The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-03-05
A FRIEND OF BRIGGS.
He Finds an Advocate, but Not
a FellOw-Belieyer.
TIME WOULD GIVE THE ANSWER.
Evangelist Martha Advocates Total Inn
mersion-School Exhibit for the
Worlds Fair.

AuteE0st IN tne case OF tfO1. 0fisess VINO - On
trial for heresy by the Presbyterian church. has
been revived b. the publication in the Posr.lN-
TELLlGExcEk of the 'Piea for Peace" and the
secret circular issued by his friends to members
OF the church. Rev. T. J. Lamont, pastor of the
First Pres byterian church OF Olympia, writes to
the PosT-lNTELIIGENcER as follows on the sub
iect:
To THE EDITOR: I have noticed several COM
this case and pnrporting to explain the attitude
OF the Presbyterian church relating thereto. II
seems TO me there il much Misrepresentation a
to what il involved In The decision of the Ques-
tions conuec ed with this case II it were
merely matter of deciding whether the Pres
byrer;an church indor.es or condemns the views
advocated by Dr.. Briggs, there can be no doubt
az to the iskue. There are comparatively few OF
the ministers or theOlogions of this church who
accept OF the claims put forth by DR.. Briggs.
The church Is almost unit in condem0ing
them But this 10 not the real question at
issue This was not the question at issue in
New York prestytery, which acquitted Dr..
Briggs. II was the one issue apparently before
Smith. Really in beth cases the ouiy issue Is,
snail the Presby :eran church tolerate the ad-
vocacy OF such views within i.s bounds or on
the part OF its members9
personally, a. u minister In this deuOm!nA-
ton. have no sympathy with the views Of DR..
Briggs, but at the same time l have no desire to
Throttle their utteraDce, aud eau SEQ nothing
In them that furnishes proper ground for the
deposition OF those who advocate them. have
such confidence ia the truth OF the Bible aud
Its ultimate triumph over all error that have
no fears or apprehersious when cratic views
are expressed, even by leading men. / believe
that tod still has something to do with the
Bible, and that in the end truth is certain to
conquer The very presentation OF these
think for themselves and not take their theO-
logical beliefs on the mere authority OF their
teachers.
Both Dr.. Briggs and Dr. Smith are recognized
a. earnest Christian men, beautifully exempt
tying the Chris; life. They command the conf.
dence OF all who know them in their private
life and femeanor. That either should be de-
posed from the ministry Oh account OF their
beliefs Is simply an outrage. Suca IN extreme
measure was no: called for. l believe there is
room iOr bota OF them in the Presbyterian
church. Whether the general assembly next
May will take this view If these cases Is un-
other question. / am afraid it will not. II
1t does not, in my Judgment it will make mot
seriou- mistake. am not so sure taat 1t would
not result in a disruption. 1t would certainly
result In many ministers leaving the Presby-
terrain church.
A. the very best the question upon which
there Is such divergence Is entire Y hypothet.-
cal. absolutely without substance or siguifi-
cance None OF us have ever seen or will prob
ably ever see the original autographs about
which SO much has been said. Personally feel
forced to the belief tina, these original auto
graphs were without error But know nothing
man does. What does it matter what one or an-
other thinks on this point? The heavens will
no. fall. whichever may oe the true opinion.
II is . contention which Is not worth the powder
that is being exploded upon il.
sincerely hope there is enough of faith in
Gods word and in inspired truth in the Pres
byterian church to reinstate DR.. Smith as Il
minister OF the Gospel, ard to let Dr. Briggs
push his critical Investigations just he
chooses. No harm can come to the cause of
Christianity from this source. Ii this contre-
versy results in leading Christians to do little
original investigation for themselves in the
matter OF their beliefs the possi bic damage done
by the advocacy of these views will be more
than compensated for We will then have some
real. live followers of Christ, preaching the
truth. not because their creed commands 1t, tut
because it is part of their spiritual natures.
This Is just what would please the savior him.
self.
As to the circular referred to by Dr.. Alison,
am suspicious that 1t is piece OF eccles AS
teal trickery, emanatiug not from the friends.
but from some one o; his opponents He would
never resort to such a method of procedure. nor
would any OF his true friends. thiux this will
be developed i'll time.