Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-05-31
WHICH SIDE WILL WIN 4?
The Vote in the Briggs Case
to Be Taken To-Day.
FINAL PLEA OF THE PROFESSOR


Interest in the Heresy Tri al Unabated to
the Last-The Testimony in the Previ-
Gus Trial Quoted at Leugtb-A Prayer
for President Cleveland.
WASHINGTON, May 31.-People evil
IDENTIFY do not tire of the Briggs case, not :
understanding the technical and often
wearisome features of the argument. The
fourth day of the famous trial attracted
an audience 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 session with I'm
tagging interest and attention. This morn
ing the last speeches in the great trial are
being made, and it is likely that a vote
will be reached during the afternoon ses
sion.
Prof. Briggs concluded his argument
yesterday, having occupied all but twenty
minutes of the seven hours allotted to him
by the Judicial Committee. His voice
gave way under the great and sustained
strain to which it had been subject ed, de-
spite the assistance given by Prof. Brown
in reading portions of the record and ex-
tracts from his works, and towards the
close he spoke with evident effort and
husky tones. The prosecution also con-
cluded its case, with credit of 20 minutes
time.
DR.. Briggs in continuing his defense,
said he would endeavor to show that his
views We're not inconsistent with the
Westminster Confession.
Il now WISH" he said, ''to bring forth
my position. 1 shall adhere to the policy
which have thus far followed with re-
gard to errors in Holy Scripture. 1 have re-
fused to accept the dogma that the original
autographs were inerrent. l have main
tanned that there are errors i'll the texts
which we have, in the best texts we can
get by the science of teXtuai 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 l have refused to affirm that
these were errors in the original au-
tographs, because it is unscientifc and it
is unscholarly and it is against the truth
loving spirit of Christianity to make
at1rmations of dogmas where we have no
certain evidence l have always refrained
far us possible, from pointing to errors
in the present Scripture text; but every
Biblical scholar admits them"
Copious questions were made by DIR.
Briggs from his writings to show his posi-
tion, which Prof. Brown, of Union Theo-
logical Seminary. read for him.
Returning to his belief in progressive
sanctitication after death. Dr. Brgg>
read mostly from his defence before til,
New York Presbytery, and also had Prof
Brown read from his published writings
He put all the force of his voice in empha
sizing part of his remarks and almost
shouted the words in his endeavnr to make
his views the more emphatic
1.-The doctrine of progressive sanctifca
tion," he said. 'is in accordance with the
laws that God has established in the con.
stitution of man.
1.-The church and the Bible give their
potent aid to the conscience in the etva
ton of humanity. 1t is always, every
where, and in every variety of form anC
education, or training.
The doctrine of progressive sanctification
after death harmouizes Christian faith
with Christian ethics, and both of these
with the ethics of humanity and the ethics
of God. 1t enables us TO com ,>rehenl the
whole life of man, the whole history of
our race from it's first creation until the
day of doom, and all the acts of God in
creation and providence. under one graut
conception, the divine sanctifcrtion OF
man
Turning to the Assembly, and raising
his hands solemnly, Dr. Briggs concluded
his defense as follows: II have endeavored
to explain my views. hold them sincerely
and with all my heart. 1 hope they arc
set forth in Holy Scripture. I know many
of them are set forth in the Westminster
Confession.
81 challenge you before God to Judge mt
rightly and conscientiously. l challenge
you before God to judge me according t.
the record. l challenge you before Je ,us
Christ to do me justice in your judg-
ment"
After Col. McCooks speech, which
closed the case for the prosecution, the As
sembly arose and sang america" While
still standing the Moderator stated that
DR.. Moore had called his attention to the
fact that so far there had been no especial
prayer for the President of the United
States, and the great ''concatenated gov
eminent" which he representations gov
eminent, and he called upon Prof. Brown
to lead the Assembly in Simple hearted
prayer for for the President and his Off
cial advisers. Which Prof Brown did
with hearty and felicitious phrase.
The evening session was given over tt
the members of the New York Presbytery