The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-06-02
DR. BRIGGS SUSPENDED.
The Eminent Educator No Longer
o Presbyterian.
VHE CASE OF PROFESSOR SMITH

Lame Theological Seminary Criticized for
Retaining Him After His Suspension by
tho Cincinnati Presbytery-Tho Assem-
bly, Adjourns to Meet Next In Saratoga
WASHINGTON, June Q. = The closing
scene in the Briggs case before the Pres.
byterian General Assembly was not wit
messed by so large crowd as that which
listened go attentively to every other fea.
,ture Of the celebrated controversy. In
the galleries there were some vacant seats,
noticeable contrast to previous days.
when even the aisles were crowded. Many
commissioners were absent from the floor,
while there was lonely look about the
table. beneath the pulpit. on each side OF
the central aisle, where the prosecuting
COMMITTEES In the Briggs case and the sup
porters OF the suspended professor had sal
during the progress Of the trial and pre-.
vious proceedings. Professor Briggs was
not in his seat, and all the other commits
sioners who had given him their support
and counsel had gone with the exception
of Professor Francis Brown, who waited
TO hear the verdict and then left the
church.
Drs. Birch and Lampe, of the committee
on prosecution, were also absent, Colonel
McCook being the only member in his
sent The gallery pew which had been
occupied by Mrs. Briggs and her friends
was conspicuously vacant for the first
time since the assembly met.
The business of the assembly proceeded
as usual while waiting the report of the
special COMMITTEES on the Briggs case. The
most interesting report was that read by
Rev. John Dixon, chairman OF the com
mittee on theological seniinaries. In re
fSrring to Lane seminary the report says;
.'In the list of professors the assembly
Ands the name of Rev Henry p. Smith
ID. d., who was in December last sus
2 pepded by the presbytery of Cincinnati for
I. .ynsdtsndness in faith. On Jan. 81, 1893
Professor Smith rendered his resignation
90 the board because Of that suspension
The board declined to receive such resig-
nation, but continued him, by formal nc.
tion, in the duties of his profcssorship in
Che seminary.
"Where a minister is suspended he is
suspended from all the functions Of his of
fice. Among the most important of such
functions is that OF training young men
for the ministry. However serious the
embarrassment to the seminary, the board
should have Immediately accepted the
resignation of Professor Smith, or ut least
relieved lin from the discharge of his du-
tics. Loyalty to the church should have
compelled them to take such action But
they were further bound so to do by faith.
fulness to the trust which they have as.
sumed with regard to that seminary. Its
charter requires that all the professors
shall be members of the Presbyterian
church in good standing The assembly,
therefore, is constrained to withhold its
approval and commentator of Lane sem
tnary until the board has reconsidered its
action in this respect and remedied the
&rror." --.
The event of the day was, of course, the
report on the Briggs case Rev. Mr.. Hoyt,
chairman of the committee, before making
che report called upon DIR. Baker, chair
man of subcommittee sent to interview
Professor Briggs in spirit of conciliation.
TO report the result of that interview. DIR.
Baker said the committee had hoped that
Professor Briggs would say something
which might relieve the tension of ths
present distressing situation. But this
hope had not been realized. Professor
briggs stated his irrevocable determine
tiOn to abide by the declarations made in
his address before the assembly in his de.
fense, and TO continue to teach the doc
trines there avowed. Whereupon DIR.
Baker said, the committee took the action
which Mr.. Hoyt would now report to the
GcneIa al Assembly.
The report, after reeiting the proceed.
tngs in the case, proceeds:
''Fhs judicatory finds that said final
Judgment Of the presbytery Of New York
L. erroneous and should be, and is hereby
reversed; and this General Assembly, sit
ting as a judicatory in said cause, coming
10. I,,.1.
charges, finds the appellee, Charles A
Briggs, has uttered, taught and propa
gated views, doctrines and teachings con.
trary to the essential doctrine of Holy
Scripture and the standards of the said
Presbyterian church in the United State
of America, and in violation of the ordina
zion vow Of said appellee, which said er
roneous views and doctrines strike at the
vitals Of religion and have been industri
ously spread.
Wherefore, this General Assembly, sit.
ting as a judicatory In this cause on ap
peal, does hereby suspend Charles A.
Briggs from the office of minister in the
Presbyterian church until such time as he
shall give satisfactory evidence of repen
tance Of the violation by him of the said
ordination vow.
The report Of the committee was adopted
whereupon Rev. DIR. Sprague gave notice
chat at the proper time protest would be
offered against the finding of the assem-
bly, as being too severe a sentence for tht
offense of the honored scholar named an d
rs tending to restrict the liberty hereto
fore enjoyed by offlce bearers in the Pres
byterian church.
The protest against the action of the as
aeinbly in the case OF Professor Briggs re
ceiyed the signatures of sixty-three com
missioners, and that against the action
upon the inspiration of 4c Bible about q
hundred
Saratoga, N. Y, was chosen as the place
OF meeting of tho assembly in 1894, the in
vitation Of the First Presbyterian church
90 hold the session In that church being
accepted.
At $50 last night the General Assembly
having finished its work, was dissolved.
NEW YORK, June 2-The Rev. Charles
Augustus Briggs, d. D., returned from
Washington last night. The professor anG
some of his friends intimated that thu
action in Washington did not end ths
matter. Something will undoubtedly bt
done before long to continue the fight. Il
was learned that Professor Briggs wonlt
10 right on just as IL nothing had hap
psned, and he will bo sustained in his
action by the board of directors and mem
bers Of the faculty Of Union seminary.
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Big Iron Foundry Destroyed.