The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-05-31
C0ERCING UNION SEMINARY
The New York Theological Institution
in Danger of Being BOycOtted.
Further Action Taken in the Briggs Case by
Presby terians-A Flag of Truce in One
Hand and a Club in the Other.

PORTLAND, Ore. May 30.-The Mayor of
Portland addressed the Presbyterian As
sembly this morning. After unimportant
business Judge Ewing introduced the fol-
lowing resolution in the Briggs case. Ii is
mainly formal, and it is only important in
its wording:
The General Assembly having, on the 2Sth
day of May, 1892. duly sustained all s%pecifca-
tons for an error alleged and set forth in the
appeal and specifications In the case. II Is now
ordered that the Judgment OF the Presbytery or
New York entered, dismissing the case of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States OF
America against the Rev. Charles Briggs, be and
the same Is hereby reversed, and the case Is re-
manded to the Presbytery or New York for a
new trial, with directions TO the said presbytery
TO proceed and pass upon and determine the
sufficiency of the charges and specifications in
the form, and the legal effect, and 10 permit the
prosecuting committee to amend the specinca-
nature of the same, if, in furtheranoe or Justice.
IL be necessary to amend. so that 1t may be
brought to an issue and tried on the merits
thereof as speedily as may be practicable.
The order of the day was then called. be-
ing the report on theological seminaries.
The supplementary report was again read.
The report is q reiteration OF the original,
with this exceptions: A recommendation,
which was sent from the other is made to
"%enjoin our preshyteries to sec that stu-
dents under their care be prepared for their
sacred Office in seminaries and by teachers
WI aT6unQer Q1rectiOn OF the assem- DIys ana
that the board of education be directed to
restrictthe appropriations for the education
] of students to those who are pursuing their
studies under the above named institutions
or under private instructors" This IS
aimed at the Union Seminary and itiputs on
the boycott. as was f0rcibly stated on the
floor. The only change In the resolution
with regards TO the Union Seminary was
made towards the end where "non-cOm-
pllanceo of directors is called "a failure to
cOnlnly with the obligations contained in
the compact of 1871" The resolution az to
the necessity of the maintenance of the
veto power isiindentical throughout. With
regard to transfers and original appoint
ments in the case of professors. the follow
ing is recommended: The General Assem-
bly, Is constrained TO insist upon its inter-
probation of the terms of compact. as given
by the assembly at Detroit"
ANSWER TO THE
The report goes on to recommend q mega
tive answer to the memorial of the Union
Theological Seminary directors. asking
cooperation" of the General Assembly in
severing it's connection. and 1t econImen
the adoption of the following:
Resolved, That this General Assembly recog-
nizes the status quo as TO the difference of inter-
probation given by the directors of the Union
seminary from that given by the assembly's
committee of conferences; and. in accordance
with the proposition suggested by the said COM
mittee OF the conference, this General Assembly
dkICE5 U Dit III lntlClC VI ulc "
of the compact Of 1870 as to transfers to a COM
mittee OF arbitration.
Resolved, That the commlttee OF fye mem
pointed BY the moderator, who shall select five
other persons as >arbitrators. who shall meet a
Union Seminary, and these ten shall select five
others, and the fifteen thus chosen shall give the
Interpretation of this compact. namely, as to
transfer of a professor. Bst5
The minority report was considerably
modified during the elaboration. The text
OF the supplementary report Is as follows:
Whereas. The last General Assenbly's COM
mittee of fifteen and the directors OF the Union
Theological Seminary, in mutual conference,
discovered what they declared TO be IAN IT.
reconciliable difference OF opinion touching the
mutually recognized each others conscientious
ness and rights OF opinion, yet could reach no
conclusion as TO the proper course for each party
In the future" and,
Whereas, The directors of the Union Theological
Seminary have memorialized this ~
asking that the agreement OF 1870 be annuled,
therefore be it
Resolved, That the Union Seminary have the
liberty 10 honOrably withdraw from that agree
ment and be from this date no longer responsible
thereto.
Resolved. That ommitt be appointed by
this assembly to confer with all theological SEM
inaries now under its supervision, touching their
views OF the agreement OF 1870, and OF any new
agreement that they may devise, and so TO form
unite all seminaries under such general snper-
vision by the General Assembly, as will tend 10
aid the church i'll its work. and that the same be
submitted to thee eneral Assembly OF 1898.
DR.. Blayney. of Kentucky. objected to
the contradictory recommendation which
the majority report contained. He pro-
posed q set of eight resolutions. which con
tanned many notifications and additions.
Instead of declaring DR.. Briggs's chair de
jure vacant. he proposed TO declare the
election Incomplete. The resolutions were
seconded as an amendment TO the reports
previously offered. The discussion of the
whole subject was participated ia by q
large number OF the commissioners.
THE DISCUSSION GROWS INTERESTING.
Mr.. Earnshaw, of the Utica Presbytery.
moved the substitution of the university
report in regard to the Union Seminary.
He spoke of the unworthy aspersions cast
upon the seminary directors by the major
ity report. To the general surprise. an
effort to limit debate was unsuccessful at
this point.
DR.. Wilson denied that reflection was
cast upon the Union directors. He also
denled the existence of contradictions
He made a special plea in favor of ar
bitration against the withdrawal of the
seminary.
DR.. Taylor, the Trainer of the minority
report. gave a careful statement of the his
tory OF the conference committee, show
ing that the arbitration matter had al
ready been settled in conference. and that
Dr.. Patton had explained the status quo as
Als Aoak AZ W
tolerate the veto. and the assembly will
have to tolerate Professor Briggs."
DR.. Moffitt. of Baltimore, SAID that the
quivering of the seminary is the quivering
of q child. The majority wished to give
the seminary another chance to put ilself
right.
DR.. Lampman. of Newark, objected to
the majority report on account of It's form
and substance. The closing words of the
speaker were: "What / object to is that
yon should come with a flag of truce in one
hand aud o club in the other to beat out
the brains OF the institution" These words
he was called upon TO r~etract. but the mod
orator interposed. interpreting the words
as O tigurative expression of his opinion.
The expiration of the morning hour called
q halt in the discussion.
The special order for 2 o'clock was the
report of the committee on Sabbath OBJ
sel vance presented by Colonel Shepard.
of New York. For the second time tho as
sembly entered it's protest against opening
the Columbian fair OIL Sunday. Action of
q similar sort will he taken later on. The
report of the standing Uni on bills
and oyertures recommended that the re-
Quest of several presbyterIes for a new and
shorter catechism be denied. as it was in.
OppOrtunc.
A slight unpleasantness in the Board of
Home Missions cropped out or the report
of the committee on that subject. The
senior secretary has been elected, con.
trary TO previous practice. The protest en-
tered implied distinction. though il was
/ dteclaifpad thaf snah Iisfipctiop M IN nat; i'm,