The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-05-31
HIS STRONG PLEA.
Almost Briggs Pcrsuades
His Enemies.
THE ERRORS IN THE TEXT
1t Is Not the Eloquent New Yorker
Who Has Been Guilty of
Heresy.
Special to THE MoRNING CALI.

WASHINGTON, May 30-At the opening
Of the Presbyterian General Assembly
this morning the committee on bills and
overtures submitted a substitute for the
answer it made yesterday to the overtures
regarding the deliverance of the General
Assembly at Portland, Or. in 1892, on the
inspiration of the Bible. This substitute
reaffirms tie deliverance of 1892, that the
original scriptures of the Old and New
Testaments. being Immediately inspired OF
God, are without error. This deliverance
enuncates no new doctrine and imposes
no new test of orthodoxy.
The report will be considered later.
The assembly then resolved itself into
an ecclesiastical court and DR.. Briggs re-
sumed his argument in his own defense.
occupying all the balance of the morning.
For considerable portion Of his time
Briggs followed the same lines of argu-
ment that he had used before the New
York preshytery, with such omissions and
additions as were necessary to make it
timely and pertinent. The argument was
carefully prepared and entered deeply
into the technical intricacies of the case.
Continuing, DIR. Briggs said: Let me
refer to some words spoken by DR.. Lampe
Yesterday. He said. If understand him
rightly. We know nothing of Christ save
what we get in the Bible
DR.. Lampe nodded in confirmation of
the accuracy of the quotation.
He admits 1t. Are you ready TO believe
that? Commissioners. do we learn and
know nothing of him through the persona.
relations that we enjoy in the Lords Sup
n bea No IN. hot a .
is rank heresy, if heresv was ever promul-
gated in the history OF the church. Now
let me call attention to another error made
by DR.. Lampe. He said the Bible was the
final authority given to us by Jesus Christ
and his Apostles. Just think of that,
brethren. Did they give US nothing but
what they found in the books of the Old
Testament? DR.. Lampe's statement is
dreadfully wrong.
Another statement by DIR. Lampe in his
argument yesterday was that the faith oil
the Christian church is based solely upon
Scripture. Are you ready 10 accept that ?
am not. My faith is based upon the Lord
Jesus Christ and him alone"
After recess DR.. Briggs continued his
defense. Il now wish" said he, 'te bring
forth my position. / shall adhere to the
policy which have thus far followed with
regards TO the errors in the holy scripture
l refused TO accept the dogma thai
the original autographs were inerrant.
maintained that there were errors in the
texts which we have, and that it is i'm
probable that the original texts, if we
could discover them, would be much differ
ent from those we have In this regard. re-
fuse 10 affirm there were errors in the orig
inal autographs. because it is unscholarly
and against the truth-loving spirit of
Christianity to make affirmations of dogma
where we have no certain evidence. /
have always refrained as far as possible
from pointing to the errors in the present
text of the scripture. but every biblical
scholar admits them"
When DR.. Briggs, in closing, soemnlv
challenged the court &c judge him justly,
the scene was most impressive. and even
the most unrelenting ant-Briggs men in
the assembly admitted that the alleged
heretic had made a wonderfully strong
presentation of his case.
Colonel McCook then proceed ed 10 close
the case for the appellants. The speaker
traversed anew the grounds OF the teach
ings Of the defendant and asserted that
despite the latters avowals and explana-
tions they were in opposition to the holy
scriptures and the confession of faith and
therefore were gross errors in the eyes of
the church. He also asserted that the doc
trnes at issue were essential, notwith-
standing Professor Briggs declaration TO
the contrary.
Before adjourning till evening. Professor
Brown offered prayer for the President
OF the United States and the great gov
ernment he represents.
At the evening session a number of CON-
mssioners spoke pro and con and an at
tempt was made to reach vote before ad-
iournmen:, but without success.