The herald., 1893-06-02
PROF. BRIGGS CAST OUT
Sentence Pronounced ON the
Alleged Heretic.
Suspended from the Ministry
Till He Recants.
The Defendant Refused to Accept a
Compromise.
He VIII Abide by the Doctrines He Has
Avowed-Lane and Union Sem
inaries Placed Under
the Ban.

By the Associated Press.
WASHINGTON, June /. Having decided
that they had hereto on their hands,
in the person OF DIR. Briggs, the frat
thing for the Presbyterian general as
sembly to do this morning was to con-
slider what should be done with him.
The committee appointed to decide the
matter brought in the recommendation
of suspension from the ministry, and
the assembly adopted the report. DR..
Briggs has been suspended Indefinitely,
and can only be reinststed on the re-
cantation of the matter in his speeches
and writings to which objection has
been made. 1t is unlikely he will ever
do that.
FoRMULAToRs OF THE VERDICT.
On the converting of the assembly this
morning the moderator announced the
names of the committee to FORMULATE
the minute expressing the sense OF the
assembly as to the vote taken upon the
appeal from the New York presbytery in
Briggs case. Rev. Thomas A. Hoyt OF
Philadelphia was made chairman. The
other members were a6 follows:
Ministers-H. w. Congden, Nebraska;
W. w. Harsha, Nebraska; |. j. Lucas,
Indiana; G. d. Baker, Pennsylvania; E.
P. Whallon, Indiana; Thomas Dewing,
Iowa.
Elders-John Randolph, Baltimore;
Thomas McDougall. OHIO; David Jack
son, California;; E. I. Greene, New
Jersey; J A. Curry, Kentucky; E. D.
Warfield, Pennsylvania.
The committee retired, and the as
sembly ar a court adjourned, resuming
legislative business as an assembly.
ouTLAwED SUMMARIES.
Rev. John Dickson, chairman OF the
committee of theological seminaries,
submitted report. 1t said in part !:
mary, the trustees were compelled to
abolish the chair of practical theology,
owing to reduced income, thus requiring
the resignation OF DR.. Roberts, who was
the incumbent thereof. In the list of
professors the assembly finds the name
OF Rev. Henry Preserved Smith, D. D..
who in December last was suspended by
the presbytery of Cincinnati for un-
soundnees in faith. The board should
have accepted the resignation OF Profess
cor Smith, or at least have relieved him
from the discharge of his duties. The
assembly, therefor, is constrained to
withhold its approval and recommends
tlon OF Lane seminary until the board
has reconeidered it's action and remedied
the error.
The committee recommended that the
reelection OF Rev. Charles A. Briggs, D.
D., by the presbytery of Newark as di-
rector OF the Union theological semi
nary at Bloomfield, N. j., be disapproved
by this assembly.
A long and excited discussion followed
the presentation of the report, but the
question was finally put and the report
adopted in its entirety by a large ma
jority.
BRIGGS PENALTY FIXED.
At the afternoon session, DR.. Craig
convened the assembly as a court to
hear the report of the committee ap-
pointed to prepare an explanatory min
ute in the Briggs case. Rev. Mr.. Hoyt,
chairman, called upon DR.. Baker, of
subcommittee sent to interview Prof.
Briggs, to report the result of the inter
view.
DR.. Baker said Prof. Briggs stated his
irrevocable determination to abide by
the declarations made in his address
before the assembly in his defense and
to continue to teach the doctrines there
avowed.
AT the request of DIR. Baker, Prof.
Briggs gave him an autograph letter
making such q statement, whereupon
DR.. Baker said the committee took
action which Mr.. Hoyt would now re-
port to the assembly.
JUDGMENT OF THE COURT.
The report after reciting the proceed
ings in the case proceeds:
This judicatory finds eaid final iude-
ment of the presbytery of New York
erroneous, and it is hereby reversed
and this general assembly finds that the
appellee, Charles A. Briggs, uttered,
taught and propsgated views, doc
trines and teachings contrary to the
essential doctrines of the holy scrip
lures and standards of said Presbyterian
church, and in violation OF the ordina-
ton vows of said appellee, which said
erroneous views and doctrines strike at
the vitals of religion and have been in
dustriously spread.
Therefore, this general assembly
does hereby suspend Charles A. Briggs.
said appellee, from the Office of minister
in the Presbyterian church in the United
States of America. until such time as he
shall give satisfactory evidence of re-
pentance to the general assembly OF the
violation by him of said ordination VOW
as herein and heretofore found"
The report of the committee was
adopted and vote of thanks given the
for their services. The mo- |
tion for vote of thanks provoked a few
hisses.
DR.. Herrick johnson of Chicago pre-
sented protest against the action of the
assembly on the inspiration of the holy
scriptures.
THE INSPIRED WORD.
Rev. DIR. Young offered supplement
to the report of the committee on bills
and oTertures on the inspiration Of the
as follows:
Rssolysd, That the RihIa, as VIA naw |