Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1893-06-02
Or. BRIGGS IS OUT
Suspended BY the General As,
ssmbly Yesterday. !.
ne REFUSED TO COMPROMISE
Dscsaspd Gsiisy a. nreaktas Hs Or
1iAsstoa Vows. she Preseyserisn
Church lsepsdtases utsA

WASHINGTON. juno The final stage
in the progrA. of the Briggs csss before
the pscsby bsian general Assembly was
preceded this morning BY . hall hours
devotional exercisns conducted by the
Rev. J. T. Smith of baltimore. modera-
tor Of the csptennial assembly. When
the assembly convened ~ = court at
90 o'clock there Was notable decrease
In attendance both on the floor aud in
the galleries. last nights vote having
been the climax Of thu meeting of the
assembly. The members Of the prose
cutting committee were ia their sccus.
toned places. but Prof Briggs party
was represented by Prof Francis Brown
alone. The moderator first announced
the committee. the appointment Of
which WAS authorized Last night. 20
formulate minute expressing the scnsc
Of the assembly as 70 the vote taken
upon the appeal from the Judgment Of
the New York presbytery. BY vote Of
the assembly the Rev. Thomas 4. Hoyt.
ID. ID. Of Philadelphia wss made chair
man.
Briggs ssspenlc<-
In the afternoon session the commit
tee met a. = council and the report on
the Briggs case was presented. The re-
port. after reciting the proceedings In
the case. proceeds: This judiciatoey
finds that said 6nai judgment Of the
presbytery Of New York Is erroneous. and
should be and is hereby reversed.
and this general assembly sitting
as judiciatory in said case.
coming now to enter judgment or
said amended charges. finds the appel
lee. Charles A. Briggs. has uttered.
taught and propagated views. doctrines
and teachings as set forth in said
charges. contrary to the essential doc
trine Of holy scripture and the standards
OF said presbyterian church in the Uni
ted States Of America. and in violation
| Of the ordination VOW Of aaid appellee.
which said erroneous vicwe and doc
trines strike at the vitals Of religion
and have been industriously sprcsd.
"Wherefore. this general assembly at
the presbyterian church in the United
States OF America, sitting ~ judica.
tory in this cause on appeal docs hereby
suspend Charles A. Briggs. tho said ap-
the presbyterian church In the United
States Of America until such time ~ he
shall give satisfsctory evidence Of re-
pentcnce to the general assembly OF the
| presbyterian church in the United
States Of America OF the violation by
| him Of the said ordination yow q here
in and heretofore found
| Psoesss Imnss<liassly Fiistl
The report Of the committee was
adopted. whcrcupon the Rev. DIR.
Sprsgue gave notice that at the proper
time a protest would be offered against
tho finding of the assembly N being
too severe q sentence for the offence of
the honored scholar named. and ne tend
ing To restrict the liberty heretofore en-
! joyed by officebearers in the presbyte-
rian church
After the formal finding OF the assem-
| bly, had been disrosedo II. DR. Harsha 81 the
committee read an explanatory note. to
bo made a part Of the record Of the case.
declaring that the doctrine Of erranacy
of the scripturesas il came from them
to whom and through whom God
originally communicated his revelation.
10 in conflict with the statement of
the holy scripture itself: also
that in this case is involved the
| question Of the sufiiciency OF the human
reason and Of the church as authorized
guides in the matter OF salvation. And
the commissioners recommend that tho
general assembly declare that the rea-
son and the church are not 10 be re
garded rs fountains OF divine authority
and are 10 be relied upon as sufficient in
themselves and aside from holy script
ure. TO lead the soul 10 u saving knowl
edge OF God.
After the transaction OF considerable
routine business DIR. Sprague presented
for consideration the protest against nc
tion of the assembly ia the Briggs case.
which was received To be spreai on the
record, and on motion of the Rev. Dixon
il was voted IA the scnse Of the assem-
bly, that 10 answer 10 the protest was
necessary.
Ds~~vows Union Seminary.
The Rev. John Dickson. chairman of
the committee on theological semina.
rics. presented the report ~ that com
mittce. Lane seminary is taken 90 task
because - the failure to accept the res.
isnafion Of Dr. Henry T. Smith. as pro
fessor. despite the action of the Cinrin.
natl presbyfery in suspending him. The
committee also regrets the forced rc~ig
nation ~ DR. koherts. of the chair ~
practical theology. because IL the re
duccd income of the institution
OF Union seminary. tho report save:
because 10 the action ~ the directors
in retaining DR.. briggs after his apps int
ment had been d.sapyroved by th. as
scmbly. ard becausr ~ the refusal -
the directors to avbi,rste the angle
point In dispute between the assembly
and the board and because ~ the ~
tempt by the board fnd on iis own mo.
tion and agains; the esprue~ei desire a
he assembly h. shro4ate the compact -
ls7O. the assembly disarows eli re~ron-
sih,liiy fes the teachings ~ tnion sem
lnsfy and declines % fecssse sny report
from i's hssri until satisfactory rels
tIons arr established
The cosnmitte. favored giving ed a.
students - only such seinihstser a. are
approved by the assembly all rerom.
Inen,i~d the ts-Agproysi ~ The election
~ ibr tirigss ss . dircs;ot u the Ter
g,aa thealsascsl seainsfs ~ iiiessfssssid.
>es ietse3 The repsft was received
~ the assembly without ohirstton.
Prot pnficla explained that ffxs
Henry Preserved Siaifh was So nsesn
tes = the church. his snspsas,on % ~
relating O. his fanests,ssa - faiaisief
tntea Ras,.s uer Hsxhss
Dr Francis nrown s~catei the s,as
- c8arfees II make rsBse remarks N
st@ atszaravs - she d an is@rF q fhr