Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-06-07
DIR. BRIGGS DEFENDED.

The Rev. Washington Gladden. Pleads for
Investigation and Study of the Bible.
The Rev. Washington GLADDEN.. pastor of the
First Congregational Church OF Columbus.
Ohio. has this to say respecting DR.. Briggs and
his recent trial for heresy:
Prof. Briggs says that the only way to find
out what 1t IL is to take the Bible and study IL
carefully and let it tell its own story. That ia
what he has done. That is the method Of the
higher criticism. His opponents say that that
is dangerous business. I'VE have n tradition, {"
they say, that the Bible is SO and so; this
tradition has been held long time: any one
who refuses to accept it is heretic." Prof
Briggs proposes to draw from the facts Of the
Bible his theory from the Bible; that is a purely
scientific process; 1t is the only process, 1
think, by which any Trustworthy results can be
obtained. The method is right; the man has
quaiihed himself by years OF faithful study to
apply the method Can We shy as much for the
majority who have condemned him?
submit that their method-of appealing To
tradition for settlement OF u scier tifc cues
tion-is wrong; l dare say that not one in Eve of
them has any special qualifications for decid-
Ing this question in the right way; that not one
In hve OF them has carefully examined those
particular facts Of the Bible on which Prof,
Briggs based his opinion; that not one in Ave
OF them has read Prof. Briggs books
l know something Of the habits of mind of
this class of people. for have had good
deal to do with them; and have not the slight
est hesitation in venturing that statement. It
Is matter OF principle with most OF them not
TO read the books which they denounce AZ
heretical When such q company sets I'D TO
Judge man how much Is its Judgment
worth! Suppose that a congregation OF 500
men business men, LAWYERS editors. school
masters and such hke-should undertake TO
pronounce Judgment upon Prof. orion with
respect to some geological opinion Of his, or
upon DIR. Hamilton with respect to some
problems OF surgery; and suppose that an
overwhelming majority of them should disa- |
gree with the man they were trying, how much |
would their opinion be worth? The case is !
precisely similar to that which was adjudicated |
last week in Washington. The majority of the |
against Calico was proportionateiy
much larger, but the world kept moving after
The cardinals had decided that 1t didn't Prof.
Briggs has told the simple truth about the
blble. The truth will stand. Twenty years
rom now, If the Presbyterian Church lives till
hen, the truth which he has told will be con-
essed by its assembly. The men who have
condemned him have judged themselves |
VIII not put the judgment into words; leave
hat to history.
But even in this case we have striking illus
ration OF the marvellous changes that have
AIKEN place in this department. of life. In those
ood Old times to which we have been looking
Jack the fate Of Prof. Briggs would have been
cry different. Two hundred and fifty years
go, in the New England city which was once
ny home. the man who was the founder Of that
lty Of Springfield. and a true, brave. noble
Tristan man, wrote book on theology which
lnered somewhat from the prevailing theories,
nd sent the manuscript to England to be
rlnted. Somebody found out that such
book was coming; some Of the theo-
'gips suspected that it might contain !
eresy, and by order Of the leg
nature the whole edition was seized on its |
rival III Boston harbor and burned on Boston
ommon. Not only so, William Pynchon found I
lat the country was too hot to hold him. and I
e was compelled to forsake the home that he
nd made for himself in the Connecticut val
y and return to England. Nothing of the
md is going to happen to Prof. Briggs They
q not going to burn his books They are | 1
ally going to advertise them. They will make I