Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-30
OF last week. and what is reported causes them
no surprise.
DIR. Parkhurst Gives a Hint.

| no surprise.
DIR. Parkhurst Gives a Hint.
| From the n. Y. World
Rev. Charles H. Parkhurst preached vester-
day morning at the Madison Square Presby-
terrain Church on 1.-The Prodigal Son." He
| touched upon the DR.. Briggs case as follows
1t is a common thing to say we pin our faith
| 70 certain doctrines. If the doctrine should
give way then the foundation would fall All
| tine doctrines of the church have not proven
lnfaliibie. At one time science and religion
| commended that the earth was the center of the
universe. To question that doctrine was to
| disbelieve religion. The church staked its
validity upon that doctrine. The church has
always made it a point to stake its existence
| upon specific points.
| The vigor of our religious life will ever be
determined by the capacity of our roots, and
not by the pins that our religious growth is
looped up by. The more We loop ourselves up
| regardless OF the strength of our roots. which
| should be the real foundation of our religious
| existence, the worse off We will be il the Irvine
| which loops us up should prove bad
| isa dangerous thing for any man or set
OF men to declare that the abandonment Of
any speclic opinion would necessarily draw
| aiter IL the overthrow of religion. II we
preachers did not say so much we vould not
have SO much to take back.
| 1nere Is tendency to believe in specific
| doctrines. have seen a considerable element
OF IL In our church and in quite a number of
| our own particular congregations and II il be-
| cause understand perfectly well that condi-
uon and appreciate so thoroughly the process
| py which II has been induced that speak as /
DO. 1t seems to be SO full of menace 1t is
| --rong to throw too much attention upon doc
| uihal treilis The roots are the main things
Man redemption rests primarily upon his be-
mel IN God Let us as a church and as indI-
sldpals say with the prodlgal son: L am going
DIR. Briggs on Trial.
| From the Chicago Evening Post
by what must be considered a significant
vote-4o9 to l45-the Presbyterian general as
sembly decided yesterday to put DIR. Briggs on
trial for heresy. 1t seems a foregone conclu-
sion in the minds of the Washington cor
| respondents that he will be convicted. The re-
suit of the conviction is not to be foretold.
| Whether it will restore peace to a powerful
| church now shaking with the controversy or
only serve to SO increase the bitterness of the
| factions as to divide the church permanently is
more than even the wisest of the professors can
| predict.
There can be no question, though. on this
point that the fight on Briggs has developed
passions that are commonly kept in allegiance
by preachers of the gospel When we find two
| sets OF men denouncing each other as '.perse-
cutors or ''infidels;" when We read such state
| ments as the brilliant young Chicago preacher,
Thomas c. Hall. gave out yesterday when he
called a venerable doctor "poor, stupid old DIR.
Birch" and accused another officer of the as
sembly of such prejudice as no fair-minded
man would expose-when we see these things
we can well sympathiZe with the men and
women all over America who in sorrow and
WEAKNESS of spirit watching the doings in
Washington. The Presbyteri church of
| America is, indeed, soreIy tried.
The Briggs Case.
From the st. Louis Globe Democrat.
The real purpose of the proceedings in the
case Of Prof. Briggs. as aptly stated BY Col
McCook. is to enforce a contract, or to deter
mine whether the contract has been mann
| tanned in all its integrity. This point has
been evaded and ignored the Briggs
side Of the controversy from the stait. The
country has listened to the defenders of the
distinguished clergyman only to be told
| that he was being prosecuted like n crimi-
nal, when in fact, there is no justification
for such view. He is in the service of the
Presbyterian Church. emploved 10 do GER
| tain thing. in a certain way, and ii is con-
| tended that he has not lived up to the terms
and conditions of the contract When be
assumed the position he agreed to teach
the doctrines Of the organization that gave
it to him. and it is insisted that he has not
done so, but has taken the liberty TO substi-
tute his own opinions for given features of
the schedule of belief which he promised
to uphold and enforce. There is no question
about his right to think and speak
what he pleases; but there is a question
about his right to remain in the service
Of church after he has renowned his
allegiance TO il in certain particulars. and
assumed the privilege of departing from its
system Of faith and forms of instruction at his
own discretion. That Is the vital issue in the
case, and all other considerations are purely
technical and artificial.
II is not necessary to discuss the merits Of
Prof Briggs form of theology far as the
pending trial is concerned Granting that his
views are sound and wholesome the fact re-
mains that he is not authorized to teach them as
representative of the Presbyterian
Church il they antagonize the doctrines
of that church. He is free to 60
elsewhere and identify himself with
some other religious body, or preach the Cos
pei as he understands il in an independ-
ent way, but he is surely not free TO stay
where he has ceased to be a full believer,
| and where he cannot consistently and con-
scientiously perform the work required of
him by his contract. The matter is a very
simple one when looked at in this light. 1t
| does not involve the idea of persecution. but
only that Of justice and propriety Prof
Briggs stands in the attitude Of trying
| to compel the church to accept doc
trines and interpretations of Scripture that
are contrary to Its established creed. aud
to retain him In Its service notwithstanding
| his violation OF the conditions upon which
that service logically depends. 1t is under
stood that he does not claim to be in accord
with the prevailing Presbyterian faith and
sentiment; and that is equivalent to an
admission that he belongs somewhere else.
| or. at least, that he is occupying a false
position as an accredited teacher Of Pres
byterian principles and opinions. The people
have respect for any man who sewers his
relations with q religious denomination be-
cause he cannot honestly continue to en-
terrain and advocate its doctrines;
but when man asserts the right
| to be law unto himself in such case and vet
to maintain those relations, he invites distrust
| Of his motives and forfets much of the sym-
patty that he would otherwise receive.