The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-02

lows: Ministers: II. w. Congdon. OF
Nebraska; w. w. Harsha, Of Nebraska; ].
Lucas, Of Indiana: G. D. Baker. of Peni,-
sylvania; 2. p. Whallen. of Indiana; Thos.
Daving. of Iowa. Elders: John Randolph.
OF Baltimore; Thos. MoDouR.li. of Ohio;
David Jackson. of California; E. 7. Greene,
of New Je sey; j. A. Cory. of Kentucky.
and E. D. Warfeld, OF Pennsylvania. The
committee retired and the assembly as q
court Adjourned, 1esuminR legislative bus
inesa as an assembly.
At the afternoon session DR.. Craig con-
vened the assem- bly, as court to hear the
report OF the committee appointed TO pre-
pare the explanatory minute in the Briggs
case. Rev. Mr.. Hoyt. chairman. called
upon DR.. Baker, of the sub b-committee sent
to interview Briggs. to report the result Of
the interview.
Dr.. Baker said Prof. Briggs stated his
irrevocatle determination to abide BY the
declarations made in his address before the
assembly IN his defense and to continue to
teach the doctrines there avowed. At ths
the request of DR.. Baker, Prof. Briggs gave
him an autograph letter making such state
ment whereupon. DR.. Baker said, the COM
mittee took action which Mr.. Hoyt would
now report 10 the assembly.
The report. after recitinR the proceed
ings In the ease. proceeds: 'This judicia-
presbytery Of Now York erroneous. and IL
Is hereby reversed, and this general assem-
bly, finds tho appellee. Charles A. Briggs,
uttered, taught and proragated views, doc
trines and teachings sontrary to tho essen
tial doctrine of the holy scripture and the
In violation Of tho ordination vows Of said
appellee, which said er. oneous views aud
doctrines strike at the vitals of religion.
and have been industriously spread. and
does hereby suspend Cha les A. Briggs.
said appellee, from she office of minister
~k d. y.IA
States Of America until suoh time az he
shall give satisfactory evidence Of repent
nnoe 10 the general assembly Of the viola
tion b him of said ordination VOW, 40
herein and heretofore found"
The report OF the committee was adopted
for services. The motion provoked Kisses.
Rev. DIR. Herrick johnson. of Chicago.
presented . protest against the action OF
the assembly ON the inApi alton of holy
scriptures. Rev. DR.. Young offered . sup
plement to the rer ort of the committee on
bills and overtures on the inspiration Of the
scriptures as follows:
,'Resolved, That tho Bible as We now
have it. in various translations and ver-
| sions, when freed from all errors and mis-
| takos of translators. copyists and printers.
is tho very wot d Of God, and consequently
wholly without error" This was uuani-
mously adopted.
Dr.. Spraous presented for consideration
| a protest against the action OF tho assem-
bly, In the Briggs case az being too severe
sen tencs for She offence OF the honored
scholar named. az tending to restrict the
liberty heretofore enjoyed by ofIiGsbearers
| in the p, esbvterian church.
Saratoga. N. Y. WAS chosen as the place
| of meeting of the assembly OF 1894.
Rev. John Dickson, chairman Of the com.
| mitsse of theological seminaries, su mitted
u repo I. The institutions generally rs-
port pi osperity. As to Lane Thsolosieal
seminary. the trustees were compelled to
asoiish The chair Of practical theology,
owing to reduced income. thus compelling
| the resignation of DR.. Roberts. who was the
| incumbent thereof. In The list Of profess
sors ths assembly finds the name Of Rev.
Henry p. Smith. who. In December last.
was suspended by the pHesby tsry Of Gin
cinnati for unsoundness in facts. The
| board should have accepted the resignation
of Prof Smith. or at least have relieved
| him from the discharge of his duties. Thu
assembly 10 therefore constrained TO with.
| hold approval and communication of Lane
seminary until the board has reconsidersd
| its action and rome iisd this error.
| Tho committee recommend that the re-
| election of DR.. Chariss A. Briggs. d. d., BY
the presby terry of Newark as . director Of
the German Theological seminary at
Bloomfield. N. j.. be disapp,ov by this
assembly. long and excited discussion
but the question was finally put and ths
report adopted by a large majority.
| The records of the various synods were
reported and app proved except those OF
| Pennsylvania for inc6mpescnoy, and Of
South Dakota for holding business sesstona
on sundays. The record OF Wisconsin WAS
approved with fourteen exceptions. whoh
were orde red sent to the synod for their
information. Various standing committees
were then discharged In due fern. reporting