Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-05-31
Even His Bitter Opponents Admit the
Strength Of
THE ARGUMENTS He PRESENTED.
He States Plainly Some of the
Things he Believes and Boldly
Charges DR.. Lampe with Rank
Heresy-Col. McCook Replies
for the Prosecutors.

fore the General Assembly on the
charge OF heresy. So far from dimin-
ishing the interest in the case would
seem TO be on the increase.
When DR.. Briggs In closing his de-
tense solemly challenged the court TO
Judge him justly, the scene was most
Impressive and even the most unre-
lenting anti-Briggs men in the Assem-
bly admitted that the alleged hereto
had made a wonderfully wrong preSen-
tation Of his case. His argument as be
presented IL, was not one that gave
anv chance for OratOrical effect.
II was carefully prepared tech
nical paper which entered
deeply into the intricacies OF the case.
Much OF the address was taken bodily
from the defense" and this DR.. Briggs
had his friend, DR.. Brown, OF Union,
read for him. The day was almost de-
void Of anything like sensational fea-
lures. The nearest approach 10 this
sort OF thing was when DR.. Briggs
quoted a sentence from DR.. Lampes' ad-
dress OF yesterday and characterized 1t
as a rank heresy II there was heresy.
THE MORNING SESSION.
After the opening devotional exercises
in the General Assembly this morning
DR.. Young, chairman Of the committee
on bills and Overtures, reported that the
committee requested tho answer TO the
oVertures regarding the deiverance
OF the Assembly of 1892 upon the in
spiration Of the bible made last Satur-
day, be returned TO the committee.
This, be said, was the unanimous ex-
preston Of the seventeen members OF
the committee present, the largest
number at any meeting yet held. 1t
reads:
In answer TO the overtures from the
Presbyteries of Newark aud st. Louis
and the memorial of q large number
more than SUO-of the elders, deacOns and
members Of the Presbyterian Church with
reference 10 the deiverance Of the Portland
Assembly on the inspiration Of Holy
Scripture, we would recommend the FOL
lowing:
This General Assembly re-afirms the
overture OF the Assembly of 1892 touching
the inspiration OF Holy Scripture, viz:
That the original scriptures OF the old and
new testaments being Immediately inspired
ofGod werelwith0ut error, and Ia so doing
declares that the said deliverance enunci-
ates no new doctrine, and imposes no new
tests Of orthodoxy, but interprets and
gives expression 70 what has always been
the belief of the Church taught In the
Westminster Confession of Faith"
This report was received aud given
the place on the docket occupied by the
one for which 10 was substituted.
The report OF the committee on The
Church at Home and abroad (the
church's missionary Organ) was ap-
proved and the recommendations or the
rom n,fttaa adODted
DIR. BRIGGS RESUMES HIS ARGUMENT.
DR.. Briggs then at $3.50 resumed his
argument in defense Of the charges
made against him.
The prosecution seem 10 think, said DR..
Briggs. that the whole az the scriptures Is
the word OF God, and that everything in 1t
is divine and infalliOle. But the confess
ion does not say this, and evidently does
not mean this We must study the varying
phases OF the three standards so as to get
doctrine that will be consistent with the
phases Of them all.
NV doctrine can be stated thus There
Is no authority in the scriptures or in the
creeds Of Christianity for the doctrine OF
immediate sanctifcatiOn at death. The
only santifcatlOn known to Christian or
thordoxy is progressive sanctihcstion.
Granted that / am wreng in my interpre-
tation Of the doctrine Of sanctihcCtiOn at
death. does the Presbyterian Church rec
ognize this principle as an essential to the
churchl If 50, no man can become Pres
bvterian minister who does not hold TO she
doctrine Of immediate sancuncation at
death.
If this idea obtains it will be destructive
to the peace and prosperity OF the church.
] do not think the superior courts will sus-
tain this idea. IL they do, the Christian
people will regard them as breaking the
bonds of cathOlicity.
1 have shown you, continued DR.. Briggs,
that all the questions that have been ar
gued Oy me have been argued by my adver-
saries as well in the court Of Pres
bytery Now, 1 ask, even IL
have made many mistakes, is it fair.
Is il righteous, is il honorable In
them TO force the court Of the General As
semblv. In spite OF what have said before
YOU. TO put the case IN the form that the
appelle has admitted the facts, the Presoy-
terv has admitted the charges TO be rele-
want, and that therefore there is no altern-
alive left but 70 cOnvictt Mr. Moderator
and brethren, he cOntiued, you will
HAVE TO TAKE GREAT CARE
unless as in condemning the accused, you
accuse the views Of those theologlans who
have argued against me, for l will under
take 70 bring out an enormous catalogue or
heresies ia their arguments. Unless you
take great care you viii put yourself In
very unfortunate position, and your action
will be hard 10 justify before the Chris
tians Of the world.
This remark, which was delivered in a
peculiarly earnest manner and sounded
very much like threat, created stir
among the commissioners. A low, con-
fused murmur OF comment ran around the
church.
Continuing DR.. Briggs said the time will
come when no man shall be put in jeopardy
on account Of his religious belief. The
time Will surely come when no man
will be deprived Of his eccleSias-
tical life by a mere majority OF
such members as now constitutes the
courts Of the church. But, as things now
are. the court Of the PreSbytery OF New
York will compare quite favorably with
any otner courts which have thus far had
Jurisdiction Of the case, and the General
Assembly will have 70 take great pains TO
purge itself Of any suspicion OF bias ere IL
can undertake 70 impart such thing 70
the members OF the lower court.
Let me refer 20 a word spoken by DR..
Lampe yesterday. He said, II | under
stood him rightly, and tried 70 take down
his exact words: ave know nothing Of
Christ save what we get in the Bible
story.n CDR. Lampe sitting directly in
front OF the speaker nodded his head in
confirmation OF the accurasy or the quo
fstion.) He admits it. Are you ready 20
believe that, commissioners. Do we learn.
and know nothing Of him through the
Hsrsonal relation that we enjoy In the