the original, but if the
authorized version isn't sufficient what are
unlearned people to believe. The theory
of inspiration as taught by the defendant
is denial of inspiration. 1t takes per-
feet bible to reveal a perfect Christ.
DIR. Birch took up the charge that Dr..
Briggs has taught that Isaiah is not the
author of one-half the book that bears his
name. The variation of the style in Isa-
iah, he said, does not prove that 1t could
not have been written by one man. Much
greater variety exists in the writing of
Hawthorne, Walter Scott and DR.. Briggs
himself. It is crime to turn the bible
into sporting ground for theories.
DR.. Briggs theory of "middle state" forms
the basis OF the last charge. AS death
finds us eternity fixes us. During the
forty days. interval between the resurrec-
ton and ascension of Jesus Christ not a
word was said by the Savior of the middle
state. The prosecuting committee do not
oppose conscientious criticism of the bible,
the scriptures" But the criticism
of DR.. Briggs suggests universalism, refers
to the ethics of Jesus Christ in uncompli-
mentary terms; confounds facts with
theories and raises the question whether
the bible was not inspired only on a Pick
wickian sense. The committee are as
anxious that DIR. Briggs should be acquit-
ted if his teachings are orthodox, as they
are that he should be convicted if his doc
tIines are contrary to scripture.
Colonel McCook spoke next. He said
the committee might easily have charged
DR.. Briggs with violation of his ordins-
ton vows, but 1t preferred to credit him
with honesty in his connection. He an
theories of DR.. Briggs as unfounded In the
inaugural address, by showing their effect
upon practical Christianity.
The approx el of the closing hour inter-
ruptsd the colonel's argument. He will
continue it to morrow.
CINCINNATI, Dec. Tn the Smith her
esy trial to-day Professor Smith closed his
argument, presenting in logical form his
view of the case and summing up with the
claim that the committee had failed to show
anything in his working or teaching to
justify ssverdict of guilty. Rev. DR.. Nc
Kibben for the prosecution began his final
argument. He with deep feeling ikened
the efforts of tho higher critics to son
who insisted against his fathers wishes
and arguments to take away the founda-
tion which had supported his house
and substitute new kind, upon
which no house had ever been built.
The Presbytsry, believing in the frmness
of the foundation of Its faith in the
scriptures, should not hesitate for the
good of the church to eject any modern
builder.
DR.. McKibben at the close of to-day's
session said he hoped to close his argu-
ment in an hour tomorrow. Professor
Smith then has the right to make a reply
and the prosecution to finally close the
argument. The parties then retire and
the court in executive session takes the
case for judgment. Members may or
may not speak before voting. as may be
ordered, but owing to the vast amount of
talk already heard and the desire to close
the matter 1t is possible vote may be
reached tomorrow.