The record-union., 1893-01-19
IN RELIGIONS REALM
Expressions From the Various Re-
ligious Newspapers
The Religious Thought of the Day as
Expressed in the Sectarian Press
Some Matters of Interest to Both
Ministers and Laymen.

"The theory that our wise leaders de-
cided to abstain from radical changes and
leave things in the Prayer Book substan-
TALLY as they were, not because they
were convinced that the things were true
and ought to be retained, but because
they could not decide what to substitute
for them, is theory at variance with the
facts of the case" remarks the L5Uing
Church (P. E.) of Chicago. 1.-THE changes
which have been made contradict the as
sumption that the church occupies the at
titude of waiting for more light; there is
no trace of that process of solution in
which she is said to be involved. These
changes, though not numerous, are very
definite; they do not look like prepara-
ton for opening the gates to what is
called modern thought but rather they
erect additional barriers against those
theories in religion which assume that
proud name. The dogmatic element is
strengthened not weakened. Men who
desired to pave the way for great changes
In doctrine would not have ordered a
dogmatlc creed to be publicly used, which
before might not have been read at all.
They would not have emphasized the
doctrine of baptismal regeneration by in
SASAoSltS ~ iAC1O IL ulQ nOI OcCuT D6-
fore. They would not have placed les
son in the confirmation office which
gives new emphasis to the idea of a di-
vine and supernatural gift conveyed
through the laying on of hands. They
would not have refrained so carefully
from the various 'feXibilities' and 'adap-
Ianons' which might, without apparently
touching doctrine, have seemed TO meet
some OF the demands of the day, and in
stead of new features of that kind, have
gone back and restored old elements
omitted century ago, even some which
were left out three centuries ago. They
would not have added a new holy day to
celebrate great miracle"
"What has the verdict determined?u
asks the New York Iadepende3lt, refer
ring to the Briggs trial. 'tSimply this.
that the teachings of DR.. Briggs are with
IN the proper limits of toleration. 1t
does not decide that they are right; it does
not adopt them and commend them to
the church. Many of those who voted
for acquittal have distinctly declared that
they do not accept or approve his views:
but they insist that he is an earnest,
scholarly seeker after the truth. and that
he ought to have liberty to investigate, to
think and to proclaim. This is what they
say IN their verdict. So far as the Pres
bytery of New York is concerned, he is
not to be called to account for anything
said in his inaugural address, which,
when 1t first appeared, few approved, but
many condemned as unguarded in state
ment, wrong in many conclusions, dam
gerous in tendency and showing more
frlendllneSS to the foes than to the de-
tenders of an inspired Bible and a SUPER
natural Christianity. The vote is a vote
for federation wide enough to cover the
views of an erratic mind that prefers the
Martlneau type of Christianity 10 the
Spurgeon type; that honors the Unitarian
VINO rejects the supernatural in the
Scriptures and depends upon his own
reason Tor divine authority; that lauds
Cardinal Newman who prefers the
church to the Bible'
The New York Christian I,lteZzioencer
(Ref.), in its comments on the Briggs
case, says: There is no desire on the
part OF the vast ma ority in the Presby-
terrain Church to restrain critical study of
the Scriptures, or abridge personal liber-
ty of belief within very broad confession
al limits, but there is earnest opposition
TO having mere theories and disputed as
sumptions taught to theological students
and published to the world with the au-
thorlty OF Professor in a theological
seminary, as so certainly established that
not to accept them is the proclamation of
ones ignorance. What is needed is not
TRIALS Tor heresy, so much as a better
spirit on the part of theological teachers,
II not reorganization of the PrebSyte-
ran system of seminary government. 1t
Is apparent, from the even division of the
votes in the Presbyteries of New York
and Cincinnati, that the Presbyterian
Church is nearly evenly divided on the
questions at issue, and a further pressing
OF the cases can only result in division
OF that recently reunited body. To the
majority in it. and a still greater major
lty out OF 1t, this can only be regarded as
calamity to be avoided if at ali possible.
1t Is, therefore, to be hoped that there
may be mutual concessions, and a wav
be found by which liberty of inquiry
will be allowed without any jeopardy to
the truth. There is an obligation in this
direction as incumbent on the accused
Professors as on their prosecutors"
att is, of course, possible. but not
probable, that this decision lin the Briggs
case) will pe accepted by the prosecution.
and that DR.. Briggs and the Union Theo-
logical Seminary will be left hereafter
undisturbed," says the New York Ca1'ist-
ian Union. ''But the majority for the
defense on some of the charges is small.
the decision of the case OF Professor
Smith is favorable to the prosecutors.
and the action of the General Assembly
at the last two sessions has indicated a
majority in favor of the policy of repress-
ing freedom of scholarship and teaching
WAbuAn lll6 I6SDyl lSTldn AnurcD. The
differences between the two parties are
certain to come up in another form. in
the movement to amend the Confession
of Faith, or to substitute new and short
er creed, which latter movement is anna
rentlY gaining strength in some quar-
ters. 1t is not, therefore, probable that
the decision in either the Smith or the
Briggs case will be accepted as final If
the decision of the New York Presbytery
should be reversed; if the General AS
sembly should decide that Dr. Briggs
cannot remain in the Presbyterian min
istry while he holds and teaches his
views, it would seem that a DISRUPTION
OF the ehurch must almost inevitably fol-
low. For these views are held and
taught more or less distinctly and posi-
lively by all the Faculty of Union Iheo-
logical Seminary, including Professor
Briggs successor in the Chair of Hebrew
Professor Francis Brown-by a consid-
erable number of faculties of other Pres
byterian theological seminaries, bv NOT n
few of its most eminent preachers. and
by large proportion, if not an absolute
majority, of the graduates of the New
School theological seminaries of the past
ten or fifteen years. If, therefore, Dr.
Briggs is ultimately condemned, either
they must so ont individually into other
freer denominations, or in a body to form
again New School Presbyterian Church,
or remain in the present body by sacri-
ficlng their convictions and keeping si-
lence respecting the nature, constitution
and authorship of the books OF the Bible.
which latter is an alternative not to be
anticipated"
The Christian Register Untl of Bos-
ton, in its remarks on the Rriggs case,
SAYS: ''But this is rather the beginning,
and not the end. of the controversy. The
two points which will in the future pre-