The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-12-18
The Theology of the Future.

The trial of DIR. Henry P. Smith. of Lane
Theological Seminary, Cincinnati. On the
charge of heresy, that was concluded last
week, and which resulted in his conviction,
and the trial on a similar charge of DR..
Briggs, Of Union Theological Seminary,
New York, that is now in progress. suggests
the question whether the theology of the
near future will differ greatly from that Of
the present
In these trials one thing has been so
noticeable as to excite comment. 1t is that
the older ministers arc against the teachings
of Drs Briggs and Smith while many of the
younger ministers approve them. That
would seem 20 indicate that though the
teachings of these two eminent theologians
may be condemned by their church now
they may not be few years hence.
The Cincinnati presbytery found DIR.
Smith guilty of the teaching of the doc
trine of inspiration Of the scriptures in a
sense different from that taught by the
scriptures themselves and by the confession
of faith" The decision against him was
rendered by very small majority. showing
that he is strongly supported in the position
he occupies.
DR.. Briggs is being tried upon two charges,
which, briefly stated, are as follows: The
first is that his teachings conflict with the
standards of the Presbyterian church and
the doctrines Of the Old and New Testa-
ments and strike at the very vitals Of re-
ligion. The second is that he teaches the
doctrine of the character, state and sane
LITIGATION of believers after death, which
irreconcilably conflicts with and is contrary
to the holy scriptures and the standards of
the Presbyterian church" There are, of
course. many specifications to each OF these
charges
1t was two years ago that DR.. Briggs
teachings first attracted general attention.
At that time he was inaugurated as professor
of biblical theology at Union Theological
Seminary and delivered the address upon
which the charges against him are based. In
that address he spoke of the Bible "as a
literary production of fallible men and not
as the infallible word Of God"
1t is not an easy matter TO state the posi-
ton Of DIR. Briggs correctly. The writer OF
an article In the New York Sun that has
been commended states 1t as follows: ''Dr.
Briggs holds that the Bible Is fallible be-
cause Of the fallibility OF the mortal men
who were the authors of its books, but IL
embodies the kernel of religious truth. In
form it may be faulty, for it is q human
production, but its concept. to use his own
term. is perfect and absolutely truthful.
That is, the process by which the result is
reached is human and orlticisable. but the
result itself is divine"
II DIR. Briggs view of the Bible were
accepted, unbelief would be much more
general than It is, because to the popular
understanding the Bible must be absolutely
true, or not true at all. The teaching that
the Bible is not the inspired word OF God,
and that it contains errors. cannot but make
doubters and unbelievers. And yet. neither
DR.. Briggs nor those who agree with him
seem to think so. The issue which he has
raised is a tremendous one. Whatinhuence
will it have on the theology Of the futurel