The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-29
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH TRIALS.
President Fisher Dist assiOnately Discusses
the Cases of Drs. Briggs and Smith.

within the Presbyterian Church that re-
grets the controversy now existing as to
the teachings of Drs. Briggs and Smith. No
trials of this sort can be held in ecclesias-
tical courts without considerable excite
ment. alienation of personal feeling and di-
version of thought Inc effort from other
vital interests of religion. We are not pre-
pared absolutely to deny that these trials
might have been avoided without much
sacrifice of truth or of liberty. But we
see that this would have been possible
only under conditions that do not exist. If
Drs. Briggs and Smith had been less posi-
tive and aggressive in tho public advocacy
OF their views In regard to the Scriptures,
and If, along with this. forbearance toward
them had been accepted as the better pol
icy by those who deny these views. rossI-
bly, judicial proceedings might have been
escaped.
1t is not strange that under these cir
cumstances there 10 q wide difference Of
opinion within the church as to the respon-
eiolllty for the existing state of affairs.
The majority are disposed TO blame the
men on trial for forcing their conception OF
the Scriptures on the attention of che pub
lie In such q way that, in view of their pO-
sition as theological professors. to ignore
their teaching would be understood as
cOuntenanclng it, as at least not radically
erroneous. A minority are inst as clearly
of the opposite opinion that the blame rests
upon an extreme conservative set OF men.
who arc accused OF interpreting the con-
stitutl0nal documents of the church In .
way which undnly restricts liberty
quainisN himself thoroughly with
the ultimate question involved can deny
the fundamental character of the Bible.
from which all Protestants profess to draw
the distinctive doctrines of Christianity.
Is the Bible. as it originally, came from God
to men, by revelation and by inspiration.
free from all errOrf Are such minor errors
as are now found in our copies due entirely
to subsequent human corruption, and 30,
capable of notification by nearer APP
proaches TO the originate There is q sense
In which the question is theoretical, be-
cause We cannot hope nov 10 do more than
approximate to the original Scriptures.
Still do not think that the men on trial
regard it as wholly theoretical Both
parties agree that lt involves q radical
difference of conception as TO the Bible.
One believes in an infallible book; the
other in an infallible rule of faith and
practice. drawn from o book that is not in
failible.
The trials now going forward are meant
to settle the question whether it Is lawful
for ministers in the Presbyt crian Church
to teach that the Bible a. originally given
ls not infsllible. These. therefore,. are not
heresy is now popularity understood. They
do not touch the inquiry whether Drs.
Briggs and Smith are Christians. So far 80
/ know, no one denies their piety. IL tho
final decision of the ohuron should be I'D.
verse TO their viewsi it would not at all fol-
low that private membership should be de.
MED to them. or TO any individual who
thinks as they do. Consequently. the
sentence of the Presbytery Of Cincinnati
did not mention In any way the membership
of DR.. Smith in the church; 1t stopped with
q temporary suspension from the public Of
fees of the ministry. The only thing to be
settled is whether the peculiar vie VS. of tho
men on trial may be taught by them with
at ordination TO accept the West
minister Confession of Faith. For
the establishment of such issues the
Presby terrain Church., by its constitution.
cess, almost exactly in the Same way az
the United States provides for the sottle-
mcnt of constitutional questions. We have
q graded system of courts-the presby terry.
the synod, and the General Assembly,
answering closely to the District. the CIR
cult. and the Supreme Court of the United
States. No issue in the Ecclesiastical any
more than In the national. court is decided
In theses. There must be q case before there
can be a suit. Some person who is charged
with violating the law must be arraigned.
1t is true that the general assem-
blies do adopt papers expressive of
as that now involved In these
trials. and they are entitled to great re-
spect because of the source from which
they proceed; but no one Is bound by any
thing short of q decision after Q trial.
Surely the Presbyterian Church does not
deserve to be held up to opprobrium because
she is using the very machinery which she
has provided for the settlement Of such is
sues, any more than the United States de-
served to be repIOached because the courts
were called upon to say whether the legal
tender act was constitutional. The only
thing for which she could be justly blamed
would be personal Ill felling among the
parties, or in the courts immediately con-
cerned in these trials. On the whole both
cases lave been conducted with great dig
nifty, and with little bitterness. The atti-
tude of the church Ut large has boon one OF
profound interest. but of genuine kindness
of disposition.
In the case of DR.. Smith the ~presbytery
has decided against him. No one expects
or desires anything else than that he
should appeal TO the synod. and, IT not sue
bly,. The case of DR.. Briggs has been ar
gued, and has now gone to tho court.
which will in private consult and decide.
No doubt. whatever the decision may be,
an appeal or complaint will carry it also to
the highest tribunal of the Presby terrain
Church for final adjudication.
What will be the effect OF tho final de-
cisionf 1t will not determine what is the
truth beyond all room for doubt.
The Presby terrain Church does not claim
infalllbility. Bnt il will be her nuthori-
tative Interpretation of the Westminster
Confession of Faith, and a. such 1t will be
binding on all her ministers to the extent
that they cannot consistently teach con.
trary views. If Drs. Briggs and Smit
finally lose their cases. then they, and such
as they, must cease to give expression tC
these views IN public inside the Presby'
terrain Church. They oan go out of the
church If they prefer this to silence as tt
their ideas of the Scriptures; or they car
remain and agitate In q proper way for ar
amendment 10 the Confession which will
tolerate their views.
Will not a decision adverse to these mer
be an infringement on their libertyf BE
yond all question il will. To that extern
the Presby terrain Church will say to hel
ministry, You are not Free" Blu
just SO every denomination. by i'll
written or .ts unwritten creed. fixel
the boundaries within which il
official representative must contin,
themselves in their teaching upon tn,
great subjects set forth in these formula
of doctrine. In q similar manner tn,
United States. by It's Constitution. limit
the liberty of the people. The only wal
to abolish snch ecclesiastical limitation
on liberty would be TO abandon all demon
i~nationaiism and to allow every minister
provided he gives evidences of q Christian
life. to teach what no Dleases. We may u
moving toward o condition of things II
which such freedom will be practicable
but as yet certainly &c 10 not even approx
imated.
Will these trials do harm or goodi 10
immediate result no man in the church o
out of it can so clearly foresee that b
would be justified In OK pressing q confiden
opinion. but the ultimate re4nlt will b