The weekly tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1891-1894, 1893-06-09
H WEEKLY
FRIDAY. JUNEls. 1893.
DIR. BRIGGS AND HERESY.

All Christians and students OF passing
events must feel an interest more or less
keen in the case of DR.. Briggs, the noted
Presbyterian minister who has caused so
much contention among the brethren
because of his SO called heretical utter
ances.
Friends and enemies of the minister
admit that he is a man OF unusual intel
lect and attachments, and he is a recog-
nized authority on biblical history, and
the general lore of modern theology,
The actual contest respecting his opln-
ions on matters of dogma began about
two years ago after the delivery Of his
inaugural address as president Of the
Union Theological Seminary. In that
address DR.. Briggs reclted certain facts,
or alleged facts about the bible which
gave great offence to a large section of
the Presbyterian church, and held that
there are other sources Of religious truth
besides the scriptures.
This was flying directly in the face of
Presbyterian doctrine, and DIR. Briggs
was summoned to appear before the
Presbytery Of New York state GA a
charge of heretical teaching. He found
a hearty support in the Presbytery, and
a majority voted to dismiss the charges.
This greatly incensed the men of the
prosecution, who were bent on crushing
the hydra-headed serpent of liberalism,
so far as their church was concerned.
They Immediately gave notice of appeal,
and prepared their case against the
doctor for presentation before the next
national assembly.
DR.. Briggs and his friends held that
the decision Of the ~presbytery to which
the accused belonged was final, and that
an appeal could not be entertained by
the national assembly. In this, how
ever, they we're mistaken, because the
appeal has been entertained by a large
vote. and Il committee has de-
cided the doctors fate SO far as his rela-
tons to the Presbyterian church are
concerned.
Some of the strongest and most learned
ministers of the church have declared
their intention to resign their pulpits if
a decision adverse to DR.. Briggs is rem ,
dered. Their avowal ia not meant as a
threat, but as a frank confession that
they think as DR.. Briggs does respecting
the points at issue.
TO a layman it would seem hat a less
h~ide-bound policy would be preferable
to a schism that may shake the church
to its foundation. 1t may be confidently
asserted that liberality of creed is saw
ing more souls in these days
than and bigotry. All
men know too little about the designs OF
Providence to attempt to circumscribe
the salvation of their fellow-men within
certain ironbound limits. The action of
the general assembly smacks of the sur
render of substance for form, a thing
that is condemned by the scriptures.
The assembly can kick DR.. Briggs out,
and even disregard the following who
will 90 out when he is kicked, but it
convince the intelligent world
that it has not played the part of a mar
plot and mischief maker. The reports
of the proceedings at Washington show
that the wise and level headed men had
all they could do to silence a lot of blat-
ant asses, a class Of gentry in the clerical
profession who would never be heard .of
were it not for an occasional opportunity
they get Of shining at a heresy trial, like
the undertaken at a funeral.