Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-02-23
It win Not work.


It is understood that a concerted eff
fort TO- compromise the Presbyterian
controversy over the Bible by sort
of hedging process is to be made under
the leadership of DIR. Henry Van Dyke.
He is the pastor of the Brick Presby-
terrain Church in the Fifth avenue. a
church formerly anchored in the strict
est Calvinistic orthodoxy, but which
now gets more consolation from his
elastic and genial doctrines.
The purpose of the movement is to
induce both those who sympathize with
views of DR.. Briggs and those who de-
nounce them as fiagrantly heretical to
unite in petitioning the General Assem-
bly,. which meets at Washington next
May, to drop the whole subject as
dangerous to the peace of Presbyterian
ism. The plan seems to be to beg the
.Briggsites to keep quiet in public about
the Bible, and to hold their opinions
for private use only. Their opponents
are also to refrain from irritating them
with heresy trials and all other inter-
ference. The question whether the
Bible is the genuine Word of God is
referred to scholarship" exclusively,
as belonging there rather than to the
field Of theological controversy.
It is very clever plan, for DR.. Van
Dyke is a very clever man. He is also
a minister who likes to have all things
pleasant about him, and with his cheer
full and genial nature he contributes to
make them SO. He is very polite
man, and in the refined society in which
he moves it is obligatory to aviod sub
jects eff conversation that tend to pro-
woke harsh disagreement. If Presi-
dent Patton resents the treatment of
the Bible by DIR. Briggs. the polished
pastor of the Brick Church would have
them talk about something else when
they meet, the weather, for instance,
or the last college football game.
1t is hardly conceivable, however,
that the General Assembly will hold
its convictions under restraint so pO-
lite. At the last two meetings of that
supreme Presbyterian tribunal the
great majority of its members made no
concealment of their bitter hostility to
the teachings of DR.. Briggs. If they
had had their way, he would have been
hustled out of his chair in the Union
Theological Seminary very roughly.
They did not look upon his rejection of
the infallibility of the Bible as trivial
matter. Neither was it SO regarded
by the Cincinnati Presbytery, which
condemned DIR. Smith as a hereto for
teaching the same doctrine to theolo-
gical students in Ohio. Unless, then.
a great change has come over the hum
dreds of presbyteries represented in
the General Assembly, DIR. Van Dykes
attempt to stop discussion of the SUBJ
ject as disagreeable to refined SENSIBLE
titles is not likely to be successful.
A similar effort was made immedi-
ately after the acquittal of DIR. Briggs
by the majority 81 the New York Pres
bytery, and it was directed against the
committee of prosecution. Every pres
sure of wealth and social influence was
brought to bear to induce these men to
drop the matter as sufficiently settled.
They were exhorted and almost bull
dozed for the purpose Of preventing
them. from carrying the case to the
General Assembly on appeal. As con-
sistent and conscientious Presbyterians
they resisted all such influences, and
next May at Washington the General
Assembly must settle the controversy,
which will be brought to it both by the
appeal from the acquittal of DIR. Briggs
and the appeal from the conviction of
DIR. Smith. ..5s
The issue is squarely drawn, and it
must be met squarely at Washington.
or the Presbyterian Church will forfeit
the public respect. DIR. Van Dykes
scheme of compromise and evasion
cannot work.-N 7. sam.