Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-18

The meeting Of the general assembly CT the
Presbyterian Church, which convened in this
city today, attracts moro general notice both
inside and outside the Presbyterian Church
than such gatherings usually do, because the
case of DR.. Charles A. Briggs will come before
the body in an appeal from the presbytery Of
New York. The appeal in the case fills a good
many printed pages. The amended charges
and specifications against DR.. Briggs on which
he was prosecuted, and Of which he was ac-
Quilted by the New York presbytery, fill a
pamphlet OF thirty-six pages. There are eight
distinct charges, all based on utterances made
in the inaugural address delivered by DR.. Briggs
at the Union Theological Seminary in New York
on the occasion Of his induction into the Ed
ward Robinson chair Of biblical theology.
The following opinions, found in the inau-
gural address. are those for which he has ac-
tually been tried:
II. That God speaks directly to men with
divine authority. through the reason and
through the church, as well as through the
Bible. q That there may have been errors in
the original autographs of the Scriptures. g.
That Moses did not write the Pentateuch and
that Isaiah did not write half OF the book that
bears his name. T. That the sanctification Of
Christian people is not altogether completed
at death, but goes on in the state between death
and the final Judgment
THE APPEAL
The formal appeal itself is interesting. as it
gives history OF the various proceedings thst
have been taken in the case. The appeal is
from the presbytery of New York and is made
in the name of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America. 1t was prepared By
the committee that prosecuted the case before
the presbytery. This is the committee that has
conducted all the proceedings against DIR.
Briggs, beginning in Nav. 1891. II is composed
Of Rev. Drs. G. W. F. Birch, Joseph J. Lampe
and Robert F. Sample and Ruling Elders John
]. Stevenson and John J. McCook
The appeal. which is dated New York, jan
uary IS, 1893, SAYS:
The Presbyterian Church in the United
States OF America represented by the UNDER
signed prosecuting committee. in the case OF
the said Presbyterian Church against the Rev.
Charles A. Briggs. ID. D.. presents the follow
ing appeal from the final Judgment in this
case. rendered by the presbytery of New York
on the 9Th day Of January, 1898. with the
grounds therefor and the specifications of the
errors alleged. Believing that the trial OF the
said DIR. Briggs is one Of the most importau,
in the history Of the Presbyterian Church, by
reason of the dangerous errors alleged to be
contained In the address of the said DIR. Briggs
at bis inauguration as professor Of biblical
theology In Union Theological Seminary, de.
livered on the Goth day OF January, 1891. upou
which inaugural address charges and specifca-
tions were tabled and prosecution, in compli-
ance with sections 10 and IL of the book OF
discipline, was initiated by the presbytery Of
New York in the name of the Presbyterian
Church in the United States of America, and
believing that the distinct and definite con-
domination Of those alleged errors. by the
supreme judicatory OF the said Presbyterian
Church, LIS necessary in order to prevent their
spread aud influence in the denomination; and.
while having the highest respect for the
synod Of New York. believing that q special
responsibility rests upon the general assembly,
which is charged with the duty of deciding in
all controversies respecting doctrine, of reprov-
ing, warning or bearing testimony against error
in doctrine in anv church, presbytery or synod.
and in cases that affect or concern the promotion
OF truth and holiness through all the churches
under its care, as set forth in chapter XII.
sections ~ and v, of the form of government
and in view of the disturbances Of the speeches,
settlement OF this most important case, do
hereby appeal to and request your venerable
body to enter Immediately upon the considora-
ton and judicial investigation OF the appeal
hereby presented, to issue the case, and 10
finally determine the important questions in.
volved, SO as to secure the purity and the
peace OF the church at the earliest possible
day.
HOW THE PROCEEDINGS BEGAN.
In the further prosecution Of the case on the
part Of the said Presbyterian Church, the ap-
pellant. represented by the said prosecuting
committee, respectfully sets forth:
That on April Is. A. ID. 1891, the presbytery
OF New York appointed a committee to con-
slider the inaugural address Of the Rev. Charles
A. Briggs, ID. D., in its relation to the confess
sion OF faith, and that on May ii, A. ID. 1891.
the said committee presented TO said presbytery
report which was accepted, and its recon-
mendation, THAT the presbytery enter at once
upon the judicial investigation OF the case, was
adopted by the said presbytery. and thereupon
it WIS Resolved. That q committee be an.
pointed to arrange and prepare the necessary
proceedings appropriate in the case of DIR.
Briggs" and the Rev. G. W. F. Birch, ID. d.,
Rev. Joseph J. Lampe. d. D., Rev. Robert F.
Sample, d. D., and Ruling Elders John ].
Stevenson and John J. McCook were appointed
such committee in conformity with the proyi-
sions of section IL of the book of discipline.
That after the initiation Of the prosecution
by the said judicatory. the presbytery Of New
York, as above recited, the said prosecuting
committee entered upon its duties.
That as said prosecution was initiated by
judicatory and not by individual prosecutors
in compliance with the provisions of section 10
OF the book OF discipline, the Presbyterian
Church in the United States Of America be-
came the prosecutor, and an original party in
the case, and was represented BY the said
prosecuting committee, which said committee
under section IL of the book of discipline was
charged with the duty of conducting the prose-
cution in all its stages in whatever judicatory
until the final issue be reached.
That at the meeting of said presbytery. held
on October 5, A ID. 1891. the said prosecuting
committee presented charges and specifications
in the of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America against the Rev.
Charles A. Briggs, ID. D., which were read in
the presence OF the judicatory, and were then
served by the moderator upon the said Rev.
Charles A. Briggs, ID. D., together with a cita-
ton, citing him to appear and plead to the
said charges and specifications at meeting of
the said presbytery, to be held on November 4,
A. ID. 1891.
That after said charges and specifications had
been presented to the said presbvtery and had
been read. the presbytery entertained motion
made by the Rev. George Alexander, ID. D., to
arrest the Judicial proceedings and to discharge
the prosecuting committee from further con-
sideration of the case. as follows:
Whereas the pres5ytery of New York, at
its meeting in May last, on account of utter
ances contained in inaugural address de-
hvered january 20, 1891, appointed a committee
to formulate charges against the author of that
address, Rev. Charles A Briggs, ID. d., and
whereas. since that action was taken. the ac-
cused has supplemented those utterances by
responding to certain categorical questions.
Therefore, Resolved, That presbytery,
INN,