Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-01-19


York Presbytery. in case the General
Assembly of next May adheres to The
position as to the Bible taken so en-
phatically by that body at its last two
meetings
So far as the New York Presbytery
itself is concerned, DIR. Clark has 40
reason to withdraw. He is with the
majority in supporting the Biblical crit
icism Of DR.. Briggs as within tho right
ful providence Of Presbyterian minis
ter. If DIR. Briggs can substantially
reject the Divine authority of the Bible
and attribute to it only human and fal-
1ible authority without objection from
the Presbytery. DIR. Clark has the Same
privilege. II DR.. Briggs Is freq to
think and teach as he pleases on the
subject in q Presbyterian theological
seminary, DIR. Clark has NO less liberty
in Presbyterian church.
Pending the decision of the coming
General Assembly. therefore, DIR. Clark
has as much reason for remaining in
the Presbyterian pulpit as DR.. Van
Dyke. In the report Of the committee 9
of the Presbytery. of which DR.. Van
Dyke was one, it was declared for tho
concurring body that DIR. Briggs has
not s.transgressed the limits Of liberty
allowed under our constitution to schol-
arship and opinion. They also en-
deavored to prevent the further consid-
GRAFTON of his case on appeal to tho
General Assembly by suggesting that
it '.will be more wisely and justly de-
termined by calm investigation and fra
ternal discussion than by judicial ar
raignment and process" II the major
ity Of the New York Presbytery succeed
in this effort, DR.. Clark can remain In
the Presbyterian ministry without In
and dishonor, though he
teach that the Bible is not without
error, that the Pentateuch was written
long after the time Of Moses, that
Isaiah was the author Of only . part of
the book ascribed to him in the canon
ical Scriptures, that the prophecy Of
the Bible is not all genuine. and that
people may be saved without kn6wl-
edge of Christ and the Scriptures
At present it does not seem possible
that the committee will be able to in
duce the General Assembly to revoln-
tionize SO completely the faith Of the
Presbyterian Church, and Of all or
bhodox Professionalism. Probably IL IL
because DIR. Clark forsees that result
hat he feels it his duty as man Of
honor to step down and out at once.
Il he cannot subscribe to the Westmin-
ster Confession, he is unwilling pre-
end to preach Its doctrines. DR..
Briggs, however, has no such scruples.
he is ready to subscribe to it every
lay. with mental reservations and with
In Interpretation directly contrary to
he belief of Presbyterians for hum
lreds of years.
Hence we cannot avoid looking upon
Dr.. Briggs as casuissical and dishonest
reside the square and straightforward
Dr.. Clark. The leader remains IN
,pite Of the declaration Of the General
Assembly that he ought in ..Christian
lonor'' to Withdraw from our minis
ry." but his follower has q more. deli
ate sense of his honorable obligations.
t is fair to say in excuse for DR.. Briggs
hat he is sustained by the New York
in proceeding thus, and that
le and they are fighting to bring the
seneral Assembly over to their aide.
n the event of their success DR.. Clark
.lso could continue consistently in the
'resbyserian ministry. s.
How will it be II they are mot suc-
essful, and really they have no hope
i succee1ine7 Viii they go ont with
he condemned heretic 4pds k16t1 1nnor~
'bls follower. lii 3oIpntiS,
: as re, rspudisssS TSsss Ssss
octrines must be fepudiated by the
'eneral Assembly or the whole faith
nd system OF theology Of the Presby-