St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-06-05
MINNEAPOLIS.
HEREsY TRIALS.
Inc Rev. Wilkinson Speaks Upon
the BRIGGS Case

Inc Rev. Wilkinson Speaks Upon
the Briggs Case.
Last night, in st. Andrews Episcopal
church, the Rev. William Wilkinson
sala IN his sermon: 1--WE have, no
couDt' all read with deep interest, and
IL may De some with regret, the news
paper reports of the trial of Rev. DIR.
Briggs for heresy. No charge of anv
moral KIND was involved. That he is q
man OF good character, considerable
aDlllty and vast knowledge, is stated bv
those VINO know. These things are not
questioned by his accusers. Mapv men
are very sorry for the result, and give
Much sympathy to the worthy doctor.
MyselI' 40 not feel that way. i should
II a, on the whole, feel that congratu-
Latiohs are In order. Why he should
wan mamI toFetaln place, in which it is
n"du W see how he could be happy,
"nu ia when most high-minded men
W. 1911 ~ pe III misery, is not easy for any
one 10 see. However true are the views
Or. Briggs holds, and with MANY of
them am in profound agreement. thew
are not Presbyterian, and that BODY. if
II intended to be at one with Itself and
CONSISTENT, had to cast him out, revise
us STANDARDS or see their authority set
az 1ausnt Nothing in all the history
VI wy lla IS more curious than the way
9Uuis iiIGn gam notoriety. IhaYe heard
Frol; Harper speak in the plainest
words IN Westminster church in this
G G ana say two men at least wrote
r reat o !" and at length give his
le"' Us for so speaking. No man
sara word against 1t. Some
OF the bIest men in the world have so
said, IN many religious bodies the same
words would not occasion remark.
When DIR. Briggs says it he is hereto.
In regard TO inspiration OF the Script
ures, as we have them, DR.. Briggs says
they many contain error, but not such as
to Impair their authority. AS moral
guide, the man who has always looked
upon them as from God, for the purpose
of showing bad men how to become
good, good men how to become better,
and how they all may get to heaven by
Jesus Christ the Savior, is not disturbed
by this. lie knows full well that not
question in morals, or i'll all the
practical relations OF men can
arise which direct statements OF
the Bible ard its general principles will
not settle that it is a handbook for life
and duty, for Joy and for sorrow, and i'll
literature there is nothing like it. The
next point declared heretical is, that
souls after death progress in knowledge
and i'm goodness; that death does not fix
the exact state of souls. This appears
to surprise many. | wonder why 1t
should? The overwhelming majority of
Christian people have, III all ages. held
it. and now hold it. Over two hundred
Roman Catholics, the mighty Greek
church, and all the Anglican com
munion throughout the world
so view it. John Foster held
il, but it is not Presbyterian.
Whether ii is right or wrong is another
matter. The men who suspended DR.;
Briggs e]bound to go further and deal
with those who voted in his favor or
amend thh standard of faith, for
house divis led against itself will not
stand. AS we look over the past
we see lwhat heresy itriaIs have
done. They do not begin IN love of
man. They usually end in haze and
persecution. This was tried by Roman
Catholic upon those who dissented
from its faith, by the English church
man upon non-cOnformists, and by
Puritan upon the Quakers. In every
case failure marks its tracks. Today in
the world which calls itself Christian
one lesson. we all heed to learn; the
sooner we learn it the better for US and
for the world. Men do not all see
alike: il is not likely that in our time
they will There are good men who
hold every creed. Whenever any man
is sincerely and honestly living up to
the very best knowledge he has, and
desires above all things to know the
truth, and stands ready to do it with
glad and ready mind, that man belongs to
the soul of the church, he is one of
Gods noble army, fighting his battles,
doing his work; that man should have
love and sympathy and honor; this may
seem to many a wide statement, some
will think it dangerous to the Christian
system. Those who know better know
that 1t is the holy Catholic faith; New
mann and Manning heed it, and when
it permeates the religious world. as it
ought, it will bring in all sweet accord,
and be a long step to the oneness de-
sired by Christ and all devout people.