San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1893-05-26
THE BRIGGS PERSECUTION.

THE BRIGGS PERSECUTION.
That the attempt to depose DR..
Briggs from the ministry of the
Presbyterian church is not in the
interest of a purified theology, but in
the interest of a dOgmatism that is
| threatened with destruction in the
growing liberalism of the church,
is apparent from the history of the
case. These dOgmatists, who in
sist that there is no individual
liberty of Scripture Interpretation
to be allowed the clergy, took eX-
ceptiOn to the open aud repeated
utterances of DR.. Briggs as to the
genuineness and authenticity of
certain portions of the accepted
canon. Charges were prepared
| against him and he was cited to
appear before his presbytery and
answer. The trial was held, and
at the very incipiency of the case
certain of the specifications were
thrown out by the Presbytery.
The examination proceeded upon
the other charges and specifica-
tions, and the result was that on
none of them did the prosecution
succeed in establishing a case of
| heresy against the accused. AS
this trial was before the presby-
terry of New York, the largest. most
| learned, wealthy and influential of
all the presbyteries of the church
| in America, it is to be presumed
that the trial was not suffered to
go by default, nor to be decided
otherwise than on its merits. That
decision was by court of the most
scholarly men in the denomina-
| ton, by court of ministers ac-
lively engaged in teaching and
| preaching the Presbyterian faith
in the very center of the mental
and moral and spiritual activities
of the age. That they rendered
just verdict is to be presumed upon
every presentation of the matter.
| This verdict does not satisfy the
dOgmatism of the persecution and
again the attempt is made to put
the Reverend Briggs upon his
trial, by an appeal Of his accusers
from the deliVerance of his presby-
terry to that of the General Assem-
bly,. 1t is this appeal that is now
being argued before the said Gen
eral Assembly, now in session in
the city of Washington. The
| friends of the accused Doctor
resist the reOpening Of the case
on the ground that the accused
having been tried by his pres
bytery and declared not guilty
| cannot again be brought to trial
for the same offence. What the
GeneralAssembly will decide in the
premises is hard to say. If it is de-
cided to again subject DR.. Briggs
to trial, it will be because his per-
secutors think that the large body
of ministers embracing the Gener-
al Assembly can be more easily
influenced by charge of heresy
to condemn, than the presbytery
which was so largely composed of
ripe scholars and probably Cath
Ollie clergymen. This is certain it
is the church that is now on trial
and not DIR. Briggs. He has had
his trial and has been cleared. The
case is now on for the church, and
in it's verdict it is to decide
whether it is to be made the in
strument of dOgmatIsm and big
otry to inflict the punishment de
manded by the prosecutor, after
the brethren of the accused in his
own field of labor and action have
solemnly passed upon his case INC
declared him not guilty.
THE Infanta is having better
time in this country than she haC
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