Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-12-08
OVER 100 SPEECHES
Nay Possibly Be Delivered in the
Briggs Trial Before the
VERDICT IS FINALLY RECORDED.
4 Decision in the Smith Case Is Likely
to Be Reached To-Day.
FHE TABLES TURNED ON TIE DOCTOE

FHE TABLES TURNED ON TIE DOCTOE
NEW YORK. Dec. L-DE George F.
Birch resumed the reading of his argument
to-day to prove the heresy of DR.. George A
Briggs. The speech was in support Of
Charge 8. This charge, unlike its
predecessors, is specific DR.. Briggs is ac-
cused of teaching that 'Moses is not the
author of the Pentateuch, which teaching is
contrary to the direct statements of Holy
Scripture and to the essential doctrines OF
the Standards of the Church. A formidable
array of Scripture texts was adduced in
the printed charges to show the falsity OF
DIR. Briggs theory.
CDR. Briggs biblical study" said DR..
Birch, chad not ghost of an excuse for
publication. He maintains that one must
study the Bible in the original, but if the
authorized version is insufficient, what are
unlearned people to believe? The theory
of inspiration as taught by the defendant,
is denial of inspiration. 1t took perfect
man TO exhibit a perfect God, and it takes
perfect Bible to reveal perfect Christ.
The Authorship of the Pentateuch Vital.
1.-THE only authority on the authorship
of the Pentsteuch," =" said Dr. Birch, direct
ing his attention to the specific charge, "is
the Bible itself If Moses did not write
the Pentateuch no Hebrew can be blamed
for rejecting Christ If Moses did not write
the Pentateuch, Christ himself is dis
honest"
DR.. Birch then took mp the charges that
DR. Briggs has taught that Isaiah is not the
author OF one-half the book that bears his
name. Much greater variety exists in
The writing of Hawthorne, Walter Scott
and of DR.. Briggs himself ''The Prose
cutting Com mittee do not oppose conscien-
tious criticism of the Bible, for that book
itself says, Search the Scriptures but the
criticism of DR.. Briggs suggests universal
ism. The committee are just as anxious
that DR.. Briggs should be acquitted ii his
teachings are orthodox, as they are that he
shuuld be convicted if his doctrines are con-
trary TO Scripture.
DIR. NcCook Begins Ills Speech.
When Dr. Birch had concluded his long
argument. Colonel McCook took up the
ecclesiastical cudgel. The speaker an
nourcrd his intention to prove the heresy
OF the theories of DR.. Briggs as expounded
In the inaugural address, by showing their
effect upon practical Christianity. The ap-
ploach of the closing hour interrupted the
ColOnei's argument, and he will continue 1t
al to-morrow's session.
When the case goes to the jury the Pres
bvtery will sit with closed doors. Each
member as he votes on the charges, may
give reasons for his vote. Ali of these rea-
sons are stenographically reported and go to
make up the record of the case. There are
over 130 members of the court, and each has
the right to explain his vote on each
charge. As there are u divisions of the
charges upon which separate votes must be
taken, it follows that there are over 300
possible speeches to be delivered before a
verdict can be reached. 1t does not seem
possible, considering that there are but four
SESSIONS open each week, with three hours
TO each session, that the result of the
Briggs trial will be known before the mid
Ole of January.
A Vote in the Smith Case To-Day.
a dispatch from Cincinnati says: The
Smith heresv trial is nearing the end of
The portion which viii be open to the pub
lie. Prof. Smith closed his argument to-
day, presenting in strictly logical form his
view of the case and summing up with the
claim that the committee had failed to
show anything in his writing or teaching
10 justify a verdict of guilty. Rev. DR.
McKibben, for the Prosecuting Committee,
began his final argument The Presbytery,
believing in the firmness of the foundation
of its faith in the Scriptures, should not
hesitate for the good of the church to eject
any modern builder who would destroy it.
DR.. McKibben, at the close of to-day's
session, said he hoped to close his argument
in an hour tomorrow. Prot. Smith then
has the right to make a reply, and the
prosecution to finally close the argument
The parties then retire, and the court, in
executive session, takes the case for judg-
ment Members NAV or may not speak be-
fore voting, as may be ordered, but, owing
to the vast amount of talk already heard
and the desire to close the matter, it is pos
sibie vote may be reached tomorrow.
A Foresone Conclusion Against Him.
What the outcome will be is hardly ques-
tionable. The Presbytery was divided be-
fore the trial began, the lines we're quite
closely drawn and the changes made by the
progress of argument, while apparently in
carry a verdict in his behalf
What Prof. Smith himself expects, may
be inferred from an illustration used in his
argument 1t was this: A boy living in
very old house had his attention called by
some neighbors to some architectural dis
crepancies in the building, which, while
not affecting its stability, were susceptible
10 changes and would add to its beauty.
Upon suggesting these changes to his
1ather. the latter, in anger at the boys pre-
sumption in proposing changes in the an
cestral pile, drove him from his home.
DR.. McKibben intimated what the CON-
nittee proposes shall be the judgment of
the court, when he cited the case of a son
who wanted to take out the old foundation
from his fathers house and replace it with
a theoretical foundation which had never
been tested, and when he could not convince
his father that the plan was right, insisted
upon putting in the new foundation any
how. Then the father, mindful of the safety
of the family, drove the ianatical son from
under his roof to save a wreck.
DIR. McKibben said he is willing to die,
If need be, to save the foundation of the
church from being sapped by the modern
idens of higher criticism.