New-York tribune., 1892-12-04

DIR. ]. G. BLISS. THE MODERATOR
The trial Of Dr. Briggs Is considered one OF 'he
most important ecclesiastical Investigations IN 'he
,ost half oonturv Not since the hereSy trial OF
Albert Barnes resulting in the split OF the presbyterian
Church, has much interest been manifested III
religious circles and this interest is shown in the
large attendance in the Scotch Church where The
meetings held.
BESIDES Dr. w. c. Young. the president OF Centre
College and the moderator of the General Assembly,
who opened one session with PRAYER thele nave oech
MANY wellknown clergymen present, besides those
composing the court and the laymen and laywomen
have also shown lively interest in the proceedings
The galleries filed at each session, but SO lar
there has been little attempt "to speak TO the gl-
leriesn the members conhnng their remarks to the
members of the As it is judicial case tha Is
under consideration, the moderator insists that terc
Shall be no applause. one afternoon the venerable
Charles Butler the president OF the board OF directors
of the seminary entered the church and sat III INC
seat directly behind Dr. Briggs. whose inaugural al
dress was delivered upon his tranSferrence from Iie
Hebrew chair TO the chair OF Bioi.cal ueoioss iou
by Mr.. Butler.
Dr. John c. Bliss. the moderator OF the Presbytery'
is making strenuous effort to keep the brethren TO
their texts but 1t is difficult for him. even with Ills
gavel In hand, to suppress n great deal oi us
cussion that would apparently better be left unsMd'
II he errs 1t is in his earnest desire TO give ia'r
play to both sides. and to prevent, II possible Il
decision which shall result in an exception beng
taken complaint OH appeal being maze
Chief interest centres about the defendant, and the
moment he rises TO speak from ten to twenty peope
rise in the galleries fearful lest they shall lose
single word. DR.. Briggs is calm, but terrioiy III
earnest He does not let point escape MN. An
intimation from the committee, even though IL oe
Withdrawn, brings out vigorous reply. bcihs ooth
defendant and counsel DIR. Briggs Is an exceedingly
busy man, and this double position In "hich Ee
is placed is at times embarrassing 10 him, Tor, wmc
of
hasen the trial to waive rights defendant ne can
not waive his duties counsel
Colonel John j. McCook, the member OF the prose
cuting committee WHO has not been prominent III 'He
case so far, is tall, well rounded, smooth shaVeh'
and extremely careful Of the rights OF Others wme
Insisting that the rights OF the committee saii o'
be set aside. a lawyer by proiesslon' ne hanile'V
a thorough acquaintance with DR.. BriggSS wrlLngs'
the standards of the Church and the scriptures.
DIR. George Alexander, OF the University Place
Church is careful only that justice shall be uohe'
,bs must he done so far as his voice and vote Will
old thouph the Indictment fails utterly Of its pur-
pose While appearing to champion DIR. Bnggs' ho
man in m. Presbytery holds his own opinions on a
more even balance ~
Professor Brown, the wise counsellor ana ueVo'eu
fricnd Of Dr. Briggs holds the unabaed attention OF
n,omhers and spectators Careful in his statements,
nsssinc his facts he appeals TO judgment not 10
passion nor sentiment His clear-cut address at the
New.Y York SYNOD has not been surpassed by any yet
delivered in the two years that D. Briggs mas peeh
before the public say not few who DO not agree
with all his conclusions.
President Hastings. of Union Seminary. has com
mand of the English language which has MADE him
q mower In the pulpit and on the platform His
sentences are clearly AngloSaxon The study OF the
classics lessened his hold OF the mother tongue
His smoothly flowing periods which charm bis hearers
now and then give way TO an epigram the intent oi
which Is unmisakable When nettled by criticism. or
d odd Wor0
force of a cannon-shot. But he Is more ready to
retract than TO resent. and his apology is as ample
as his remark has been intense.
DR. Shedd the venerable scholar. the man Of
wisdom the defender of truth the theological preacher
and friend, Is not a parllamentarian His life has
been In the study and In the classroom. lie may slip
In the technics but he has his eve on the goal. and
neither points of calls Cor questions can
him. lie Is man OF one idea. and he STANDS
at his post until he has given his thought to the
Prcsbytery. No can know DR.. shedd and not love
him.
The new charges eight in number. alleged against
DR.. Briggs, conflict with nine essential doctrines Of
the Westminster standards. Dr. BRIGGS says In his
sponse to the charges: % That the Holy Scripture
Is necessary; (2) that IL is the rule OF faith
and practice (3) that II Is the Word Of God written
"a that 1t Is Immediately inspired ~ that God Is
true, omniscient and unchangeable; (6 that Holy
Scripture evidences itself 10 be the Word OF God BY the
OF Interpretation OF Scripture Is the Scripture itself
(s) that the processes OF redemption are limited TO
this world and 9) that the souls OF believer. are at
their death at made perfect In holiness. Tie
charge Briggs obtains by insisting that there
under Charge I. namely that Holy Scripture
IS most necessary. and that Holy Scripture IS the
rule Of faith and practice. Charges and VIII.
coIding TO this arrangement have been stricken out
of the indictment.
IN his response 10 the charges as amended. DR..
Briggs filed five objections ~ That the charges |
were finally disposed OF when the against him !
dismissed on November 4. 1891. and That he !
could legally be cited the second tine 70
tie charge which had been dismissed rhe Presby !
terry decided that this objection could not be sustained
Dr.. Briggs objected secondly TO the crde. and :eg
arty OF the proceeding In tie presbyte:y - any and
every action taken against hin since the dismissal |
OF the case last year. The Presbytey decided that |
this objection not well taken. The third obec
ton that the amended charges did not comply with
the law respecting amendment. and that they violated
tho express directions OF the last General Assembly.
WIS waived condOnally by DR.. Briggs.
Ihe fourth objection that the proofs from Scripture
confession and Catechisms were irrelevant was sus-
W'hed In part the Presbytery requiring the COM
moee to transfer them all from the specifications
70 the charges. which was considered an important
gain by the defendants friends Dr. Briggs objected
In the fifth place. TO the offer Of evidence by the
wholesale BY the committee namely, the Inaugural
address, both editions and the appendix TO the second
edition with all OF his works. quoted in both pampl
lets. the entire Bible and the complete standards ~
os church. An effort was made TO cut of the para.