The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-04-14
Orthodox in Spite Of DIR. Briggs.

Twelve candidates for the Presbyterian
ministry, graduated from the Union Theo-
logical Seminary. passed an examination
before the New York Presbytery on Tues
day, and obtained their licenses to preach by
q vote which the Moderator describes as
having been hearty and unanimous"
1t Is remarked that these young men.
trained under the instruction Of DR.. BRIGas,
stood the test Of a searching examination
as to their theological soundnees by COM
mittee Of conservative theologians. and that
the only objection raised against them con-
cerned their purely scholastic preparation.
This part Of their education proved 30 de-
fective that one Of the ministers Of the pres
bytery declared that IF any Of the candi-
dates who had been examined tried for ad-
mission to Yale or Harvard they would be
thrown over the back wall" DR.. DUFFIKLD
explains and seeks to excuse this bad show
ing. by saying that It was due to " natural
embarrassment, or owing to exceptional
conditions Of study" but Of course that Is
no answer to the criticism. Such an apol-
ogy would not prevent their rejection by Q
college strict in Its requirements for ad-
mission. Young men coming up for such
an examination must have both q moral and
O scholastic preparatory education which
will enable them to bear the ordeal. More
over, those theological graduates were
under training In the seminary for n
profession which demands that they
be capable Of keeping command Of their
faculties before crowd. A minister who
cannot say what he has to say because Of
natural embarrassment" has mistaken
his calling In becoming q preacher. An
important part Of the education Of dlvin-
ity school Is the preparation for speaking In
the pulpit by the overcoming OF embarrass-
ment due to self-consciousness.
These, however. are small matters. as
compared with their theological soundness
when tested by the Westminster Confess
sion, to which on their ordination as Pres
byterian ministers they must formally and
solemnly pledge their unreserved adhesion.
That test, 1t seems. they stood TO the salts
faction OF even so stout an opponent OF
Briggsism as DIR. ROBERT r. BOOTH himself.
They might be weak enthusiastically. but
they were unassailable In their orthodoxy
1t appears. then. that either DR.. BRIGos
Is q prophet without honor In his own
school. or these pupils Of his are more con-
cerned about getting along In the Presby-
terrain Church than standing up for the
convictions he has produced In them. or
course. coming from such q preceptor. they
were under suspicion OF having imbibed his
heresy. and they were the more sharply ex-
amined by the orthodox committee for that
reason. AS DIR. DUFFIELD expressed II.
their examination upon doctrinal and
speculative matters. OF necessity traversed
many points with reference to which there
is q wide and honest difference Of view In
the Presbyterian Church," but their pro-
fessed orthodoxy was $50 clear and
candid as to remove all doubt" concern
ing 1t. For the very reason that they
came from heretical associations. these
young men seem to have taken spe.
cial pains to declare that their own
orthodoxy Is OF the severest sort. first
proof. flawless. and unimpeachable.
DR.. BRIGos. apparently. Is not likely to
build up party In his support among the
pupils he turns out as candidates for the
Presbyterian ministry.