The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-19
The Most Important Session in the
History Of the Church.
BRIGGS HERESY ClSE 10 CONE Up.
All the Church Leaders Gathering in the Northwest.
The Revision of The Confession Of Faith
Not PalatabIe TO CONSERVATIVES.
Special to THE MoRNINe CALL,

States of America, which is to commence in
this city tomorrow. will be one of the most
important in the history of the church.
Various questions are to come I'D which are
Of vital importance to a number of Interests.
Each session of the assembly is opened by
a sermon from the retiring moderator. This
year it should have been delivered by Pro-
fessor Green OF Princeton, who has been
detained by illness. The form of govern
meRt provides that in the absence of the last
moderator some other minister shall open
the meeting with a sermon, and preside until
new moderator shall be chosen. The plan
to be pursued this year is not in strict ac-
cord with this rule. for Dr. Green has pre-
pared a sermon, which is to be read by DR..
William d. Roberts. the stated clerk, while
the other minister. who is to preside, is the
oldest commissioner in attendance, the Rev.
J. G. RiheldOrffer. D., of Redwood Falls.
MINI.
The New Moderator.
This is a contingency which has rarely, if
ever, occurred before.
The preliminary question 10 be settled is
who shan be moderator. Various men have
been discussed and the predictions Of the
members canvassed. Among those named
are Dr. Mcpherson of Chicago and Dr.
MuchmOre of Philadelphia, but by many it
is not believed that either of them will stand
Tor election. The names more prominently
mentioned are those Of DE-. Young of Center
College. Kentucky, and DR.. Radcliffe Of
Detroit, in whose church the assembly was
held last year, and who won golden opinions
at that time.
Dr. Young is said to be related intimately
with one OF the Princeton faculty, and il is
supposed that the extremists viii stand By
him.
DR.. Radcliffe is conservative in theology.
PrlucetOnian in training and a man Of
varied accomplishments AMI Of great execu-
tive ability he IS we'll known on account
of his lab0TS IN Pennsylvania and Michigan
ana through his excellent work Of last wear.
1t Is sale to say that the question. Who is
he has been asked concerning DR.. Young
ofteDer within a week than concerning any
other man in the country
Another man has also been mentioned in
this connection as special representative
OF the Pacific Coast, the Rev. William Alex
ander. DID, Of the presbyteTy Of Benicia,
Cal. De Is a conservative Of the COnserYa-
tiYes and professor in the San Francisco
Theological Seminary. He will draw his
support if nominated, from the Pacific
Coast, but he labOrS under the disadvantage
OF not having been considered and can
Ysssed during the long overland journey.
A Seminary May Be Cut OF.
One Of the questions to come up IS that as
TO the relations of the Union Seminary In
New York to the assembly. This will be
brought up on the report Of the conference
committee appointed year ago, aud on the
report Of the seminary directors. II Is
rumored that request will be made that
all relations be severed. and in fact one
synod OF the church has impOTtuned the
assembly to cut the seminary off anyway
There is quite general feeling that if such
a request IS made II ought 10 be granted,
but as yet no one can say what the result
Will be.
The question is complicated by the fact
that active discussion IS In progress affect
lng the relations of two other seminaries TO
the church, and it is in their power TO dis
solve their relations with the General As
sembly by the mere repeal OF bylaw.
ms Is a consideration which may influence
the assembly TO more moderation Of spirit
than that which was exhibited at Detroit
The Heresy Of Briggs.
Another question to come up is con-
nected with the appeal Of the commit
tee Of prosecution" of the presbytery of
New \ OTk ID the case of Professor Briggs
Upon this question there is a very decided
conflict Of opinion, but it is a matter much
broader than the case Of DR.. Briggs, for il
involves the decision Of important cOnstitu.
tlonal problems. A strict appeal may be
taken to the assembly over the head of the
synod Of New York, but such course is
The matter hangs upon the questions as
to whether a motion to dismiss the case of
DR.. Briggs in the presGytery Of New York
was final decision In a judicial case"
and whether the committee OF prosecu-
ton" is invested with power to appeal
These are technical questions which will be
argued at length. The answer of either of
them 10 the negative will throw
the case out Of court, and the
matter will have to be made very
plain IN order to secure such judgment
At the same time the decision will have to
be in strict accord with the letter of the con-
stitutlon Of the church or the question may
be carried into the civil courts for adjudica-
ton. 1t may be assumed that there will be
careful study of the constitutional cues
lions involved, and a conclusion will be
reached satisfactory TO the church at large
IN spite Of the extreme claim Of some that
the assembly is the supreme court Of the
church. and as such the maker of its own
laws and amenable to no other power.
ms clam, however, can scarcely be made
seriously. III the constitution recognizes
the power of a presbyteTy to dismiss a case
without thereby rendering a final decision
In technical sense the case Of the appellant
is gone. The assembly, however, may send
the whole case back to the presbytery of
New York, or il may refer the appeal to the
next lower court Of the synod of New York.
1T is idle to speculate upon the fiual view
OF the assembly, for as yet no opportunity
has been presented 10 canvass the views Of
the commissioners, but 1t may be assumed
that discussion has been active during the
long journey westward.
The Confession OF Faith.
Tie third question Of general interest is
that OF the revision of the confession of
faith. The final report Of the committee on
revision Is to be presented this year. and
the problem TO be solved is whether the
assembly viii adopt 1t as it stands and send
1t down To the presbyteries for adoption. or
reject 1t as whole, and, In deference to the
strong objections of some influential men
and presbyterles, refer it back TO the COM
mittee for further consideration. In some
quarters the revised confession to be re-
ported is as unsatisfactory as the old, and
much Will depend upon the temper OF the
commissioners chosen this year
Besides these questions, which are extra
ordinary IN their nature, many matters of
great Importance to the church will be in
troduesd according to the usual programme.
Delegates began TO arrive on Tuesday
night, and special trains are pouring in
their loads to-day. 1t Is safe to say that
there are as many visitors as delegates who
have aValled themselves of the opDortuni-
ties offered on this occasion The hotels
and streets are full of Presby terians.
The morning papers contained a state
ment from New York to the effect that the
Union Seminary will stand by Briggs, no
matter what the course of the assembly
may be- This has been regarded by many
as an official act Of the directors, whereas it
was simply the expression Of the personal
views at banquet OF the alumni assOcia-
ton OF the seminary, and has absolutely no
connection with the directors as an official
board. But 1t has bad the effect Of stirring
up anew the feeling OF hostility which is