The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-04-19


them wrath he ordained to dishonor and
wrath for the SIN, to the praise oil His
glorious Justice yet hath lie no pleas
ure in the death OF the wicked, nor Is 1t
His decree, but the wiCkedness OF their
own hearts, which FestraiReth and him
dereth them from accepting the Tree
offer OF His grace made in the Gospel y
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEES.
There arc fifteen special committees
to report at this assembly. The most
important OF these, perhaps 10 the COM
mittee on church unity. The members
OF It have conferred with the joint com,
mission OF the Protestant Episcopal
church, which ut the general conyen-
ton OF 1856 and subsequently, has taken
steps looking to unity, and they 70.
ported in 1891 that "never since the
times OF the Westminster assembly has
the desire TOR closer union OF eyangel-
ical churches been so strong, and never
has the necessity for il been 30 urgent,
and yet every attempt at its realization
must expect to encounter hlndrances
and delays"
The committee, however, while wait
ing and working for this have had I'M
der consideration practical step. in
that direction, namely, the formation
of a federation OF tho Reformed churches
in this country holding the Presbyterian
system. This movement has no con-
neCIion with any consensus creed, in.
wolves nothing that would affect any OF
the peCuiarities OF any OF the churches,
but looks to the formation OF federal
union OF the churches ior the purpose
OF accomplishing work for the reclama-
ton OF the masses in large cities, towns,
and old rural communities, and designs
to Clothe federal council with ConstI-
tutional power as distinguished from
the voluntary advisory functions OF the
evangelical alliance and OF the council
OF the Reformed churches holding the
Presbyterian system.
Work among the freedmen has oGcu'
pied the attention OF the Presbyterian
church for more than generation, and
the report OF committee appointed TO
confer with similar committee OF the
Presbyterian assembly OF the south on
work among the colored race will
doubtless prove oil great interest, In
last years report tho statement was
made that "the presbyteries in the
synoda OF Atlanta and Catawba thatare
composed almost exclusively Of colored
ministers and elders number eight, In
the territory covered by these presby-
teries the board has had its largest sue!
cess. We have in this abundant evil
dence OF the fact that colored mon can
be educated and can easily master the
laws and usages OF our church, and can
manage his own ecclesiastical affairs in
as orderly and peaceable manner as
our oldest and most highly educated
presbyteries."
Tho committee also expressed the
conviction that the policy Of establish.
Sing separate churches and educational
institutions for the Colored man met
his own views and tended to his more
rapid development.
The other committees to report are
those on the church at home and
abroad, tho Columbian Exposition, con-
census creed, cooperation with other
churches, the Jacksonville church, ju.
dicial commissions, revision OF proof
texts, reprinting OF minutes, Sabbath
observance, systematic benehcence,
methods OF management OF temporali-
ties. conference with theological SEMI
naries, and young peoples societies.
HISTORY AND STATUS OF THE BRIGGS CASE.
The Chicago Tribune recently gave
the following concise history and status
OF the Briggs case up to date:
DR.. G. A. Briggs was a well known
Presbyterian clergyman, who, for some
fifteen years, had been professor OF He
brew in tho Union Seminary OF New
York City. Early in 1891 he was trans.
ferred to the professorship OF Biblical
theology. January 20, Of that year,
upon taking his new position, he de-
livered an address on THE Authenticity
OF Holy Scripture" lie laid down
three sources Of authority in religion,
the Bible, the church, the reason. lie
said that sanctification was not COM
pIete at death but continued. He
thought, he said, that these opinions
did not violate the creed Of tho Presby'
terrain church. This address, when
made public, created the greatest ex-
element among Presbyterians through.
out the country, and 100 pres,
byteries petitioned the assembly
to investigate the orthodoxy OIL
Doctor Briggs. The 1881 Pres
byterian general assembly met May 81
and his case was taken up: His ap
polntment as a Biblical professor was
vetoed by vote OF 44O 10 60, and Q
committee was chosen to confer with
the authorities OF the seminary to as
certain whether when the Old School
and New School Presbyterians united
in 1860 the assembly was given power
to set aside the actions OF the semina
ry. At tho same time Dr. Briggs col
leagues in tho faculty and all the di'
reCtors OF tho seminary sustained him
by an unanimous vote. On the meet
ing OF the Now York Presbytery Octo
tober 5 his case came to trial and the
committee OF prosecution based their
charges on tho heresy uttered in his ad
dress. After the charges had beer
read tho friends OF DR.. Briggs made {
motion to discharge the committee and
drop the case. This motion, however
was defeated by votp OF GA to 62 and
tho trial began. DR.. Briggs replied tc
his nccusers in long speech, regret
ting that he had disturbed tho peace Of
the church, tbut arguing that his
'opinions were not themselves IA
DO condemned. A motion tc
dismiss tho charge was carried
after much discussion, and Dr.
Briggs was acquitted Oh to 80. His OPP
ponents, however, Immediately gave
notice that they would appeal to thu
synod, In the meantime, tho commit
tee OF tho assembly and the directors Of
the seminary had met in New York just
i l.ai.... ~ I'm. II IL. NM az.