New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-06-04
THE CASE OF DIR. BRIGGS.
A TALK WITH DIR. VAN DYKE.
HE DISCUSSES THE ACTION OF HE UENEhAh
ASSEMBLY, IN sUspENDING THE UNION
SEMINARY PROFESSOR.

ASSEMBLY IN SUSPENDlNG THE INioN
SEMINARY PROFESSOR
The Rev. Dr. Henry van Dyke. pastor OF 'he pi'oA
PRESBYTERIAN Church in Fitr0ve.. whose a'o'"'e VII
the Briggs question Is well known. returned TO ms
city yesterday, and talked freely on The aeuoh VI '
General Assembly in suspendlng Professor b'se''
personally" said DR.. Dyke. 81 cannot see
how any good Presbyterian can regard II as ua''
pleasure to say much about the late assembly,
~ Il court of appeal within tho Church, us decS'o"
In particular cwe Is final. There is no use OF us
cus'ng M We can only express our amazemeh' "''"
sorrow that such an earnest and devout man ms Dr.
Briggs should De suspended from the ministry anu
practically forbidden preach the gospel OF 'hrs'
sine" Inc MEDIEVAL methods Of enforcing or'hvu"A'
by rack and faegot have been Abandoned this Is
almost the scvercst penalty that can be Inflicted upon
Christian minister. But | believe and trust that
he at least will survive II.
80 far the authority OF the General Assembly
to create new doctrines tests Of orthodoxy ior inc
Church is concerned simply does not exist lner'
is 10 reason why any should pay any particular
attention TO the dciverancc the inerrancy OF 'he
original autographs Of the Holy scriptures IT docs
not tell us what the Holy scriptures are. II simply
affirm tho opinion thu, thc original scriptures OF
The old and New Tcstaments were without error
But this Is subject which the constitution oil the
Church says absolutely nothing. Ii Is merely he
private opinion OF those gentlemen WHO VERY WIZ
trolling what the Moderator very suggestively called
the present stage OF the game
The Presbyterian Church. continued DR.. van
DYKE holds simply TO the Bible Is II Is a. her
inallibe rule OF faith and practice. II Is the hu'y
of good Prcsby tcrlans If they would be also eooo
Christians. To preach the doctrines and practise me
prrccpts Of the Word Of God. and leave The unproh
able theory about the original manuscripts alone
until lie original manuscripts are discovered. what
folly II would be for the Church 10 waste her ume
in fighting over insOlube and Impractical suhl'ct
while the world is waiting Tor closer and more loving
application Of the plain Gospel OF Christ to the every
day III" of man :"
Will Their" be split in the Presbyterian Cnurch y
DR.. van Dyke Wa, asked.
No. hope and trust not. Moderai" and con
serVaiivc men realize that there too many demon
nations already. Christian progress moves along
the lines of unity and mutual liberation. The true
Church must tc comprehensive. But " nm attenip
should BE- made 10 enforce the dogma about the orig
inal autographs upon al rf"spyicriaDs. large an"
respectable body Of minister, would resist II to the
utcrmo,i. hy every lawful means. They would
suffer any hardshIpS rather than profess 10 believe
zion would be created. But It woulf be- composed ~
tho" whose devotion rcvovcs around III" vanished
original manuscripts. The trne Presbvicrhn',
Ioyal TO IN" bible II i and the church ~
il ought 10 be- would continue 10 exercise III" MN
isfv If reconciliation and to teach and preach christ
Jcsu, a, the True Light that Dghtcth every man TINT
concih into the world