The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-27
The Presbyterian Situation.

Tho Presbyterian General Assembly In
| session at Portland Is likely to leave un-
settled the questions OF doctrine which have
disturbed the Church so long and 80 pro-
foundry. The revision OF the Westminster
Confession and the case OF DR.. BRIGGS and
the Union Theological Seminary will prob
ably remain as subjects OF debate and con-
troversy after the meeting is over.
The Committee Of Revision worked hard
to accomplish the task set before them.
but they tried to perform an impossl-
bic feat. They tried both to keep In
and to throw out the Calvinism OF the
Confession. They have done the best
they could. they report to tho General
Assembly. and we do not doubt It.
Nor do We question that they made
painful efforts Ito secure harmony
at any sacrifice" but as the sacrifice de-
manded OF them by the minority. who
started the movement. was the destruction
OF the Calvlnism OF the creed. they could not
secure the harmony without dlsobeying
their instructions to keep it unimpaired.
DR.. VAN DYKE may amuse himself with
the intellectual jugglery OF maintaining
that non-election can be believed and
taught. though election Is rejected and
denied: but great Church must
deal with the subject moro serious
ly. man cannot fail OF an election
to an earthly Office unless there Is an cleo
ton: and IL it Is said OF the souls doomed
to hell that they were non-elected to saliva
ton. the only reasonable inference Is that
the souls saved are elected to heaven. So
CALVIN argued with irresistible logic
II the General Assembly wants to get rid
Of the conclusion. it will have to abandon
the premises. There is no other way. unless
it gets up creed which leaves out all men
tion of the subject. But on Monday it
voted decisively not to consider the pro-
posal to make such shorter creed.
Meantime the Presbyterans are left free
to make each for himself the sort of creed
he prefers. 1t is true that tho old West
minister Confession still remains as the
nominal standard OF faith. but as the neces-
the appointment Of Revision Committee
by the supreme authority OF the denomina-
ton. it's present imperfection is admitted.
Presbyterians. accordingly. are left without
any impregnable creed to stand by. pending
the completion OF the repairs.
III such condition OF things it is hard to
see how any Presbyterian. DR.. BRIGGS
even can be condemned for heresy under
standard which itself is under criticism. il
not condemnation. Until the Presbyterians
make up their minds what they believe
themselves. how can they decide whether
other people agree with them or not
The Union Theological Seminary menori-
Allies the General Assembly. begging to be
allowed to go its own way in peace. AZ it
intends to stand by DR.. BRIGGS under any
circumstances. and without regard to the
decision OF the General Assembly as
to his anti-Biblical teachings. it ar
CUES that the harmony OF the Church
would be promoted II its independence
were acknowledged cheerfully and grace
fully. Tho seminary announces its rendi-
ness to take the whole responsibility of
DR.. BRIGGS. and thus relieve tho General
Assembly from the troublesome load. so that
its entire strength may be expended in
carrying the revision burden.
1t may be assumed. therefore, that Dr.
BRIGGS will go on teaching the theological
students OF Union that the Bible is as liable
to error as any human production. and that
the Presbyterians will return from Portland
without having found ont what they believe