Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-05
ON THE BRIGGS ISSUE,
An Albany Pastor to Leave the Presbyterian
Church,

| ON THE BRIGGS ISSUE.
An Albany Pastor to Leave the Presbyterian
Church.
The Rev. Dr. James A. Ecob, one Of the fore
most preachers of the state of New York and
pastor Of the Second Presbyterian Church at
Albany, yesterday announced his withdra wal
from the Presbyterian communion on the
Briggs issue. His congregation will probably
follow him, and his secession undoubtedly Dor.
tends . serious schism in the Presbyterian
Church
| In his sermon DR.. Ecob declared denomiua-
donalism the curse Of the modern church. for
with 1t comes strong government, which keeps
alive the worst kind of politicS
Il don't know DR.: Briggs," Dr. Ecob added.
''but I do know Dr.. Brown Of the same semi
nary-ene Of the best men in the church. The
assembly, to be consistent should have in
cluded Dr. Brown In its sentence.
1.-THE assembly has dug up q musty old con-
fession that few believe and made It the gar
ment Of Presbyterianism. II that is the CUR
ment must wear cast it OF. have no use
for it and / retire from the Presbyterian
Church. Within few days ! shall take what
ever formal steps are necessary in this connec-
ton The time IL ripe for those who believe In
progressive Christianity to leave their old
church associations and form q new church on
bros6er and more generous ideas"
The announcement that DR.. Ecob would de-
clare himself on the Briggs question served to
swell the usually large congregation in his
church until the capacity Of the auditorium was
tested to its utmost. After the ofertory DR..
Ecob read the entire third chapter Of the First
Corinthians-"Paul's manner with weak be-
lievers"-and as he concluded he brought his
hand down upon the open Bible and declared
impressively: "That, my brethren, 10 the
answer Of the Bible to the question Of denomi-
nationalism. which is the greatest sin OF the
church today"
After a moments pause he said: 81 leave the
Presbyterian Church because it has taken on q
garment that has lain buried in the grave for
more than 200 years. 1t smells Of the earth snd
OF death" With these words he swept his arms
down across his chest though brushing some
thing from him, adding: ~ brush it of for
ever" The sermon made the most profound
impression upon the congregation, which con-
tanned members Of nearly every denomination
and included the deepest thinkers in the city.
DR.. Ecob recommended the formation Of the
Free Church Of Christ, embracing Episcope-
lians OF the broader school, the Free VIII Bap-
lists and the Cumberland Presbvterisns. He
ID supported by his congregation almost TO q
man and many Presbyterian in other churches
will enter his now hurch, il such . church 10
started.
When the news of DR.. Briggs suspension
reached Albany DR.. Ecob said
hos made q retrogrude movement In voting for
the suspension Of DR.. Briggs, aud don't see
how any self-respecting minister can do any
thing but take himself on: OF the denomination
that, In this day, can lend itself to such tnjus-
tice and iniquity. Whether the men who are
In sympathy with DIR. Briggs and the liberal
sentiments he represents will 60 out in . body
or II they will 60 singly remains TO be seen. In
my judgment there must be large number Of
the minority who will refuse to wear the name
which il henceforth synonymous with bigotry
and intolerance
''Will the state synod sustain DIR. Briggs?"
II am satisfied that q large proportion Of
the state will sustain him, and that DR.. Briggs
suspension il but the beginning Of what will
prove lengthy quarrel The suspension may
prove providential opening for great move
| Eent away from the old denominationalism
toward the organization Of Professionalism.
The attitude of all great secular papers is i'm
| portapt Hardly one but is outspoken against
the action OF the general assembly"
Thu Second Presby terrain Church is the oldest
and most influential in the city and DIR. Ecob
has been its pastor for the past twelve years.
He came from Augusta, Me-. where be was for
many years pastor Of the church attended by
James G. Blaine. He has been a stanch fol-
lower Of DR.. Briggs throughout the latter's
trial for herssy, and several times has criti-
cised the latter's opponents.
LYMAN ABBorr's ARGUMENT
Rev. DR.. Lyman Abbott, in his sermon on the
Briggs case yesterday at Plymouth Church,
Brooklyn, endeavored to prove that DIR. Briggs
and not the general assembly. during the last
two years, had defended the true Christian
| faith. That it was not DIR. Briggs who was he
retical. but that the stand taken by the general
assembly was one whose logical result was in
fidelity.
DR.. Abbott spoke Of the battle which has
| gone on from the days Of Moses down to the
present between the ecclesiastic and the
prophet the one maintaining that the institu-
the individual personal HE was the essential
thing. and there could be NO religious institu-
| ton without il.
He exclaimed: "Heretic! What Is hsresy?
For one thing. 1t 10 to declare that God is not
the father Of all mankind and leaves no door Of
access to himself save the one door Of written
word that was not completed till the human
race bad lonRed asd cried and prayed for their
Father for 200 years.
"Iu your name and In the name Of all that
believe in the living God, dwelling in the
hearts of His children today | thank tins
prophet, successor to the prophets Of olden
times, that in these two years Of cruel trial be
has never receded from his one position, never
used words in double sense never retracted his
one assertion, but has stood firmly and faith
fully against persuasion on the one hand and
attack on the other for his fundamental prin-
ciple-that God is in the heart OF the iudi-
vidual and in the heart Of His church as re-
vealed in the pages of the Bible.
1.-The Bible is not the word OF God. And, re-
| peating almost the words, and certainly the
| sentiment OF DR.. Horton, who lectured last year
before the students Of the Union Theological
| Seminary, charge any man who calls the Bible
the word Of God to find that phrase The word
of God, ever employed in the Bible to desiR-
nate the Bible. or even employed in one part Of
the Bible to designate any other part
n m In kaa tha hnnk hat L. -h.x
men have written, puts it up and says, You
must hear the word of God, you must hear only
the echo Of that word, / don't wonder that
misplaced indignation goes out against the
book which would-be defen iers are misusinR. /"
WILL TRY GRAVES AGAIN.