Connecticut western news., 1893-06-01
THE HERESY APPEAL.
DR. BRIGGS SECOND TRIAL BEFORE
 THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

tNOO-'''0-'
 He Insists That There Are Inaccuracies In
 the Bible and That ReaSon Must Be
 Mixed With Faith-Menbers Went to
 Sleep-He Will Launch a Kew Theology.
 WASHINGTON. May 27-Amid the most intense excitement the first crisis in the Briggs case has been reached and passed. and today begins the real trial of the noted professor on charge of heresy. The Pres byterian general assembly has decided by formal vote that the case should be tried before it as an ecclesiastical court, and that it should not return to the New York synod, which failed to confirm the charges made against Dr. Briggs.
 WASHINGTON, May 29.-The trial of Pro lessor Charles A. Briggs of Union Theologi- cal Seminary, New York, upon the general charge of holding gross error in his teach ing, was begun before the general assem- bly, of the Presbyterian church this morn ing. The case comes up on appeal from the judgment of the presbytery of New York, which acquitted the professor after trial lasting several weeks last fall and
 
 the evidence being before the assembly in the records. The judicial committee of the assembly, Rev. George D. Baker of Phila- delphia chairman, have agreed upon an al lotment of time among the parties which, if it be approved by the assembly, will per init of vote being taken on the question, 'Shall the appeal be sustained?" tomorrow night or Wednesday morning.
 CINCINNATI May 30.-It is learned from authentic sources that Professor Briggs, now on trial at Washington on the charge of heresy, has been corresponding with E. D. Morris of the Lane seminary, concern ing the best method of forming a new church. Dr. Briggs wants to raise the banner of new theology.
 Professor Morris has replied to the letter attempting to di iscourage the scheme. He told Briggs that very few Presbyterian ministers would desert to a new standard. The movement has not been squelched, however, as it is known that four well known liberal Presbyterians of Cincinnati have gone to Washington with the avowed intention of assisting Dr. Briggs new church project
 WASHINGTON, May 30.-Unmindful of Memorial day, the Briggs trial was com menced as usual at 9:30 o'clock this morn ing, and Professor Briggs continued his defense. In the first part of his argument he had raised the point that separation of single charge into two and three offenses which the prosecution made on the second and third charges, was in conflict with the law of the church. He insisted upon sep arate vote upon each offense charged against him.
 Dr. Briggs held that it was simply neces- sary to prove that the doctrines attributed fr,h iy. AA s,a, He could not be held responsible for the in- ferences of the prosecution. He held that the defendant had not admitted the charge by admitting the extracts cited.
 The defendant had admitted that he taught that errors may have existed in the original text of Scriptures, that Moses is not the author of the Pentateuch; that Isaiah did not write more than half his book; that sanctification is not complete at death. He had not admitted the other things. He had, he said, admitted what ought to have been given as the minor premises of four of the charges.
 Continuing, Dr. Briggs said that in any case it is the divine spirit that determines when and where and how the effectual call shall be made. He had not said in his in- augural nor in any of his writings that he co-ordnated the Bible, the church and the reason, nor could it rightly be inferred that he did so.
 The Members Asleep.
 About this point in the argument some member of the assembly moved an ad- journment as some of his neighboring members were asleep. This simple remark created laugh at the expense of Dr. Bsiggs, in which he good naturedly joined. However, he proceeded with his argument, touching upon the teachings of the confes- f,,< L-l.l by his faith and his practice and not by in- dividual interpretation.
 Then, turning to the question of Scrip tural inerancy, he said the Scriptures had not been handed down. by angel hands. God gave his Holy Word to man in an en- tirely different way. He used the human reason and the facilities of imperfect man. He allowed the sacred writings to be edited and re-edited and arranged and rearranged by imperfect scribes.
 It was improbable that such imperfect means should produce perfect results But the inaccuracies did not touch the vitality or inspiration of the spirit. The witness in court of justice was not rejected be- cause he slipped into errors of detail re- sulting from carelessness or inattention. His evidence was stronger because of these very faults. and the witness who made no mistakes was open to suspicion. Histori- cal documents were never cast aside as worthless because they contained incident al errors. No historical document could be found that was infallible. The pope did not claim to be infallible in all things-in ordinary conversation about politics and | art and music-but only when sitting in the chair of St. Peter, speaking ot morality and religion. He held that there were err TOTS of Holy Scripture in matters that did not in any way impair its infallibility in matters of faith and practice. At this | point the assembly adjourned, Dr. Briggs having spoken altogether three hours.