The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1893-06-01
WAITING THE VERDICT.
All That Remains to Determine
Briggs Standing.
DISCUSSION OF CREEDs AND ETHICS.

Four Hours Discussion Between Assem-
bly, and Presbytery Brings to u Close the
Controversy AS to What Constitutes Or
thodoH Presbyterianism.
WASHINGTON, May 3l.-People evidently
do not tire of the Briggs case, notwith-
standing the technical and often weari-
some features of the argument The third
day of the famous trial attracted an audi
ence that left no spare room in the church.
and the 500 odd commissioners in whose
hands the fate of the defendant rests sat
through the eight and a quarter hours
that the assembly was in session with I'M
tagging interest and attention Professor
Briggs concluded his argument, having
occupied all but 20 minutes of the seven
hours allotted to him by the judicial COM
mittee. The prosecution also concluded
Its case, with n credit of 20 minutes time
Il now wish, said DR.. Briggs, ITO bring
forth my position. l shall adhere to the
policy which have thus far followed with
regard to errors in Holy Scripture have
refused to accept the dogma that the orig
mai autographs were inerrant. | have
maintained that there are errors in the
texts which we have, in the best texts we
can get by the science of textual criticism
and that it is improbable that the original
texts, if we could discover them, would
be much different from those we have in
that regard. But have refused to affirm
that these were errors in the original auto
graphs; because it is unscientific and it is
unscholarly, and it is against the truth
loving spirit of Christianity to make affir-
mations of dogma where we have no Ger
tain evidence. | have always RETAINED as
far as possible, from pointing to errors in
the present text of Scripture, but every
biblical scholar admits them
Doctrine of Snnctihcation.
1.-The doctrine of progressive sanctifica-
ton is in accordance with the laws that
God has established in the ethical consti-
tuition of man. The church and the Bible
give their potent aid to the conscience in
the ethical elevation of humanity. 1t is
always, everywhere, and in every variety
of form and education, or training.
shall all this ethical training cease at
death. all the varied stages of progress in
the different periods of life, of culture, of
racial and national advancement, be re-
duced to u common level and made of none
effect by mighty transformation that will
deal with the race, father and child, mother
and babe, master and scholar, selfsacriiic-
ing missionary and pagan convert, the de
voted evangelist and the thief and muir
3,
turning in his last hour to Christ from
the shadow of the gallows-all in one un-
diStnguishabe. mass?
Such doctrine strikes Il deadly blow
at the moral nature of man, the ethical
constitution of society, the historic train
ing of our race, and the moral government
of God
The doctrine of progressive sanctiiica-
ton after death harmonZes Christian
faith with Christian ethics and both of
these with the ethics of humanity and the
ethics of God. 1t enables us TO comprehend
the whole life of man, the whole history of
our race from its first creation until the
day of doom, and all the acts of God in
creation and providence under one grand
conception, the divine sanctifcation of
man.
DIR. Briggs Conclusion.
Turning tn the assembly and raising his
hands solemnly, DR.. Briggs concluded his
defense as follows:
II have endeavored TO explain my views.
l hold them sincerely and with all my
heart hope they are set forth in HOLY
scripture | know many of them are set