The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-05-25
WHAT DIR. BRIGGS RELIEVES.

Declarations he mnne IN Response To
Categorical Questions!
The records and documents in the
Briggs case. which have been sub
mitted to the general assembly, are
about as voluminous as those of some
big case which has been fought from
court to court until it has reached the
supreme court OF tho United States. In
addition to that there have been re-
ceived by tho assembly from different
presbyteries many overtures bearing on
the question OF appeal, which is in-
volved in the Bryce case, 1t is the
contention OF the prosecution in the
case that DR.. Briggs has never re-
tracted the utterances which he made
in his inaugural address on which the
charges are based.
1t will be remembered that tho case
was tried first by the New York pres
bytery in October, 1891. At that time
tho case was dismissed by vote OF 04
to 80. The resolution then adopted de-
clared "tnat the presbytery OF New
York, having listened to tho paper OF
Rev. Charles A. Briggs, D. D., in the
case OF the Presbyterian church in the
United States OF America against him
as to the sutliciency OF the charges and
specifications in form and legal effect,
aud without approving OF the position
stated In his inaugural address, at the
same time desiring earnestly the peace
and quiet OF the church, and in view OF
tho declarations made by DR.. Briggs
touching his loyalty to the Holy Script
urea and tho Westminster standards,
and Of his disclaimersof interpretations
put on some Of his words, deems IL best
TO dismiss the case, and hereby does so
dismiss 1t"
It was from this action that tho pros
ecution appealed to the general assem-
bly, OF 1902, which body remanded the
case to the presbytery for trial. II was
ono OF the complaints OF the prosecu-
ton that the action was founded in part
on the answeries Of categorical ques-
tons not propounded by the presbytery,
but by certain persons not connected
with the prosecution Those categoric-
al questions and replies were as tollows:
Question l. Do you consider the BIZ
BILE, the church and the reason as CO.
ordinate sources as authority2
Answer. No.
Or do you believe the Scriptures OF
tho Old and New Testament to be the
only inialliblo rulo OF faith and prac'
ticeP
Answer. Yes.
Question II. When you use the word
treason" do YOU include the conscience
and the religious feeling?
Answer. Yes.
Question III. Would you accept the
following as u satisfactory definition oil
inspiration? Inspiration is such d.
vine direction as to secure an infaIlible
record OF Gods revelation in respect to
both fact and doctrine.
Answer. Yes.
Question ". Do you believe the
Bible to be inerrant in all matters con
corning faith and practice and in every
thing in which it is q revelation from
God, or vehicle OF divine truth, and
that there are no errors that disturb
its infallibility in these matters, or in
its records OF the historic events and In
stitutions with which thoy are insepara
NY CouHeCkCu'
Answer. Yes.
Question V. Do you believe that the
miracles recorded in Scripture are due
to an extraordinary exercise OF divine
energy either directly or imcdiately
through holy menP
Answer Yes.
Question vi. Do you hold what il
commonly known as a future proba
tion2 Do you believe in purgatoryH
Answer. No.
Question VII. Do you believe tina
the issues OF this life are final, and tina
man who dies impenitont will hay,
no further opportunity OF salvationr
Answer. Yes.
Question VIII. Is your theory Of pro
gressive sanctiAcation such that it vii
permit you to Bay that you believe tina
when man dies in the faith, he enter
tho middle state, rogeneratod, justified
and sinless2 AUS
Answer. Yes.