Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1893-06-02
BRIGGSISCAST OUT
And So Are Union and Lane
SeminarieS.
THOROUGH WORK BY THE ASSEMBLY

The Advanced Professor Suspended
Two Defiant Theological Scholastic
Inerrancy of Scripture Affirmed and
Presbyterianism Is Supposed Now to
Know Where 1t Stands Dissolved.
WASHINGTON, June 1.-The committee
which was appointed to formulate the sex
planatory minute" which in secular affairs
would be called the verdict" of the Pres
byterian assembly on the Briggs case, con-
sisted of the following gentlemen: Rev.
Thomas a. Hoyt, ID. D., of Philadelphia,
Oh airman Ministers-H. w. Congdon OF
New York; James H. Brookes, Missouri;
Calvin W. Stewart, Nebraska; w W. Har-
sha, Nebraska; J. J. Lucas. India; George ID.
Baker. Pennsylvania; E. p. Whi-llon. In
diana. and Thomas ID. Ewing, Iowa Ed
ers-John Randolph. Baltimore; Thomas
McDougall. Ohio; David Jacks. Califor-
mia; Edward T Green, New Jersey; James
A Curry, Kentucky; +. ID. Warheid,
PENNSYLVANIA 1t took them ali morning
to visit the accused professor and write the
minute, which was ready when the assem-
bly, convened as court
wrestIed in Vain with Briggs.
Rev. Mr. Hoyt, chsirman of the COM
mittee. before making the report called
upon DIR. Baker, chairman of "A suh-com-
mittee sent TO interview Professor Briggs
in a spirit OF CONSULTATION. to report the re-
suit of that interview. DR.. Baker said
the committee had hoped that Briggs
would say something to relieve the ten
sion of the present distressing situation
But this hope had not been realized. Pro
lessor Briggs stated his irrevokable otter
mination 10 abide by the declarations
made in his address before the assembly in
his defense, and TO continue to teach the
doctrines there avowed. Whereupor, DIR.
Baker said the committee took the action
which Mr. noyt would now report to the
general assembly.
Has Taught Erroneous Views
The report after reciting the charges in
the case proceeds: This judicatory finds
that said final Judgment of the preSby-
terv of New York is erroneous and should
be and is hereby reversed: and this said
general assembly sitting rs a Judicatory
in said case, coming now to enter ludg-
ment on said amended charges, finds that
the appellee, Charles \. Briggs, has ut
tered, taught and propaGated views, doc
trines and teachings aS set forth IN SAD
charges contrary to the essential doctrine
of HOLY Scripture and the standards OF
said Presbyt crian church in the United
States of America and in violation of the
ordination voyC OF said appellee. which
said erroneous views and doctrines strike
Mt the vitals of religion and have been IN
dustriously spread.
Suspenaion Until lie Hepents
@Wherefore this general assembly of the
PRESBYTERIAN church in the United states
of America, sitting a judicatory in this
case on appeal, does hereby suspen Charles
A. Briggs, the said appellee. from the office
of a minister in the Presbyterian church
in the United States of America until
such time as he shall give satisfactory EVIL
dence of repentance to the general as
sembly of the Prc-byterian church in the
United States % America of the violation
by him of the said ordination VOW as here
in and heret 1fore found"
The report of the committee was adopted.
whereupon Rev. DIR. Sprague gave notice
that at tne proper time protest would ot
offered against the finding of the assembly
as beiJ too severe n sentence Tor the
offerse of the honored scholar, and rs
tending to restrict the liberty heretofore
snioyed by Office bearers in the Presbyteri
an church.
The Church and Reason Insnfiicient.
After the formal finding of the assembly
had been disposed of DR.. Harsha of the
committee, read an explanatory note, &c
be made part of the record of the case
declaring that the doctrine of the errancy
of the Scriptures as it came from them
to whom and through whom God origi
nalIy communicated his revelation is IN
conflict with the statement of the Holy
Scripture ITSELF also that in this case Is
involved the question of the sufficiency OF
the human reason and of the church as
authorized guides in the matter of saliva.
ton. And the committee recommended
that the general assembl declare that
reason and the church are not to be re-
garded as fountains OF divine authority
and are never to be relied upon as suffi
cient in themselves and aside from Holy
Scripture, to lead the soul to saving
knowledge of God.