The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-24
THE BRIGGS CASE UP.
Arrival of the Presbyterian
Hereto in Portland.
REPORT ON UNION SEMINARY.
Revision OF the Creed Postponed for An
other Year-Extension of tho Work
Among tho Freedmen.


terest of the day in the Presbyterian
assembly lay in the first order of the after
noon. Certain anticipations have been
realized, and the directors of the Union
seminary in New York have asked that
the general assembly may be pleased to
concur with the seminary directory IN
annullng the agreement of 1870, by which
a veto power was granted TO the assembly,
to be exercised in case there should be
disapproval of the appointments to the
professorships in the seminary. Further
consideration has been postponed till the
papers in the case can be printed and till
after presentation OF the report of the
standing committee on theological semi
naries, Dr. Mutchmore, chairman. Other
proceedings of the day were the usual re-
ports OF the standing committees and Sec
retares of the church boards.
This morning the devotioal exercises of
the assembly were led by Mr.. Buchanan,
of New York. After the reading of the
minutes the reports of the special COM
mittees were taken up. Dr. Bartlett, of
Washington City, presented the report on
Indian schools. 1t was recommended that
henceforth all public moneys for Indian
schools should be expended by govern
sectarian schools SHOULD absolutely cease.
The constitutional amendment now pend
ing looking to this end was heartily ap-
proved. DIR. Bartlett addressed the assem-
bly, in support of the recommendation.
The order of the day having arrived the
rel 'rt of the standing committee on mis-
sions to freedmen was presented by DR..
Sutherland, the chairman. After the read
,yrv Of - q h nd
dressed by DR.. Allen, secretary of the
committee. The report of the board of
missions to freedmen showed that 81 mis-
sionaries had been sent out during the
year; that 800 churches and missions had
been aided and eighty parochial and four
teen boarding schools maintained. with
total of 1928 pupils. The re-
ceipts amounted to over $l72, 1000,
with expenditures almost equal. The
beard has also under its charge 276 Sun
day schools, with 1S,221 scholars. Two
new school buildings have been erected, at
cost of $50, 900. Property for church and
school purposes had also been purchased
at Richmond, Asheville and Little Rock.
Ten new churches have been organized
during the year. Two hundred and fifty
thousand dollars is asked for the coming
year.
Special orders were fixed as follows: Re-
port of committee on conference with the
Union Theological seminary today at 2
O'Clock; cooperation with other churches,
Thursday at p. IN. The committee on
bills and overtures reported that it was
not considered wise, in view of the present
sgitations in the church, to proceed i'm
mediately with the preparation of a
shorter creed. This shelves the matter
for another year.
The final report Of the committee on re-
vision and confession of faith was pre-
sented. None of the changes proposed
impair the integrity of the Calvanistc
system of confession. The action pro-
posed by the committee consists of twenty
eight overtures, each one covering q
change proposed to the confession. The
report says:
1t was found impossible to meet the fndi-
vidual preferences OF every presbytery without
setting aside what were known to be the views
of large majority OF the church. There was
no eff # made TO seek harmony at any sacrifice.
This report is the best the committee has been
able 70 prepare after one weeks labor. The I'll.
vision into twenty-eight sections will enable
the church TO approve single alterations with
out erdangering the whole revision.
The report is Internationally signed by
the twelve members of the committee, and
with the exception of twelve of the twenty
eight changes in the confession, thirteen
are exceptions to points covered, which
are: Preterition, creation, covenant, new
chapter on Holy Spirit, mans fall, new
chapter on gospel predestination, effectual
call, infant salvation, non-eection and
Lords supper. The expiration of the
hour caused consideration of the report to
go over as unfinished business which NAV
come up at any time.
The special order for O'Clock was the
presentation of reports on the conference
of the assembly committee with the d.
rectors of the Union seminary, by the vice.
chairman of the committee. DR.. William
+. Moore and by Mr.. Kingsley, secretary
of the Union seminary directory, who had
been sent as special messengers of that
body. In each case there was double re-
port. The report prepared by DR.. Patton,
chairman, gave brief account of the pro-
Ceedlngs at the conference with the formal
papers which passed at the conference. 1t
ended with the single recommendation
that the status quo be recognized, in the
hope that some action may be taken which
may lead to a harmonious adjustment of
all the matters at issue.
The members Of the conference commit
tee present in Portland had consulted to-
gether aud made supplemental report
in which after q statement Of the status
of the question as understood by them
the recommendation was made that with
out surEenderng its supervision and con-
troll the question at issue could be submit
ted to arbitration. The seminary direct
ors' report on conference was then pre-
scented.
Il dwe,t upon the conference committed
acknow, edgement, IS party 10 the agreement by
which tae veto power over seminary appoint
meats was granted 70 the assembly in $50. It
was a.so shown tia. The transfer OF Dr. Briggs
10 the chair OF biblical theology was not an
election according - the legal requirements Of
elections. The directors add:
The board respectfully reports to the assem-
by tAat we can bH:fcgRrG curse yes a. so.enuIy
! bound ~ our interpre alton Of the agreement
ana must discharge our duties accordingly. In
/ la-0 this board conceded one thing and only
/ one thing 70 the general assembly, namely: The
1.stt 70 disa0F.ovc the election or appointment
| OF professor II Dr.. Briggs had been elected
! or appointed 10 the chair of biblical theology.
! the dl>Rprroyal OF the assembly would have
Teen decisive WIKI Us, but = Professor can be
| c-ectcd IN IaiS institution only IN accordance
/ y tn OUT laws. ana according 10 those laws Or
/ Brig. : WAS not elected
! : memorial from the seminary was also pre-
| scented n which il was claimed:
| That the assembly az Detroit last year tran.
| sceo4cd IL power and agreement in such a way
| - 10 lua u serious wrong upon the seminary
BE veto 0i Ir. Briggs the first test applied
! - tAe agreement, and IL had proved distur D.
| ILs - the "pcEce and harmony o; the church,
! which e Wa, intentei 10 promote. The opin-
| Ions OF d. MusGyave Professor Archibald