Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-29
the objections raised by Dr.. Briggs st his

the objections raised by DR.. Briggs st his
previous trial
A sensation was sprung by Dr. George
Alexander moment after Mr.. LampeT had
finished. The pastor of the University
Place Church moved, in consequence OF the
objection made by the accused, that the
fourth and seventh charges of the amended
report be stricken out The motion was
seconded by DR.. Brown, Of the Union Theo-
logical Seminary.
A Dangerous Point Safely Passed.
DR.. Sutton Immediately offered as an
amendment that the objections of DR..
Briggs were not well taken. This brought
DR.. Vandyke to his feet He asserted
that the amendment was out Of order, mas
much as it was not pertinent to the motion.
At this iuncture, Dr. Sutton began an argu-
ment intended to show that DR.. Briggs had
never retracted the statement of his ad-
dress, and that the two charges were found
ed on that address. He was interrupted BY
DR.. John R. Paxton, who shouted. "Give
Us decision and stop his talking"
Lawyer McCook, of the Prosecuting
Committee, restored quiet by proposing
that the consideration of the motion be
postponed till tomorrow. In the mean
time the committee would consider the OBJ
jectiou made by the defendant, and would
make whatever concessions it could con-
sistent with the performance of its duty.
The herosy trial of Prof. Henry p. Smith,
of Lane Theological Seminary, was re-
sumed this morning by the Cincinnati
Presbytery in the First Presbyterian
Church, of Cincinnati. In the beginning,
Prof Sproull gave notice of a protest
against the action of the Presbytery at the
last session, in veting to sustain the first
charge and specifications as proper in form
and legal effect.
The Question Hinges on the Scriptures.
He declared in his protest that the action
of the Presbytery was not only unwar-
ranted by reason, but, was contrary to
Christian brotherhood. The protest was
made part of the record Debate was then
resumed on the sufficisncy in form and legal
effect of the second charge and its speciica-
tionS This is really the most important
of the three charges presented, as it in
wolves the real question of Prof Smiths
teaching in regard to the inspiration OF the
Bible.
The charge is that in pamphlet entitled,
"Biblical Scholarship and Inspiration"
Prof Smith taught, contrary to . funda-
mental doctrine of the Word of God and
the Confession of Faith, that the Holy
Spirit did not SO control the inspired writ
ers in their composition of the Holy Script
ures as to make their utterances absolutely
!. e., free from error when inter-
preted in their natural and intended sense.
The charge is sustained by IL specifications
made up of assertions Of what was taught
by Prof. Smith in his pamphlet, mainly
the author of Chronicles, or the
Psalms, and portion of Isaiah
Prof. Smith Loses Another Round.
While the proper argument before the
court to-day was upon Prof. Smiths objec-
tion to the suffciency of this charge and its
specifications as to form and legal effect,
the members of the court, almost without
addressed themselves to the dis
cussion of the question whether Prof
Smiths teaching was or was not contrary
to the fundamental doctrines of the church.
AT the afternoon session the debate was
in the same strain for an hour or
more, and then a vote was taken by yeas
and nays upon sustaining the suficlency Of
the second charge in form and legal effect,
and resulted-yeas, A; nays. II. The spec
ifcations were voted on after being
by the Prosecuting Committee in
accordance to Prof. Smiths suggestions and
by his consent, and were then, with the
second charge, approved as whole. The
third and last charge will, undoubtedly, be
without debate, and then the trial
proper will begin.