The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-04-24


tho candidacy Of any aspirant for the Demo
cratic nomination.
{
a Gloomy Outlook for Presbyterianism
~ It seems to DO probable that DR.. BRIGGS
will be condemned by the Presbyterian Gen.
teral Assembly next month. 1t Is also evil
dent that the Union Theological Seminary.
Its faculty. and its trustees. will stand by
him and be hoycottcd by the vast majority
:.pf the Presbyteries in consequence.
h, Even IL no formal and open rupture OF the
Presbyterian Church should occur this
spring. tho decision of the General Assembly
must separate the communion into two
parties radically divided in sentiment. On
one side will be the orthodox and Calvin
istic Presbytcrians. comprising tho great
bulk OF tho Church. and on the other the
Pantheistic anti-biblical Presbyterians. led
by Dr. BRIGGS and nurtured by the Union
Theological Seminary. The Western Pres
byteries. according to all present indica-
tons, will be- ranged almost unanimously
with the first party. and the strength OF the
second will DO confined almost exclusively
to tho East, with New York as the citadel.
The condemnation OF DR.. BRIGGS will
compel both his friends and his enemies to
show their hands and take their sides.
The propositions for delay aud compromise,
under which some OF his supporters and
sympathzers in the ministry have escaped
this necessity hitherto. will not avail after
tho General Assembly hns stamped his
teachings with its formal disapproval and
refused to countenance the seminary which
makes them the basis OF its instruc-
ton. They must declare themselves
squarely and openly as either for or against
him; and by retaining them as pastors
their churches will take position with them.
DR.. VAN DYKE and DR.. HALL. for instance,
will DO compelled to elect whether they
shall go with DR.. BRIGGS and Pantheism or
DR.. PATTON and Calvinism: and the two
Filth avenue churches to which they minis
ter will have to decide tho same question.
The Presbyterians have come to the parting
Of the ways.
theological seminary depends for It's
support on the approval of the Presby-
teries and. of course. IL the General Assem-
bly,. representing all the Presbyteries, de-
clares it's dlsapproval. the institution will
Oowithout any organization to back 1t. Some
students for the ministry choose divinity
school to which to go according to their
individual preferences only: but they
are few in number. The most Of the
young mon como from Prcsbyteries and
churches. by which they arc supported and
consequently they have no such freedom,
They cannot go to any seminary which has
not the Presbyteral approval. Their future
prospects rs ministers are also dependent
on tho favor OF tho Presbyteries. II they
start out from seminary declared hetero-
dox by Ne General Assembly, their chapces
OF getting pastorates are bad. II 1t Is boycott
ted, they will be boycotted also. Usually. too
the whole experience and training OF these
young men are utterly destructive OF the in
dependence Of character which might induce
youth to side with an unpopular minority.
From the time they leave school until they
arc ushered into tho ministry after gradu-
ating from theological seminary. they are
dependents. They do not take care of them
selves; the churches take care of them.
support Thorn. clothe them. educate them.
They get their bread and butter. therefore,
et the cost OF their independence.
Hence when the Union Theological Semi
nary comes under the ban of tho General
Assembly its supply OF students must fall
on heavily. unless g strong party of tho
Presbyterians Is organized for its support.
1t must see its classes passing over to
Princeton II 1t cannot induce consider
able number OF the rich and powerful
churches to become its nurseries. II the
churches OF which those OF It's own grntu-
ates who signed testimonial in favor of
Dr.. BRIGds are pastors should have tho
courage to act thus. the institution might
receive sufficient supply OF students from
that source alone But can they be relied
upon as its avowed friends in the event OF tho
condemnation OF the institution by the
General Assembly. and the more especially
II tho majority against the seminary is as
great as 1t now promises to DO? 1t Is very
doubtful. 1t is not probable. unless there is |
split in tho denomination which Is strong |
enough for tho substantial support OF the
boiling ministers and the Union Seminary's |
candidates for tho ministry.
AS necessity Of their existence. thcrc- |
Iorc. Dr. BIIaGs and tho faculty Of this !
seminary must organize n Presbyterian |
party committed to their support. Without !
IL anu without the countenance Of the Gen
eral Assembly they will be In the air. As
matter OF consistency. too. the Presby-
tcrian ministers who have sustained DIR.
BRIGGS hitherto will DO Obliged to no
with him into his theological exile, or
else forfeit public respect. 1t is plainly for
their interest also that bolt should be Or
ganized. Hence tho breakup OF Presby-
terrain unity seems to DO inevitable. II the