The herald., 1893-07-08
LErTER BAG.
Aruttepinxs Of the Laitx.

EDITORS HERALD: An article with the
above caption appeared in last Sundays
issue of your esteemed paper, and az
there atill seems to be, ON the part el
many, total misapprehension Of the
real question involved IN the celebrated
Briggs case, you will greatly oblige by
permitting . few words from one Of the
laity whose sentiments differ from those
expressed In the circular letter referred
to in the article above mentioned.
FIRST let me say that desire to enter
| into no controversy on this question
which has 90 agitated the Christian
world, neither would consent to do 90,
and this will be the last on this subject
from my pen.
The action of the general assembly in
deposing Briggs from the ministry of
the Prosbyterian church was not, as
many think, because of his peculiar the
illogical views per 90, but because those
views, and his advocacy of them, were
not in accordance with his ordination
vows and covenants, made and entered
into with the Presbyterian church. He
was bound by his ecclesiastical position
to teach and enforce the faith and tenets
of the church which ne represented but
instead of doing this in all good faith, he
assumed to be law and doctrine unto
bimself, and to teach and advocate prin-
ciplos contrary to the spirit and letter of
Presbyterian doctrine.
That Professor Briggs wss not Pres
byterian has long been we'll known; his
utterances ON various occasions giving
abundant proof Of this fact, but it re-
manned for his historical inaugural ad-
drses to culminste Christian sentiment
and bring it to point where it could
find expression only, as it did, in the
action of the late general assembly.
His personal right to believe what he
pleaees is not denied him, and it is also
mated in his uttersnces) that the Pres
hyterian church is derelict in that it
does not forego itB most cherished tenets
and offer itself for absorption to the
Episcopal church; and it is also his
right to believe it his duty to work for
the organic union OF all churches; but
it is rightfully denied him to do and
teach these things as Presbyterian
minister. Had the general assembly
upheld him in the course he was pursu-
ing, it would have been no less than
tacit adoption of this same course and
belief by the whole church. Then, in
deed, might it be consistently said,
"That body has stultified itself beyond
recovery"
In secular organizations, integrity to
avowed principles is expected and de.
manded from even the humblest and
most obscure, and is this cardinal virtue
to stop at the portals Of these institu-
tions? In the name of all that is hon.
est and true, ia IL not our right and our
duty TO demand common integrity in
spiritual things? This is what the late
assembly demanded-that integrity
which would compel Professor Briggs to
lay aside his Presbyterian mantel and
step out in his true colors.
The effort of his sympathizers to hoist
this gentleman before the public as q
martyr, as one who had been violently
robbed of personal and official rights, is
unjusti6able in the extreme,-not to
cay unspeakabiy Silly.
In regard to the circular letter in
question, many regard it as move In
the wrong direction and wholly uncalled
for. 'The suggestion that Emmanuel
church withdraw from the domination
of the general assembly" ETC.. it seems
growth in the imagination OF an over
worked brain.
Much is being said about Professor
Briggs great scholarship and that he ID
"Godly man" It is not necessary for
his friends to beg these questions, as
thoas facts have not been disputed,
but it is we'll to remember
that the most Cody men are liable to
gsievous error. and also that wisdom
will not die with Professor Briggs. And
what OF it if he is Cody man? Are
there not thousands of Cody, scholarly
clsrgymen who are not, and cannot be,
Presbyterians They are in their proper
places, and the Presbyterian church
bids them God-speed. Goodness in any
minister is not only good, but indis-
pensable; but the Presbyterian church
requires, in addition to this, certain con-
ditions which bring the ministers into
harmony with the faith and ethics of
that body. Professor Briggs is not
merely a preacher; he is teacher OF
preachers, thus having it in his power
to disseminate his un-Presbyteria
views to the greatest detriment of the
church which he represented, and wall
is raised because, forsooth, his misdo-
ings are cut short.
1t is truly unfortunate and unwise to
employ unwarranted epithets in refer
ence to the assembly and its action, and
the terms 'sjlurian, odious, odorous,
intolerant and indefensible action, ridi-
culous and auperHuous deliverances, it's
evident purpose to override. to throttle
human reason" etc., sound like the
vagaries of an unbalanced mind.
It is wholly superauous for W.. O.
Patterson to suggest that the members
of Emmanuel church follow the advice
of Professor Briggs, etc. We neither
owe allegiance to that deposed gentle
man nor look to him for advice.
Il ppreroN