Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-05
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
REV. DIR. CUNNINGHAM REVIEWS TIE WORK
OF TIE PRESBYTERIAN COURT.
The Briggs Trial and the Revision Of Faith
Treated in an Interesting Wsy-Dr Fuller
ton Discoursss Upon Doubling"

bly,, which convened at Washington re-
Gently and adjourned last week. DR..
Cunningham was one Of the representa-
tives Of the local Presbytery. He Sc
lected his text from the S7th Psalm, I'd
and 3rd verses-"The Lord loyeth the
gates Of Zion" etc.
DR.. Cunningham briefly explained the
meaning OF the text. In ancient times,
the gates OF city were the places OF
public worship, and the meaning was
that the Lord looked with great
er pleasure upon such null
titudes assembling TO worship
him than any other event in the land.
The speaker then traced the origin OF
the PRESBYTERIAN church, and its form
Of government, leading up 10 an ex-
plation of the General Assembly,
body which bears the same relationship
to the Presbyterian church, as the
Supreme court 10 the civil law OF the
land. 1t is the highest judlcatory OF
the church.
DR.. Cunningham then defined the
rights OF the Assembly, and reviewed
the preliminary work of organization.
1T is a matter of wonder TO some, he
said, chow such body can carefully
consider the varying interests OF the
Church. The secret lies in the fact that
Il Is thoroughly SyStematized.
1t is the genius OF Pres0y-
terian polite. It's work is all
assigned TO committees, by whom
il is carefully considered before fiual
action is taken. was second on the
judicial committee, and spent ten hours
OF hard work studying the reports OF
thirteen seminaries. The past year
was one OF prosperity. Rich spiritual
harVests were gathered. There was no
occasion for dependency In the reports.
The treasurerS and boards never gave
better accounts OF themselves. There
is no other Church in the American
Protestant world which ranks with the
arithmetic OF our own. Yet sumo OF
the newspapers say We are going to
smash. They simply don't know what
they are talking ABOUT"
After dwelling briefly upon the hg-
ures presented in the various reports,
DIR. Cunningham discussed the DR..
Briggs case 10 an interesting ana Iorcl-
Bile way. He said the judicial trial or
DR.. Briggs, for entertaining and teach
ing doctrines contrary TO Scripture ana
the Standard of the Presbyterian
church, absorbed much OF the time OF
the Assembly. The case had been pend
ing two years, and although DR.. Briggs
protested TO be anxious for trial, he
was always throwing distractions In
the way. He tried to get the case back
TO the Synod Of New York. Had he
be successful, 10 would have been tried
there, and again come up before the
General Assembly. IL was not DR..
Briggs who was being injured, but the
Church Of the living God.
A man who is ordained to the min
istry OF the Presbyterian Church, &C
4 cepts the old and new TestamentS as the
only Afallible rule of faith, and accepts
the Interpretation OF the Presbyterian
Church. L. was clearly shown IN the
trial that DR.. Briggs held aud taught
doctrines contrary TO his ordination
vows, and contrary 10 the Scriptures.
There was never truer verdict rend-
cred. II was not done in the dark and
hastily. A fairer trial was never granted
10 any court.
There has been a remarkable activity
I'm the matter during the past year.
Circulars, petitions, pamphlets,
special sermons, have been
distributed by the ten thousand,
through channels aside from those OF
the regular Church work. For year
the leaven has been working in the
Church. IL was time an utterance
should be made by the Supreme Court
OF the Church. The action was free
and unrestrained. DR.. Briggs was
given five hours TO resist the appeal
which came up from the PreSbytery OF
New York, and be was afterwards
given seven hours when the case was
tried on its merits. He said ia closing
his address that he would continue TO
preach these doctrines as long as he
lived, thereby defying the Church. The
Assembly suspended him from the min
istry until he repentS. THIS decision
was given by vote OF four TO one
against DR.. Briggs theories.
"As to any consequent disruption OF
the Church have no fear. Why didn't
DR.. Briggs 90 out without having to be
put out, or suspended, without disturb
ing the peace Of the church. The judi
cial trial will do the Church good. II is
one OF the best things which has hap
pened 10 the Church In the last two
years. In q case Of discipline, involv-
ing what the Church holds TO be vitality
erroneous teaching, 10 is expected that
every loyal one will abide by the decis-
ion of the highest court. The Presby-
terian Church is the very embodiment
Of liberty, aad charity, aud justice, and
all within her fold who ask hearing
when eensured, will have it.
The action taken as 10 the revision OF
faith was wise. For several years it
was discussed, and many favored mod
crate changes, without disturbing the
the system OF doctrine. BY a cOnSOlida-
tlon of votes by the conservative ele-
ment in the Assembly, the confession of
faith remains the same. We have lived
los years under the old confession Of
faith, and 1 think we can live another
year, or another hundred years if neces-
saay.
The grand old Presbyterian Church
has no occasion TO blush for any OF the
work done during the year by any Of
her authorized agencies. II is to be
hoped that the spiritual fire kindled by
the Assembly, will extend far aud wide
to quicken the whole Church.
A TIMELY DISCOURSE.