The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-05-31
BRIGGS DEFENSE MADE
Outline ofArguments Presented
In the Heresy Trial.
THE DOCTRINES OF THE COVENANTS

Rich Feast of Religious Oratory in "a Cold
Austere Atmosphere to n Somewhat Slim
MISUNDERSTANDING the End of the Great
Contest In the Presbyterian Assembly.
WAslIINCTON, May 30.-A cold cheerless
rain that fell steadily all day spread wet
blanket of depression over the proceed
ings of the general assembly of the Pres
byterian church, sitting as high court for
the trial of Professor Charles A. Briggs,
ID. d., upon the charges contained in the
appeal of the prosecuting committee from
the Judgment of acQuttal entered by the
New York presbytery. The attendance
upon the sittings of the court were re-
strcted by the weather and the rigid en-
forcement of the regulations governing
admission to the church, SO that at no time
was the capacity of the church tested be-
You'd its scating accommodations
The court adopted the report of the judi
cial committee rs to the order of procedure
of the trial, and it was formally begun
The principal argument for the prosecu
ton was by Rev. Joseph j. Lampe, D. d.
Argument of the Prosecution.
DR.. Iampe closed his argument, having
occupied hours and 10 minutes of the
time allotted to the prosecution When
DIR. 1-ampe had reached that portion of his
remarks which concerned Dr. Briggs
theory that the process of redemption eX-
tended to the world to come Dr. Briggs
arose and asked il it We're lawful to argue
upon these charges which had been re-
1ectcd by the presbytery before they had
been given legal effect by the assembly.
This interruption led to Il discussion and
reference to the record of the trial below
which brought about a ruling from the
moderator that the appellant (the prosec,i-
tom had the right to argue his specifica-
ton of error that the New York court did
err in throwing out certain charges against
DR.. Briggs.
Before beginning his defense, for which
he had been given seven hours, Professor
Briggs, through DIR. Baker. preferred a
request that Professor Brown might be
permitted to read extracts from the record
in order to relieve Professor Briggs
Certainly, certainly" said Moderator
Craig: and if Professor Brown so desires
Professor Brown may read his whole argu-
ment." whereat the defendant Joined in
the general smile that ran over the assem-
bly, AT the suggestion, aud mounted the
forum.
DIR. Briggs Begins His Defense.
In the course of his presentation OF the
defense DIR. Briggs said he had been &C
cnscd of teaching that many of the Old
Testament predictions had been reversed
by history, and that the great body of the
Messianic prediction had not been and
would not he fulfilled which was contrary
to the essential doctrine of Holy Scripture
and of the standards of the church. that
God is true, omniscient and umchangcabi,.
This he had repudiated and would ask the
assembly to hear exactly what he had said,
but which the committee on prosecution
had omitted He had said this:
"kuenan hid shown that if we insist I'M
on the fulfllment of the details of the
prophecy of the Old Testament, many of
the predictions had been reversed by
history, and the great body of the Mes
slanlc prediction has not only never been
1nihlled, but cannot now he fulfilled for
the reason that its own time has passed
forever All depended on the word ''if"
which the committee had omitted lie had
disclaimed this charge before and dis
claimed ii now. He also ,liscla;med that
he was guilty of teaching as charged in
Charge that the process of rcdempt eX-
tended to the world TO come in the case of
many who died i'll sin, stating that he had
repudiated the Roman Catholic doctrine
OF purgatory, also the doctrine of future
probation and regeneration after death or
any beginning Of Christian life after
death
Tl;e Doctrine or Race Redemption.
You have heard attributed to me the
dreadful doctrine OF race redemption. But
II you Will look into my inaugural YOU
VIII see that all have to say on that sub
Jcct Is connected with the incarnation OF
Jesus Christ. The trouble with these
brethren is that they are taking n too mar
row view Of the doctrine would that
conid teach such comfortable doctrine:
anI II the time ever comes that can
Will gladly lay down my ministry in the
Presbyterian church and so forth TO teach
the hope OF salvation of some of those who
apparently have died without regeneration
in this world. But do not hold that
belief now. l cannot"
The doctor read from his book on "NIes-
sianic Prophecy" to establish his teachings
as to the fulfllment of the productive
prophecy, error i'll which was alleged in
the rejected fourth charge This book, he
said, had been translated into the Japanese.
had received the approval of such an emf
nent man as Mr. Gladstone, and of such
an orthodox Christian as Delitsch of Ber-
lin. He asserted that that work antagon-
lied the teaching of Kuenan. From the
summing mp of the book DR.. Briggs read
the following:
The Messianic Prophecy.
we nau III the MeSslanlc prophecy OF
The Old Testament an organic system. con
stantly advancing on the original lines and
expanding into new and more comprehen-
sive phrases with the progress of the CEN
turtles. Vast and complex that organism
$50 complex that the wisest sages of
Israel could not comprehend it-as vast as
the difference between IL divine advent and
human advent, as contrasted as a suffer
ing ana reigning Messiah, as an advent
OF grace and revival and as an advent of
Judgment and periition, and vet there is a