Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-13

against itself: secondly. that IL the presbyterv
has the authority to represent the entire church
IN appointing the committee il must have
thority to represent il in determining when the
committee shall cease TO act: thirdly. that such
a vast power-the power TO override the ap-
pointing body, and keep the whole church in
excitement for a number of years-must be
conferred by special statute, If il exist. and
that since there is no such statute. the infer
ence Is that the power does not exist and finally
that il is contrary to the usage Of all modern
Jurisprudence and to equity that a public
prosecutor should appeal against verdict
Acquiring an accused person. IL is maintained
DIV this party that the duty of conducting the
prosecution ''in all its stages in whatever Judi
catory applies only TO the court of original
jurisdiction and TO appellate courts before
which condemned person NAV bring his case
on appeal. and does not at all involve the right
OF prosecuting committee to appeal when q
prosecuted person is acquitted Unless these
conditions should be overcome by the friends
OF the appeal, il would seem as if their
opponents had rather the best of the argument.
But that would mean a denial Of the right OF
the general assembly TO entertain the appeal,
ana the question Is whether prejudice and the
desire 10 condemn DIR. Briggs may not weigh
more than sound argument. II would certainly
be great pity IL this were so, for il would
tend to diminish the respect in which Presby-
terian government and procedure lis held in the
community.
appellants have done an unusual thing in np-
pealing directly from the presbytery 70 the
general assembly and ignoring the synod,
which Is an intermediate court. They attempt
TO Justify this proceeding. but il does not APP
pear that their arguments are very conclusive
AT all events, il is claimed by their opponents
that whatever force these arguments may have
Is more than offset by the fact that the whole
question of their right to appeal at all is now
pending before the synod of New York: il Is
argued that to act upon an appeal when there is
possibility that the appellants will be adj
judged incompetent is a foolish procedure
and, besides that it is unfair to DIR. Briggs to
deprive him Of the opportunity Of a hearing
before the synod Precedents are adduced for
the dismissal Of appeal by n general as
sembly and for the reference of il 10 a synod.
when the synod has been Overleaped in this
way. Possibly the precedents for referring a
matter under such circumstances to the synod
IN question may indicate the path OF prudent
compromise, which moderate men Of 10th
parties can agree TO take. The synod will then
have to pass upon il in the autumn. subject TO
an appeal 10 the next assembly. In any event
1t is clear that the case of DR.. Briggs will
oner nice questions or ecclesiastical law for the
assembly TO discuss and decide.
THE THEOLOGICAL QUESTIONS
The liberal party in the Presbyterian
Church has the strong conviction that the con-
stitutional questions already considered would
be decided in accordance with its interpreta-
ton bat for the theological prejudice which
has been aroused. Whether from prejudice or
from whatever cause the CURIOUS fact is that il
Is the progressiyes that are insisting upOn OBJ
servance of the constitution of the church. and
appearing to form the constitutional party
while the conservatives spend little time
in answering constitutional arguments and
much in decrying DIR. Briggs' opinions and
In pointing out the calamities which will follow
failure to condemn him Immediately l. e.. to
reverse at once the acquittal given by the pres
bytery OF New York. Their view seems to be
that the peril is so imminent that questions Of
law must give way, frontier towns Justify
vigilance committees What then are the theo-
logical issues and what is this grave de- niger in
DR.. Briggs opinions?
"a careful historian will record certain things
as not involved. DIR. Briggs does not attack
the Westminster confession of faith and tho
catechlsms. As far have been able to
learn. no living man reveres these documents
more than be does, or has studied them in all
the light OF history, manuscript records and
church life more patiently than he has. One Of
his chief grounds of attack upon those whom
he calls 'tradluonalsts' is that thev have de-
parted from the Westminster standards and
are setting up private tests OF orthodoxy based
on their own non-Westminster opinions With
reference to the divine DEGREES, which have
played large part in the revision controver-
sizes. he is known 70 be personally very conser-
I
DR.. Briggs attacks the Bible. He lie recognized
as profound. spiritually minded student OF
the Scriptures, and a sincere practical Chris
tlan. 1t Is not because he denies what the Bible
and confession explicitly teach. or teaches what
the Bible and confession clearly DENY. that he
has been arraigned. The matter is one OF inter-
probation again. he holds and teaches certain
beliefs which his accusers declare to be incon-
sistent with statements of the Bible and con-
fession. He denies the inconsistency and the
] rra Of Nau N1rl ,l~ - 4
say that il believes his opinions TO be true
agrees with him to the extent Of declaring that
whether true or not, in its judgment they are
not incompatible with sincere acceptance Of the
Bible and the confession.
Therefore. there is no proper debate as TO
whether he denies inspiration or denies that the
Scriptures came from God. or denies eternal
punishment, or Is a Universalist. or believes in
a probation after death. No well-informed and
calm minded person can suppose that these
things are true.
DIR. BRrGos' UTrERAScEs.
THE following opinions, found in the inaugu-
raj address, are those for which he has actually
been tried:
Il. That God speaks directly to men with d.
vine authority. through the reason and through
the church, as well through the Bible q
That there may have been errors in the original
autographs Of the Scriptures. 8 That Noses
did not write the Pentateuch and that Isaiah
did not write half of the book tina. bears his
name. 4. That the sanctifcation of Christian
people is not altogether completed az death but
goes on in the state between death and the final
judgment
What the prosecutors before the presbyterv
Of New York were called upon TO show was. not
that these beliefs were not true but that they
were not lawful-in other words that they DENY
or involve the denial OF essential doctrines OF
the Bible and the confession. They were not
able 10 convince the presbytery that this is the
case. IL the assembly entertains their appeal
they will try TO persuade the assembly that the
presbytery ought to have been convinced and
that Its Judgment of acquittal erroneous.
We have read their arguments with care rs a
matter Of interest in ecclesiastical law. and il
these arguments represent the full strength OF
their case il does not seem TO us that the pres
bytery erred. The prosecutors. we look at
it. seem rather to have tried TO show two other
things-that these opinions are untrue and that
they are dangerous. They NAV. however. be
both of these. and vet not be opposed to Bible
and confession, because neither the Bible nor
the confession covers all possible opinions. and
there may be wrong opinions which neither OF
them condemns or even mentions. DIR. Briggs
on the other hand claimed in his argument be-
| fore the presbytery both tina: his opinions
consistent with the Presbyterian standards,