Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-02

point IN ulSpubo OotWCSh bHO - ~
and the Board and because Of the at
tempt by the Board, and on It's own mo-
tion and against the expressed desire OF
the Assembly TO
ABROGATE THE COMPACT OF 1870,
the Assembly disavows all responsible
llty for the teaching Of the Union Semi
nary, and declines to receive any report
from its Board until satisfactory rela-
tions are established. The Assembly,
however, cherishes the hope, and will
cordially welcome any effort TO bring
Union Seminary into such a relation
ship with itself as will enable the As
SembIy 10 commend the institution
again 10 students for the ministry.
Your committee would further recon-
mend that the Board Of Education be
enjoined TO give aid to such students
only as may be in attendance upon sem
ineries approved by the Assembly.
Your committee would also recommend
that the reelection Of the Rev. Charles
A. Briggs, D. D., by the Presbytery Of
Newark as a director OF the German
Theological Seminary at Bloomfield, N.
j., be disapproved oy this Assembly.
A long and excited discussion fol-
lowed the presentation OF the report,
which was received by the Assembly
withoutrobjeetion.
Prof. DuGield, of-PrInceton Seminary,
tried 10 correct the statement in the re-
port in reference to Prof. Henry P.
Smith. He claimed that Prof. Smith,
while he had been deposed from the
ministry, was not a member OF the
church.
mo sir; no sir" shouted out num-
Der OF commissioners, (meaning that
DR.. Dufieid was wrong, and in the
confusion Dr. Bnffield sat down.
DR.. Herrich Johnson defended the d.
rectors of the Union Theological Semi
nary in refusing to arbitrate. He said
the statits quo was that DR.. Briggs con-
tinued as a professor under The direc-
tlon Of the board OF directors Of
UNION THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY
and that the veto power should also
continue until the General Assembly
settled the matter.
Rev. DR.. Moore, one Of the trustees
/ OF Lane Seminary arose TO explain why
il was that the name Of Prof. Smith was
found on the list Of Professors Of the
seminary. He said that when when
| Prof. Smith was suspended there was
no person to hll his chair at the semi
nary, and as the term was so near On
end II was determined TO continue him
until the school year was over.
"How about the new year, shouted
several members, and DR.. Moore ex-
planned amid much derisive laughter
that the same conditions prevailed then
as at the end of the previous term.
Another lively discussion was then
com menced over that part Of the report
referring TO Union Seminary. DR.. Her
rick johnson and stated Clerk Roberts
contradic1ed each other as to the terms
Of the arbitration proposition submitted
to the seminary.
Prof. Brown, representing the facul-
" of the seminary, made an explana-
tion Of the position Of that body as he
understood il. he prefaced this with
the statement that he had no objections
to offer to the report OF the committee.
II this Assembly thought it was wise
aud Just TO take the action indicated,
no word OF his should prevent it. Union
seminary was not here to ask anything
from this Assent bly,.
He was answered by DR.. Booth, OF
New York. The question was finally
put, and the report was adopted In its
entirety by large majority.
The next order Of business was the
consideration Of the report OF the COM
mittees on bills and overtures made last
Saturday in explanation of the deliver
ance of the Portland Assembly last
year upon the inspiration OF Holy
Scriptures. The report Of the commit
tee was adopted, the minority vote
being only about sixty.
DR.. Herrlck Johnson gave notice OF
a protest that would be filed, and the
Assembly took recess.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
At the afternoon session DIR. Craig
convened the Assembly as court, to
hear the report of the committee ap-
pointed to prepare the explanatory
minnie in the Briggs case. DR.. Baker
stated that Prot. Briggs had written
him letter adhering TO all the posi-
tiOnS taken before the General Assem-
bly, whereupon Dr. Baker said the COM
mittee had taken the action which Mr..
Hoyt would now report TO the Assem-
bly,. The report, after reciting the pro-
ceedingS in the case, proceeds:
This iudicatory finds that said Iinal
Judgment of the Presbytery OF New York
Is erroneous and should be and is hereby
reversed; and this General Assembly, sit
ting as q iudicatOry in said cause, coming
now 10 enter judgment on said amended
charges, tines the appellee, Charles A.
Briggs, has uttered, taught aud propogated
views, doctrines and teachings as set forth
in said charges, contrary TO the essential
doctrine Of Holy Scripture AID the stand
ards of said Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America and In violation
OF the ordination vow OF said appellee,
which said erroneous views ard doctrines
strike at the vitsls of religion and have
been industriously sread; wherefore, this
General Assembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States Of America,
sitting as iudicatory in this cause on ap-
peal 90 and
HEREBY SUSPEND CHARLES A. BRIGGS,
the said appellee, from the office Of minis
ter in the PRESBYTERIAN Church in the Uni
ted States OF America until such time as he
shall give satisfactory evidence Of repent
ance TO th9General ASSEMBLY Of the Pres
bvterian church in the United States of
America OF the violation by him of the
said ordination vow as herein and hereto
fore found.n
The report of the committee was adopted
whereupon Rev. DR.. Sprague gave notice
that at the proper time protest would be
offered against the finding Of the Assem-
bly, as being too severe sentence for the
offense Of the honored scholar named, and
as tending 10 restrict the liberty hereto
fore enjoyed by office bearers In the Pres
byterian church.
An explanatory Lote was adopted and
made a mart of the record OF the case It