The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-05-31

but the moderator cut short any intention
DR.. Briggs may have had OF continuing by
saying: The time is accepted"
Prosecutor Birch Talks
The assembly thus having given DIR.
Briggs all he had asked, the Rev. DIR. w.
F. Birch. chairman of the prescott ing
committee. took the floor. Alter touching
upon the history of the case, DR.. Birch
said that the general assembly entertained
the committee of prosecution and sent
down a decree to the presbytery OF New
York. defining the limits of Its liberty
with respect to this case. The decree of
the general assembly ordered the presby-
terry to try the case upon its merits. and
gave it liberty to amend the indictment in
accordance with the general nature
OF the same. Thus the presbytery
was free only to examine the charges,
weigh the testimony and decide to sus-
tain or not sustain. The decree of the
general assembly was not Obeyed by the
New York presbytery as it transcended
its own proper function as a trial court by
recording It's unwillingness to express its
approval OF the critical or theological
views which were the basis of the charges.
The presbyterv acquitted the defendant
on the ground that although he might
deny that Moses wrote the law which the
gentle Christians observed although there
were cases where church and reason
could do what the bible could not do
| enable man 10 find God-yet that SUCH
statements did not transgress the limits
| of liberty allowed under the constitution
OF the presbyterian church to scholarship
and opinion.
We are here TO invoke this supreme court TO
| put an end to the dissenson and disputation
which the New York prssbytery vsinly en-
deavOred to silence. hIst by the dismissal of
the case against DR.. Briggs, qualifying both the
dismissal and the aoquittal by the positive dis
calmer OF any approval OF the cOntrOverted
statements OF the inaugural address as to eriti-
cal or theological views and manner OF express
| sion. The form in which the final judgment of
the presbytery was returned gives the impress
sion that the alleged errors OF Prof. Briggs
were unimportant and that no essential doc
| trine had been eOntradioted. They had a
tendency to minimize the full force OF the in-
dictment. The errors charged are fundamen-
tai. The charges related:
/. To the question as to the supreme and
only authority in matters of faith and practice.
2. To the question as TO lnerranoy or truth
| fulness OF the inspired work Of God
2. To the historical validity of the old testa-
ment.
4. AS to the fulfllment of Messianic predic-
dictions a question Of supreme importance in
| its bearing upon the view which is taken oil the
| truthfulness OF scripture and OF the truthful.
ness Of God.
4. There is the doctrine of redemption con-
corning which il has been alleged that Prof.
| Briggs teachings have been especially errone-
Gus and hurtful. but which could only be par
TALLY tried in the lower courts
Here Is a series of errors covering the
whole fundamental structure OF our faith.
Ii is a question purely docIrinal and there
fore OF universal Importance so far as pres
byterianism is concerned. Ii can be final
ly settled by no presbYtery or synod, but
requires the decision of the presbytery
and church in its highest court. In reply
to the argument that an appeal cannot be
taken from a verdict of scquittal, DIR. Birch
said that this was equivalent to q claim
that part of the church was greater than
the whole.
The sitting of this venerable court today in
this city, said he, as the capital OF the nation,
is due to the fact that il took treasure and
blood to establish the truth that such doc
trine in our political system was nothing les
than treason against tho government. So does
this court know that he who teaches the power
of the general assembly can be nullifed by the
will Of a single presbytery lifts the banner of
treason against the presbytery and church.
With all respect 10 the accused in this case,
| am ready to say that his personal interest
the church, IN whose name he has been teach
| ing. The question, what is really presby terrain
doctrine, is to be answered. not for ourselves
alone. but for ali American presbyterans both
| now and for years to come, aud must be an
swered by the whole church. Hence your APP
| pellant. as the spokesman of hundreds of thou
sands of presbytsrians, IN the name Of law and
| order. OF UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty. Of scripture,
| pTecept and biblical example, in the name Of
/ the historic. orthodox, evangelical. constitu-
A a..
seeches this venerable court to bless the church
/ and the world. and TO exercise its authority in
/ a crisis so momsDtous as TO make every plea for
i delay OF judgment out of order. Thus your
honorable body will protect our communion
from what one Of your number. DIR. Herrick
johnson. has called the peril OF u broadness
that would empty our souls of conviction and
our lives OF victory.
DIR. Briggs in Reply.
At 3:l5 o'clock Dr. Briggs arose to reply
to the opening of the prosecuting commit
tee and to protest against the entertain
ing of the appeal by the general assembly.
He stated the question and quoted the
law which prohibits the employment OF
professional counsel in such cases, saying
that il permitted to do so. he would have
employed such professional counsel. for
| the reason that il was doubtful il he could
/ present bis case as IL should be done.
! This situation was one that was forced
/ upon him by the book of discipline which
made it necessary for him TO rise above
personal considerations and TO appear as
the attorney for DIR. BriRgs The question
before the assembly was not, he said.
whether or not DR. Briggs teachings we're
| proposaLie, but whe her or not the ap-
peal could be lawfully entertained.
The law OF the case at this stage forbade
| the confederation of its MARTA and he ex-