Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-02

OF America, and in violation of the
ordination vow of said appellee. which said
erroneous teachings, views and doctrines
strike at the vitals of religion and have been
industriously SPREAD wherefore this general
assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America. sitting a. a
Iudlcatory In this cause, on appeal does hereby
suspend Chas. A. Briggs. the said appellee,
from the office OF a minister in the Presbyterian
Church in the United States OF America until
such time as he shall give satisfactory
evidence of repentance to the general
assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America. of the violation by
him of the said ordination vow as herein and
heretofore found
'And it is ordered that the stated clerk of
this general assembly transmit certified copy
of this judgment to the presbytery of New
York TO be made part of the record in this
case
DocTRINAL STATEMENTS.
DIR. Hoyt stated that in addition to this judg-
ment there were also formulated by the COM
mittee doctrinal statements bearing upon the
questions at issue. He asked DIR. Harsha to
read this report.
DIR. Harsha said that the committee had not
deemed it necessary to so into much detail.
The committee reported that they found that
the doctrine of errancy was in conflict with the
Scripture itself and also with the statements Of
the standards Of the church.
As TO the sufficiency Of the reason and the
church as guides to salvation, the committee
recommended that the assembly declare its be-
lief that the reason and the church are not
fountains of divine authority, and that such
teaching was contrary to the Scripture and to
the standards. They found the teachings re-
gardirg progressive sanctifcation were con-
trary to the standards Of the church.
On the motion to adopt the report DIR. Ray
mond asked if that included the paper read by
DR. Harsha.
The moderator said it did not
DIR. Storrs said he had never believed in con-
demning man without an accurate and def
mite statement of his offense. He thought the
Judgment lacked in this particular There was
no statement of the kind of the heresy for
which Judgment was passed upon him.
The moderator said the specifications Of
error were definitely set forth.
THE REPORT ADOPTED.
The report Of the committee on judgment
was adopted by a viva voce vote, apparently
about the same as that by which the assembly
sustained the appeal.
When the assembly considered the explain
atory report made by DIR. Harsha Dr. Sprague
rose up and said he wished to give notice on the
part of himself and others OF protest against
the Judgment, as seeming to them an abridg-
ment of proper liberty, encouragement of
reyerent scholarship and judgment too severe
on the honored scholar who was concerned.
DIR. Harsha said he moved that DR.. Sprague
be allowed to present his protest. He sug-
gested also that soon as the report was
adopted. as this a solemn matter, they en-
gage in prayer for the appellee.
DIR. Sprague gave notice that his protest
would be in the basement of tho church, where
those who desired could sign it.
DR.. Storrs then proceeded to discuss the ex-
planatory report in reference to doctrine. He
was proceeding to question the statement re-
speeding errancy when the moderator remarked
that he was reopening the case DR.. Storrs said
he was simply discussing the report; they did
not want to adopt anything that was not exactly
true
The moderator said that DIR. Briggs views
were not under discussion. The report pre-
sented the views of the assembly.
DIR. Storrs declared that he did not want to
have it appear that they Endorsed a statement
not exactly true.
DIR. Dufheld suggested that the majority only