The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-06-07

New York, June 4.-Dr. Edwin G.
Bolle preached today on the Briggs trial
to large congregation at the Church OF
the Eternal Hope. The subject OF the
pastors discourse was How Heresy
Trials Appear to Liberal"
lie began by stating that he did not
propose to abuse the presbyterian church,
for their action was logical and from their
point of view right The teeth of perse-
cution have been drawn by time; in olden
days DR.. Briggs might have seen the way
to the scatfold or the prison"
The plain sense Of the Westminster confess
sion, he continued, seemed to candid people
lust as the presbytery had decided Il. ct Dr.
Briggs was perfectly right The only trouble
was that Or. Briggs was the right u n in the
wrong place. lie can regard his condemnation
Is every man who has been ahead OF his time
could have done, as compliment, although,
perhaps, En- embarrassing one. In the hrst
place the whole matter may be regarded as
great waste OF time. energy and enthusiasm.
There is something better for the church to
do than trying to settle points which will not
be settled and entering on q debate which Is
only weaTying and endless.
The only reason for the existence OF
church, bible or creed at ALI 10 make men
better and heTesy trial makes them forget
the spirit of God and neglec, the golden rule
about their duty TO their fellow men.
IL seems 10 me that such a beresy trial is a
manufacturer OF inhdels. IL adds 70 the scan
dals which make Rreai many intelligent men
aud women despise the church, which has more
danger 70 fear from the conclusions of the
world that she preserves only the letter aud
not the spirit OF her Mas leT's gospel than from
any attacks which can be made upon her from
the Outside. The tone Oh the great theTmOme-
ter OF public opinion, the press. indicates this
feeling and 10 one could have read the many
sharp and able editorials Of the last week with.
out feeling that the presbyterian etfsroh has
done much TO ALLEVIATE public sentiment from
its respect toward Christianity.
This heresy trial may be looked upon hope.
fully as indicating the power OF the evolution
oil the world toward the liberal ideas in Ieil-
gion. Or. Briggs mas tried to make the W est
minister confession elastic. as II made OF rubber;
the assembly has decided that il Is rigid cast
iron But the expansive force Of reason aud
common i cracking since it cannot
stretch ITS ancient shell. The assembly had
drawn the lines, but il has not got the power
to put the butterfly back into the ohrysalis or
the singing bird into its old shell
One thing Is certain. IL seems that there is
more need than ever OF a clear, vigorous and
devout statement OF the prinei pies OF the lib
eTAl church. Ii must be made clear that men
may see that religion is not necessarily fossil
from prehistoric ages nor dangerous cOmprO-
mise between conservation and progress. liz
must be vigorous, that the world may know
that there are vews OF God aud OF religion
and human duty and destiuity where faith is
grounded on reason. and where the lesson of
Gods eternal love is the beginning and end of
church creed.
DIR. Bolle when seen after the service, was
enthusiastic on the subject. 81 have been
close student oil this struggle" he said,
lever since Elliott +. Shepard wrote that
bitter attack calling upon the presbVtery
TO expel Dr. Briggs and sbjuring people
not to send their sons 10 Union seminary.
DR.. Briggs was defeated by a number of
country bigots who have learned nothing
of the advance OF theology during the last
quarter of century.
"Why. ! assure YOU sir. that the leading
presbyterian clergy of this city are anxious
TO receive unitarans or universalsts or
any other people of respectsbility into
their churches. According TO the presby-
terian notion of the infallibity of the
entire bible they would revere as saints a
| lot of men who could not be classed even
with the men of Tammsny hall and
| Wall-st. Who cares whether when q man
dies, he is at once made as good as possible
| in the next world, or only attains perfec-
| tion by degrees, as DIR. Briggs teaches?
| These questions are only fit for the mid
| die ages. | can tell you, sir, that the
| great masses of the thoughtful people of
! this country are with DIR. Briggs Let
! those bigots who are so fond of holding
! out examples of divine judgments ponder
awhile over what has happened since the
| first TRADE was published against the doc
J tor-not that / believe such nonsense
| but they can profitably take lesson from
their own dogmas"