The sun., 1892-04-13

the Presbyterian Church than OF the COM
plete triumph and sway OF the old-fashioned
orthodoxy. Such breach Is the more IN
eyitable because DR.. BRIGGS and the Union
Theological Seminary are representative
OF a whole school OF theologinns and
Biblical critics. among whom are many
prominent ministers and teachers ol
divinity In the Presbyterian and other or
thodox denominations. II he stood alone.
he might be surrendered as o prisoner OF
war without uncomfortable consequences
to anybody except himself. But DR.. BRIaos
Is q leader OF at least powerful faction Oh
the Presbyterians. and his followers must
60 with him or save themselves ny recan'-
ing their declared opinions.
The question between him and the Pres'
byterian majority. however. Ia not ques-
ton OF opinion and sentiment. but OF lact.
1t Is scientific question. not question Oh
dogmntlc theology merely. The soundness
or unsoundness Of his Biblical criticism. ne
and his followers contend. Is demonstraDie.
or course. then. they have nothing to recant.
They can only be convinced that they are
wrong by the demonstration that their
scholarship is defective They base their
conclusions as to the Scriptures on facts
and not theories. and the opposition
will not meet the issue unless 1t dis
poses OF their facts. Their argument
is scientific and addressed to the reason
alone. The dogmatism Of tho Westminster
Confession and the General Assembly is
addressed to faith. and hence can have no
power against it. It is put forward as
matter Of scientific demonstration. and
L., In
must be proved wrong. not merely declared
wrong. in order to overcome those who use 1t.
The Union Theological Seminary. by re-
tanning DR.. BR1oas as Its foremost teacher
and representative. even against the Gem
eral Assembly's opposition. has proclaimed
to all the world that 1t accepts his demon
stratlon and the conclusions to which his
scientific investigation OF the Bible has led
him. How. then. can 1t put him away and
teach differently simply at the command OK
the General Assembly without displaying
both moral and intellectual cowardice. and
without losing public and even Pres
lyterian respect because Of Its pusil-
lanimity? 1t has chosen Its colors.
and 1t must fight under them or else ac-
cept the odium which attaches to treachery.
Even II DR.. BRIGGS goes OF his own motion.
his methods Of Biblical criticism must be
followed by his successor. for the institu-
tlon has formally put its stamp OF approval
on them. In spite OF their condemnation by
the General Assembly: and the whole
teaching of the seminary Is In accord with
them. II not based on them. as demonstra-
bly, true and sound.
Hence the issue before the General Assem-
bly, ut Portland in far-away Oregon. next
month. will not concern DR.. BRIdas alone
nor principally. 1t will involve the future
Of the whole Presbyterian Church. The
probable. IL not inevitable decision
against him will make him the leader
and the Union Theological Seminary
the exponent Of powerful party
OF the Presbyterians standing out in
revolt against it. Either there will be q
largo secession from the Church or the
former division between the Old School and
tho New School will be revived. with tho
causes OF separation far more radical. and
with no chance Of being healed otherwise
than by the complete destruction OF the
arguments OF one or tho other party. The
battle must be fought out until DR.. BR1aos
or his enemies are vanquished.