Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1893-06-22

table" There seems no possible chance to
prevent the restoration of a bounty on
sugar
Present Aspects of the Briggs Case.
As the trial Of tine celebrated case Of DR..
Briggs rscedes into the past the true in
wardness of the controversy becomes more
evident; and the allaying of the bitter feel
ings aroused by the ecclesiastical blows
given and received during the trial enables
the participants to see that mistakes were
made on both sides. During The early part
of the struggle especially the charge was
frequently made by DR.. Briggs opponents
that lie was ambitious to play the part oil
church Nrecker, and some went SO far even as
to allege that his motives were undoubtedly to
break up the church and destroy the faith
of the humble believers in Christ. No
charge Of this kind 10 now heard, however,
and the real character of the controversy Is
beginning to be understood by those who
participated in the trial as well as by the
public in general.
SIS far as DR.. Briggs is concerned, a new
light has dawned upon the minds Of
his reasonable and fair minded opponents
since his attitude following his conviction
of heresy became known. The fact that he
sticks to the church In spite of the manner
in which be has been spurnei by tie leaders
aud official head, and the way in which he
advises his followers to adhere to tho church,
while not surrendering their doctrine, fully
de molsh the suspicion that DR.. Brigg:
may have desired to wreck the Presbyterian
church, or even to build up new denomi-
nation ofh his own way of religious thinking
and belief.
However much people may differ from
DR.. Briggs as to belief and methods Of
church work they must admire and com
mend his attitude toward the Presby terrain
church as an organization and his pronun
ciamento in which he urges adherence to the
church and untiring pressure of what the
believers in the higher criticism call the
truth about the Bible, has won for him the
sympathy of many who do not share his
opinions.
Since the general assembly Of the Presby-
terrain church at Washington disposed o,
the case of DR.. Briggs the fact has been
/. developed that the controversy has cost a
very larg, sum of money and it also
transpires that many Presbyte ians
OF wealth are contributing to the anti
Briggs fund. 1t is estimated that
the expenses thus far incurred by Col. John
j. McCook and his sympathizers, who are
battling against Briggs, must have reached
the sum of $50, 900 since the controversy
first began. DR.. Briggs expenses have
also been large but it is stated
that lie insists upon paying hi,
own expenses, although he has received
liberal offers of assistance. All his persona
expenses are said to have besn met from
his salary as professor and from the GALES
OF his writings, for which there is a con
slant demand. These considerations, Of
at issue, but they throw a side light upon
one of the most important ecclesiastical con
troverses of the present age.
Meanwhile the friends of DR.. Briggs ar
not idle. They have been trying to fore
action upon the New York presbytery, bu
ter will not be called up before the mex
presbytery meeting in October There
also disposition on the part Of the folio W
ers Of Briggs to prepare to see that tn
next and succeeding assemblies are urged t
reconsider the Briggs case II this Is done
side of the general assembly, in which even
Briggs may well pray to be saved from hi
friends.