New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-30

fellow-P resbyterians whose teachings he oppose
SO vigorously to-day, has he given SO many
years Of clos, study TO the niceties OF the Hebrew
language but the higher criticism and the Hepre"
alike have not been neglected by this harl-woIk"s
city pastor. When the Presbytery OF New-i orh
wishes its students trained III Hebrew py W.
Briggs to be examined for licenses. 1t Calls upon
Dr. Lampe 10 conduct the examination, ana inc
candidates feel quite sure before he hnienes '''''
DR.. Briggs is right in calling him scholar.
The argument which he presented to-day was III
the main along the lines of his convincing speech
at the Presbytcry trial, but 1T had occh 'o
yised largely. if not wholly rewritten, ana IL
was delivered in much more 1orcloc "'''n'i
than In New-York For three hours the speaker
held closely the attention of the judges anu inc
public Point after point, argument AFTER aisu-
uent. was advanced There was no atteihp' al
rhetoric In simple, earnest, srals"'ior"'''
manner ne delivered the speech 80 carefully pre-
pared Only once twice did ne a''cmpo ~
tighten hi. argument by a sentence which could
in any sense produce smile. ih spe""i's Va
tho naked concept given by the Almighty 10 the
writer's Of Holy Scripture, he said that-as Dr.
Briggs had said-there were errors in the Bible;
the Biblical writer's must have dressed their con-
cents with the clothes upside down. Again he
referred to the theories held by the higher
critics as 20 the failure Of Christ
to right the wrongs Of the va
Testament-one being that lie accommodated Him.
self TO the ignorance of the times. and the other
that He was ignorant Himself Concerning TINS
last theory Dr. Lampe admitted frankly that 'ile
Saviour had not gone to Oxford or Germany u
study. but stiu lie was willing to place His tes-
timony against those who had enjoyed such priv
ilcges when conflict of authority arose.
INTERRUPTED BY DR. BRIGGS.
Two or three times during the argument, LIT.
Ianpe was interrupted. once by Professor BRIGGS
who asked if il were lawful TO argue upon the
two charges rejected by the New-fork frcspy'er'
before they had been declared sufficient in form
and legal effect The Moderator decided that
argument for the purpose of getting the charges
rejustated properly was relevant and pertinent
Dr. Brirgs-You so decide?
The Moderator-I so decide.
Dr. Briggs whispered to DIR. Brown VINO III
tnrn spoke TO Judge Cutcheon, of Detroit, VINO
is apparently acting as unnamed counsel IN 'hc
case Judge Cutchcon interrupted the speaker
in a moment and asked the Moderator if it Were
right that the prosecution should proceed 10 'he
argument on the merits of the question until
the question Of error had been determined by the
Court. To this Colonel McCook replied that
the prosecution claimed that the two charges
were improperly stricken OUT
The Moderator asked DIR. Briggs If he had
word 10 say. lie said that tn, prosecution ma
no right to argue that he was hereiical on 'hes'
two charges referring TO matters upon ""i0''
there had been no argument III NeW-iorA w
cause they were stricken out by the freS"S wy
A running fire then took place, during whch
Colonel McCoOk read from the stehost"pn'
minutes of the Presby,ery to show th.. INV
charges were stricken out because III. bie1S
had disclamed the allegations WHICH they con,
tanned. DR.. Briggs said that Mr.. McNooA "''
Only read the last part of his statement anu ne
asked Dr. Brown to read the iirst part
1T was simply for brevity. said the Coiohei
No. not simply for brevity,' rejoiiied Dr'
Briggs. e.. hr.v,t
This time he spoke with more emphasis. III
Brown read tie part CT the minutes
DIX. DUrFIEiD 10 TIE RES~U%.
Then DR.. Duifclj, of Princeton, who had STOOD
as champion for Dr. Briggs last week, again came
to the rescue, saying that it struck HIM as purely
out Of order for the Assembly TO go into the merits
Of the case, for they had not been before the
Presbytery.
DIR. Baker. the chairman Of the Judicial Com
mit,ee and Dr. Herrick Johnson came to the sup
port of Dr.. Ddnield. President Wariied, OF
Lafayette College, differed from the three speakers.
Dr. Craig finally decided that DIR. Lampc, in order
to argue his specification of error. was bound TO
be allowed to present the charges thrown ont, so
that the Assembly could soc that they were SUM-
Gent in kind and that they ought not 10 have
been thrown out Then came debate
Dr. DufKeld-Wcll. Mr.. Moderator. / feel great
reluctance about taking any appeal from the
The Moderator-Dont feel the slightest re-
luctancc, my father.
Dr. Dutheld-I maintain that it is entirely
competent for this committee TO say they could
approve and
Dr. W. H. Roberts-Mr Moderator ] rise to a
point. No debate was in order on that point OF
Or. Duhield-I take an appeal from tho dcc-
sion of the Moderator Oh the ground that the
appellants are restricted to the single question
OF error in proceeding in the New-lork rr'.sbytery
and any heresy Of pr Briggs on thcse points
appeal from the MCderator's decision.
Judge Cutcheon-l think there mnst he a mis-
apprehension. 1t seems to me that the Modcra-
tors ruling row is that the Prosecuting Com
overriding of that error. and that to argue that
they have right TO present enough
THE MODERATOR SUSTAINED.
At this point the Moderator asked the Assem-
bly, il they would stand by his decision. and only
few negative votes were cast. Dr. Lampc
closed his appeal in an earnest plea for liberty
for the Presbyter IN Church quite as much as
for DR.. briggs LII" thurch' ne AL WCud ny
question Dr. Briggs We're he outside OF it: lie
could proclaim them from the housetop. But il
had some liberties rs well as he. and hc aske |
the Assembly 10 alav ann ety. TO rrsor" con
hdcnce and 10 rc-csrabsh peace b. wis, counsels,
by bearing clear testimony for the truth of God,
hy speaking with no uncertain sound. by con
tending earnestly for the faith o'ce for all dc
liverei unto the saints. ny firmly holding fast
the form Of sound words.
Dr.. BRIGGS BEGINS HIS DEFENCE.
Then came Dr. Briggs, a trille pale, but terribly
in earnest and for an hour in the afternoon and
for two hours in the evening he spoke with uncon-
mcn energy. now reading his manuscript, now
speaking eXtcMporahe0uslv, resting for moment
while DR.. Brown read from the record. or reading
himself from one Of his own public werks. Every
ear was intent 1hos, who differed most from hn
were as eager TO hear his answers to the argu-