The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-01-24
UNION HELD IT'S GROUND.
IT'S fARTTSANs CONSIDER THAT TIE
SEMINARY won A VICTORY

BELIEF that the General Assembly COMMIT
Will Make = Friendly Report-Perhaps .
Suggestion that All Scminsries Have
the Same Relation with the Assembly.
The result Of the prolonged conference be-
tween the Beard OF Directors OF tho Union
Theological Seminary and the committee ap-
pointed by the last Presbyterian General AS
sembly on a settlement of tho serious differ
ences and difficulties between the two bodies
which arose out Of the Briggs case resulted. it
was authoritatvcly learned yesterday, in q
maintenance of the seminary's position. The
members OF the committee obtained great
deal OF new light on the situation. and cana
around to substantial recognition that
the directors had good case, and might
possibly be quite right in their position.
inc committee had no power to make pro-
posals for settlement to the seminary and the
various propositions that were submitted and
debated during the three days the Conference
was in session were simply suggestions Of
what tho committee might recommend to the
General Assembly az basis for settlement
The propositions which wcro submitted by
the committee last October. and which were
under consideration by the directors in the in
terval between then and the Conference Just
closed. were declined. The directors would
not entertain them at oil. Others were offered.
but were also entirely rejected. The Board
stated decidedly that it could not rccede from
the stand It had taken. and then il occupied
the attention OF the committee In showing why.
In this tho Board was. to all appearances, worry
spHccesstnl: The committee recognized tho
semtiy very favorable. or at least very friend
fsas, h ns tsSn 8 The compact 2, 1870 was
aGgurd the right to veto the q
himself afterward as apnrehensive Of til. NJ
privilege In acquiring firm hold on tho man
aGement OF the seminary. Tho assembly was
aa se Is on oss
Of ts g q under the
mary directors stuck to their contenticnthat a
transfer is not an appointment within the
r.nI %pt form the S';Gm m,
is thought by. several persons who IRE con-
SSe YER with the whole pr9's%ee,dnss, q the
tion It viii It Is Believed be quite favoraGe
Kind Of schems for placing all semnar So?
b "a, a thss to do but is believed that
charter rights. in any event" said a director
yesterday. That Is assured. In fact. we
cannot do so WITHOUT endansering the institl,-
tion. The committee knows this. and think
an amicable settlement will be arrived at. on
the basis Of the committees report, under
which we shall not he asked to surrender any
81 those rights or To- resede m in nnv way from
main where he is. an honored member Of the
faculty. whatever the settlement may be.
Neither the directors nor DR.. Briggs have
been properly placed before the church
In this matter. The matter has been OBJ
bly,. When we are properly understood I
have no doubt whatever our position will be
affirmed. 1t was not possible to arrive at any
compromise. The two positions were ire
an agreement satisfactory to both sides was
arrived at. II is of course n victory for the
seminary The committee was most fair and
most courteous all through the conferences.
the result. now thnt the mattcr has been made
plain. cannot predict. what the settlement
as to future relations will be. Tho Assembly
will have TO- discuss the whole matter again:
But think the seminary will he freor and
think. there, will undoubtedly be tho most
friendly relations between tho Assem- bly,
and the seminary. but he Assembly will eXer-
else its control over the seminary through
what we believe to be the proper channels.
teri an polity. ~ he Proshyteries have full con-
troll over the pastors. and hero is whero the
control over the teachings of the seminary
There arc members of the Board Of Directors
who emphaticnlly disapprovs o! tn" course the
Directors rs body have taken. and havo all
along expressed their disnpproval. There
We're also In the committee diSsentients from
TINT the report to the Assembly will be unaui