New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-14
BRIGGS IN HIS OWN BEHALF.
. LARGE AUDIENCE LISTENS ATTENTIvELY
TO HIS ARGUMENT
TILE PROFESSOR DEFENDS HIS INAuGURAL-A

THE PROFESSOR DEFENDS his INAUGURAL-A
PROTEST AND A COMMITTEE TO ANSWER IT
The scotch Presbyterian Church has held many
d,,tingushed gatherings during the last hall century
hut II would be difficult TO find An audience con-
Gaining more prominent members OF the presbyterian
churcb than assemble day after day to hear the
c,msnts I'm the famous heresy trial now In progress
Yesterday was exception to the rue among
,,ose noticed were DR.. Young, OF DanvhIe, n.y. ue
Moderator 0, the General Assembly Dr. >. NJ
hamilton OF Louisville, the former pastor OF inc
scotch Church; Or. Teunis 5. Hamlin OF Wasnmetoh'
mr. A. " v. Raymond, Of Albany Professor Duihelu'
:, pr,nce,on Seminary: DR.. Holcomb, OF lndia' Dr.
,.m.s Allison the Editor OF "The Presbyterian Ban
,.r Of Pttsburg with DR.. Charles a. eUuu'nu' Vi
mTbe New.YOrk Observer" and DR.. Henry NJ fieio'
o,aTbe Evangelist" In his accustomed place near 'e
p,osscurnr Committee. President Hastings ANU
President Butler. representing the fScu'S Oh
,,, seminary and the other its Board OF DIRECTORS
,,b Professor Brown sat behind Dr. s1sss' yearly
N the w.ll-known members OF the Preso!lerS, VIII
~ .aer rom each church, were also IN a''ehuaA0o'
~ ORC the elect ladies" absent Mrs. Grover oie'e
,a .o+ for a time with her pastor, Dr. Wilton "erie
18th NJ the Central Church. Mrs. Briggs a0.o','
o 'a nv her faithful friend, Miss Hatfield, sat IN
rsrsl place but Mrs. Birch. the vile OF the o"aii
- q, the Prosecuting Committee was MOL present.
-. lar the defendants Characterization Vi her nus
!" -, sro,,p,ent having narrowly escaped serious
accident on Monday 49,, a.oo r.r,inded N.
~ ., tho presbytery that there was danger
,. .hev unconsdously merge their luhou'ns anu
80 as Presbyters. They must Hee 'heir minus
trom every feeling of party every piei"U. ~
,,r,on every anxiety as to supposeu p ~ Wv
church and any and every thihs INA. ".s" w. casa
rour decision apart from the merits u 'ie ,..,I
-! -, 20 tho fact that the Presbytery was s'|ns
q" court Of Jesus Christ" the speaker saiu ie'ei
ontv. The defendant would welcome O''
$500, Christ even If it should condemn h''n "iN
srhle hin, TO the dust-for the Master ue''W w.,
could be no other than a heavenly ui'' A.
lines 70 listen to any other voice IL 'ue ue
oeolne' " .h questions now at issue. You can
90 c3vo any other decision than that "n'cn
our King and saviour gives
n,ssrcT1NG THE PROSECUTIONS CAoN'
-. BRIGGS took up the argument suohn''eu 'A'V
100, He said that DR.. Birch was noN', tx
ond fervent and aborns uhuer '.e .So,,.oa
,h, no was doing God service" Inc d"" eos So.
as,onsN.ng excgesis, unintehigent rsauins VI .~'
on amusing resort to hearen oracies, rno,oo
49,, ., dangerous errors in the writings Oh rIoiesN'i
-, ~, 7 cannot lind in II any serious attempt u
Di'se'' 49,. h,rv.sp OF Colonel McCooks address, NE
said . % moro Than
two hours which was orcef psdsiUet ss regions Of
eSsrart thought, far above ana oeS onu WA" ,nem
prosecution to use te s n5 to do listened to
Lei o, g M, WIN the closest attention us sn3
anal,ses Oh az p{"ierences from the language OF the
sSsnt for hat language itself its delicate oaiancns
% in'sgila,y ines stretched rom speculative per-,
upon :pI,,pton Of it, logic and the condenSea
heat Of its rhetoric all remind us OF ,he man of a
p,er or man of affairs. This argument VIII IT,
ceiye the attention 1t deserves. .
,rho sneaker said that those things when were 10
him "dead ort OdoXy, enete eccieSAlsu"'i' Ioi''a
n,or,rty depomiuaronaYsm,' were TO the heoiog'an
McEOo
Chrss,,an,y. He doubtless agrees With recently
altered opinion that dogma is more important 'has
religious experience and he were forced 10 chooSe'
would deliberately choose dogma rather than C"r'uah
life, Dr. Birch, according 70 Dr. bnses' useo lne
csn,res and the standard for the very purpose that
,h Pres,yterv ruled he should not use them "hle' 50
far As the argument Of Mr. MeCook IS concerned,
uolv scripture IS conspicuous by its absence 'and
what need has speculative dogma OF the
Westminster standardp Inc prosecu,
non guilty of contempt OF court
Tor aisrecarding the ruling of the court. The court
sbonId recognize in some proper way this OFFENCE
against its dignity
An EXAMPLE OF THE HIGHER CRITICISM
DR. briggs applied the principles Of the higher crlo-
csu 70 the arguments Of the prosecution especiaS
mat submi, ted by Colonel NJ Cook showing no" u
had been reconstructed, reading paragraphs anu so
sncos the work LOOKING like lasy use oil scissorS
and paste" he sad and determination TO get Ill
in spite of the Presby terry" Tie shield WHICH inc
prshytery had placed over tie defendant has been
pushed aside. Your protection has been Soorheu'
Your ruin. has been tlsmpled under foot Inc oe-
tendant hs- again attacked In your presence WIN
these sLinderous accusations Charges ~ and NL)'
and Mr. McCook Is triumphant IL was declared that
In Mr. McCook's argument tn changes were rung
upon the contradictory statements OF tie Inaugural
"collrad ctons' rerActlons' and tile Ike. THESE
paga sail The speaker, have become familiar to Us
New-7oik Obseiv,r' An author and teacher has
the rgh, to explain himself and it is not to be re.
garde0 as contradictory or ao INCONSISTENT s'"pS
because enemy says 50. H.. Aha,
Mr.. McCook call, your attention to the fact thai
have not rrtraotcd any statement in the Inaugural
address But why should 90 sol No one has yet
b,eu aoe 10 show that any statement made , N lhc
wrong | will confess it, and retr4ct; not before
The inaurnrJ Was simply n concentration
Of opinion exprcsied more at length in other places
AID under other circumstances. The defendant Is
atege,her unconscious of any substantial cllnge OF
opt ion the sube matter Of the charges Tor many
years"
JUSTICE AND not FAVOR DEMANDED
DR.. Briggs closed his preliminary statement with
these words
The defendant asks fsvors Of the court. lie
ssks that You try him strictly by the standards ana
tie constitution OF the Church. what shall we say
OF these prosecutors who, TO say the least. are no
friends OF the Union Theological seminary, taking upon
their Ips the names Of my revered teachers ana
IAN Adams 1t is one Of the mysteries Of human
life that some minds may come in contact with the
"'9toTs OF 'iDislan hlOuEhV
them learning from them. The best explanation
Tat know OF is given In the name OF an ancient
HndOo poet
Inc Mud, alike vigorous weak. capable OF culture
islt still bears mutt according its nature.
Ms not the teachers skill that reaIs the scholar.
Inc sparkling gem gives back the glorious pdiance
orlnks other light
slt The dan cath
Anu Yields
THE CHARGES IN THr1R ORDER
d.. Briggs in beginning his defence called atten
uon 10 several preliminary principles, which, be
ha'o regulate all trials for heresy in the Presby eIian
Ohnrcle which have been entirely dsregarded by the
prosecution In is arguments upon the amended
charges and specifications Many things asserted in
The