The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-06-12
THE CASE OF DIR. BRIGGS.
Sermon by Rev. DR.. Blanchard at Congress
~. Square Church.

G4uaf0
The Rev. DIR. Blanchard preached a
sermon yesterday morning in Congress
Square church on ''The Presbyterian
condemnation of DR.. Briggs" There
was large congregation present. The
texts were taken from Acts xiv, 18th
and 10Th verses. s'But this Iiconfess into
thee that after the way which they call
heresy, so worship I the God of my
fathers, believing all things which are
written in the law and in the prophets.
And herein do I exercise myself, to have
always a conscience void of offence to-
wards God and towards men,
1t is a splendid picture we see when
we look on Paul standing before Felix
and speaking of his religion. He be-
lieved he had the truth. He desired to
obey conscience. He felt that he was
not hereto. By this picture may be
placed the one in Washington when DR..
Briggs confronted the Presbyterian
General Assembly. He believed he had
the truth. He desired to obey conscience.
He did not feel that he was hereto.
DR.. Blanchard explained the ecclesias-
tlcism of the Presbyterian body, eu-
logized the Assembly for its loyalty to
convictions of duty, did not believe it
took pleasure in suspending Dr. Briggs
from the Presbyterian ministry. He
then warmly praised DR.. Briggs for his
great services to Biblical education and
for his courage, steadfastness and loyal
ry to what he believed to be the truth.
But the Assembly could do no otherwise
DR.. Briggs teaches the errancy of the
Bible. The Assembly denies it. He
teaches that man may reach God through
reason and the church. The Assembly
repudiates this teaching. He holds that
Martineau, the believer in reason, and
Newman, the believer in the Roman
Catholic church, have found God. The
Assembly teaches no man can have
saving knowledge without the Bible.
DR.. Briggs teaches sanctification after
death. The Assembly denies it. There
is an irrepressible conflict between the
two. The Assembly makes law for the
Presbyterian denomination. 1t must,
therefore, depose DR.. Briggs from its
ministry.
DR.. Blanchard then considered results.
First, the Assembly does not impeach
DR.. Briggs's scholarship and character.
1t only says he must not represent Pres,
byterianism. 1t does not claim that it
can define Christianity but it does claim
to define Presbyteriarlisr, ~.
The second result is--It tells young
men in the seminaries and ministers in
Presbyterian churches that, if they ac-
cept DR.. Briggs's seachings and preach
them, they too will be suspended. DR..
Blanchard hoped that many would fol-
low DR.. Ecob' example. To believe with
DR.. Briggs and to be dumb is coward
ly.
The third result is thistle Presbv-
terrain church cuts itself off from the ad-
vancing scholarship of Christendom. To
day there is a growing consensus among
scholars that the scriptures are ascrib-
lures and not the word of God-that
Moses did not-write the Pentatencoh nor
Isaiah the latter part of the book assent
ed to him-that there. are various doc
trines concerning God and Christ in Old
Testament and in New. To persist in the
course of the Assembly will drive many
scholarly men out of the denomination
and prevent many such from entering
it.
The last part of the sermon was deyot-
ed to lessons for the Liberal church. This
consists not only of Universalists and
Uniterians, but also of liberal Congreg a.
tionalists, Independents and Peoples
churches. These must see that even DIR.
Briggs is not leader for them, but only
sign of progress made. He believes in
eternal punishment andgin the Bible as
the infallible guide in faith and practice.
The Liberal church,followers Reason and
Christ.
. 1t will not believe anything contraryIto
reason. 1t sees that Christ asks men to
judge for themselves. Let Liberals
learn to study, to reach convictions, to
proclaim them courageously. Let all
men choose between the churches which
stand for Trinity, eternal punishment
aud Bible as the word of Goo, and those
which stand for living God, inspiring
prophets and men today, which teaches
religion is born in human souls and not
in a book, that great souls, meditating
on the mystery of the universe, have
communed with God, have declared
what they believe to be His commands.
and SO records of these men have grown
up to become sacred books Religion
produced the Bible and the church.
Through reason, helped by Bible and
church, men ascend into communion
with God. G
May all honor the Presbyterian church
for its piety and fidelity to convict ons.
Mayiall honor DR.. Briggs for courage and
loyalty to what he believes to be the
truth. May all see and revere the great
forerunner of those who, called heretics,
believe they have the true faith,
Paul, the Apostle, before Felix the
Roman.
DIR. Blanchard announced for, the clos
ing hymn Nearer My God to Thee,'' as
one which the whole Church Universal is
using today.
Boom at Littlejohn's Island.
It is reported that Boston syndicate