The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-05

General Assembly as a delegate, in
time to preach at his church as usual
yesterday forenoon and last evening.
In the course OF a sermon on Presby-
terlanism last evening he spoke as toll
lows Of the case Of Rev, DR.. Briggs and
the action in that regard Of the General
Assembly;
The past year has been ono OF pros
perity throughout u beloved Presby-
terrain Zion. Rich spiritual harvests
have been gathered, There is no occa-
sion for dependency in the figures
shown by the reports. The treasures
Of the boards have never come up to
the assembly, giving better accounts OF
themselves. Look ut the figures;
Home missions, 1857, 455, gain Of Sill
505 over 1892; foreign missions, ST.
0l4,504, q gain Of $S3,0S0; education,
sos 35, q gain OF $4,000; Sunday
School work, 96,357, a loss OF 1855;
church erection, $l0l,849, a loss OF
S4,945; ministerial relief, S267,570, a
gain OF $2S, 1881; Freedmen, $l56, 563,
q loss OF SID, S04; aid for colleges, $685.
S26, again Of $32. 1854. Thus the net
gain in all is $l7S,765. Tho Women for
Home and Foreign Missions contributed
S707,8S0. Bank notes are not notes OF
encouragement and alarm. There is
no other church in the American
Protestant world which ranks with our
own in the arithmetic OF benevolence.
Or. Bartlett, the pastor OF the church
where the assembly met, Igave a royal
welcome to the members OF the body.
"Whati is more magnificent than this
city Of Washington today" were his
words to the general assembly on tho
beautiful opening day, when making
his welcome address,. 1t Is the
pride Of all loyal Americans that
their capital city il beautiful
for situation, and that 1t has been
appropriately and lavishly endowed
with massive government buildings,
palatial residences. churches, onu
ments, statuary, parks, libraries, mu-
seums and art galleries.
A meeting Of the general assembly is
not the time nor place for rest and re-
creation, Especially has not this ono
been. Those who may think that their
pastors or elders have had a vacation,
will do well to reconsider. Tho time
is precious. Every possible hour is
crowded with the strain Of important
business. Every possible intervening
hour is takon up with meetings Of COM
mittees, where, especially with the
nor important committees, the strain
and labor are no less intense. Thus
the work Is prepared between times,
and pressed upon the assembly when.
over opportunity occurs
That which absorbed much OF the
time OF the assembly was tho judicial
trial OF DR.. Briggs. OF Union Theological
Seminary, for entertaining views and
teaching doctrines contrary to the
scriptures and the standards OF the
Presbyterian church in the United
States of America
When a minister is ordained in the
Presbyterian church, he answers affirm
atively the following questions:
i. do you believe the scriptures of
the Old and New Testaments to bo the
word Of God, the only infallible rule Of
faith and practiceT"
2. "Do yousincerely receive and adopt
tho confession of faith OF this church,
as containing the system of doctrine
taught in the "Holy scriptures?"
8. do you approve OF tho govern
ment and discipline Of the Presbyterian
church in these United States"
4. "Do you promise subsection to
your brethren in the LordP"
It was clearly brought out on the
trial, that DR.. Briggs held and was
teaching doctrines contrary to his Or
dination VOWS; that he also held and
taught doctrines contrary to the inspir-
alton and authority of the Holy Scrip.
lures, and Of the constitution OF the
Presbyterian church; into the merits
Of these and the specifications, the
general assembly inquired and found
them to BIO true and entered judgment
accordingly. There was never q truer
verdict rendered.
Whatever was done by the general
assembly, the supreme court Of the
Presbyterian church, lot no one say
that II was doue in d corner, or IN
fairly, or hastily. Such u year OF active
energy has never been known in our
church, US touching any particular
question. Circulars, petitions, memori-
alg, leaflets, special sermons, addresses,
arguments, pamphlets, have been cir
culated by the tens Of thousands, apart
from the regular channels Of the
church papers. Tho fullest and
most Astounding freedom OF debate and
privilege was allowed, and tho action
was free and unconstrained. Dr.. Briggs
was given five hours to resist tho appeal
which came up from the presbytery Of
New York, and afterwards seven hours
when the case was triodyon Its merits.
III the face OF every plea and argument
and expression, the assembly tried TO do
itsduty, constitutionally aud in the fear
OF God, and voted nearly four TO one
against Or. Briggs. Tho judgment
finally reached was suspension from the
ministry until no repents OF his errors.
As to any consequent disruption OF
our church, l have no fears; on tho |
othor hand II will do good. A case Of
discipline involving, as 1t docs, what |
the church holds to DO vitality erroneous
teaching, should not provoke hostility. |
C%onstructively, at least, every minister
OF the Presbyterian church Ia In an at
tltudo Of subordinatioh aud subsection
10 the whole church, when the will Of |
the church has boon expressed as her
constitution directs. The supreme
court Of tho church 10 tho source Of au.
thority aS TO tho ConsLitutionality Of
proceedings. II Is to DO expected that
every loyal n will abide by the do.
cisions Of tho high court Of last resort.
Tho Presbyterian church Is the worry
embodiment Of liberty and charity aud
Justice, and whore brethren have como
TO holdviowa contrary 10 her standards, |
and have asked to have their views OK.
aminod and passed. upon by their CO.
presbyterS, they have boon treated,