Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1893-06-08
The Verdict Against DR.. Briggs.

s~S~ ~ S~Ao -
Assembly in favor of sustaining the ap-
peal in the case of DR.. Briggs-38S to
116-is so large that no room is left for
doubt as to the position of the Church
concerning his views and teachings.
His ensuing trial will unquestionably
result in verdict of heresy against
him, whatever may be thought OF the
sincerity of his convictions and the
purity of his motives. There has been
no disposition manifested to persecute
him on account of his opinions, or to
traduce his personal character. He is
generally recognized as man of fine
talents and good impulses, and most of
the criticisms upon his course have
been made in sorrow rather than in
anger. Some of his overzealous friends
have tried to give the matter the APP
pearance of criminal prosecution, but
they have not succeeded in thus de-
ceiving the public. Full opportunity
has been given him to define his atti-
tude and defend his conduct. His
moral integrity has not been assailed,
even by implication; nor has his right
been denied to believe what he pleases.
It has only been insisted that, having
ceased to abide by the established creed
of the Presbyterian Church, he has
forfeited his right to represent that
Church in an official capacity. The
test of orthodoxy is fidelity to the sys-
tenn of denominational belief which is
the constitution of the Church; and
according to his own statement, DR..
Briggs has departed from that standard,
and substituted personal doctrines and
interpretations for those of a duly
authorized character.
It is idle to say that the Church is
attempting to force DR.. Briggs to ac-
cept opinions and sentiments which are
offensive to his judgment and his con-
science. On the contrary, he is en-
deayorlng to compel the Church to
adopt his views in contradiction of its
well-known tenets and professions.
There is a suggestion of violent assur-
ance in his idea that the Church should
remodel it's scheme of faith to suit his
individual notion of soundness and pro-
priety; and yet that is practically what
he demands. The issue is a very
simple one, and does not involve any
thing more than the determination of
the right of man to preach doctrines
as Presbyterian that are antagonistic
to the Presbyterian schedule of BELIEF.
There is no threat or purpose of per-
sonal punishment in the case. The
time of chains, the dungeon and the
stake has gone by. No severe penalty
is incurred by being a hereto nova
days. The worst that can happen to a
man who changes his religious views
is the necessity of parting company
with those from whom he has become
intellectually alienated, and forming
new relations in harmony with his
new opinions. DR.. Briggs will not be
molested in the PRONUNCIATION of the
kind of theology that seems to him most
consistent and advantageous. The
whole world is open to him for prose-
lyting purposes, and if his views are
right they will finally prevail. But he
will not be permitted to represent the
Church when he plainly
its creed and teachings.
That is the whole substance and sig
nificance of the matter, and no amount
of sophistry and sensationalism can give
it any other meaning in the minds OF
thoughtful people. - Globe
Democrat