The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1895-10-18
Briggs Case REHASHBD
Bitter Debate in the New Jer'
sey Presbyterian Synod
Yesterday-Naughty
Newark.

NEW BRUNSWICK. Oct. IS, 1S9o.-An
attempt to censure the Presbytery OF
Newark at the session of the New Jersey
Synod held here yesterday started a long
and bitter debate hat revived the old con-
troversy regarding DR.. Briggs and the
Union Theological Seminary. The con-
troversy began over a resolution offered
by DR.. S. w. Beach of the Presbytery of
West Jersey asking that the Synod urge
the General Assembly to see that the
P~resbytery of Newark obey the decisions
of the last Assembly in reference to stu
dents who pursue their studies in instl-
tutions for which the General Assembly
has no responsibility.
The whole responsibility rested or the
case of Lewis H. Holden, a young gradu-
ate of Yale, who has been sent to-Jnion
Theological Seminary by the Newark
P~resbytery. Union Seminary is not in
good standing with the General Assem-
bly, because the views of Prof. Charles
A. Briggs. one of the instructors there,
have been condemned by the Assembly.
DR.. Everard Kempshall of Elizabeth
objected to DR.. Beach's resolution. He
earnestly advocated that the question be
allowed to go over. Continuing, ne said:..
II do not see why a Presbytery has
not the right TO examine a mar from
Union. as much as a mar who has been
educated in the Roman Catholic Church
but who says he has been converted and
has adopted the faith of the Presbyter-
ian Church. If a man sincerely adopts
our standards the Presbytery may admit
him in spite of any action of the Assem-
bly,. I am ready to submit to any rules
of the Assembly and Synods when they
are in line with the constitution of the
Church, but they cannot go back OF
the constitution"
NEWAkk'S DISOBEDIENCE.
In answering DR.. KempshaIi, the Rev.
DR.. John Dixon argued tnat the Presby-
terry of Newark lnad disoDeyed article SIX
in chapter fourteen OF the laws of the
Church government, which requires that
students shall study under some approved
divine for at least TWO years, except IN
extraordinary cases: u was Ho,den.s
there were disapproved teachers. There
was danger Inal this matter might be
magnified, DR.. Dixon said, but the Pres
bytery of Newark lar done wrong, and
the Synod of New Jersey could not do
less thai adopt the report. of the COM
mittee. The report included the CEN
sure of the Newark Presbytery.
DR.. Lewis Lampman of Newark contra
dicted much that DR.. Dixon had said,
and went on to ay:- :
W. received the young man because
we believed in our constitutional right to
do so. We believed that the Presbytery
had discretionary power in such cases. l
want to resent the implication that there
is not conscience enough in Union to ad-
minister its responsibilities. 1t is impos-
sible that those who love their alma
mater are going to rest easily under
this action. You can whip children into
subsection, but when you try to whip
men you only get Rebellion"
LAID ON THE TABLE.
DR.. George S. Mott moved that the
portion of the report of the committee
relating to the case of the student be
laid upon the table. This was seconded,
but at the vote each side sent up so great
a shout that the question had to be de-
cided by a rising vote. Considerable dis
cussion vas caused by the decision of
the Moderator that the members of the
Newark Presbytery be not allowed to
the motion carried the day by a vote
of SO to 54.
At the afternoon session the minority
made an attempt to recover the ground
it had lost by the vote of the morning.
The question was renewed and discussed
with the same spirit as in the morning.
Finally the report of the Synod Commit
tee upon the Newark Presbytery was
adopted without the resolution of cen
sure offered by Or, Beach.
1t was noticeable that the strongest
feeling against Union Seminary came
from the south Jersey Presbyterians,
who seemed to think that their brethren
of the upper part of the State were dan
gerously near the verge of Congrega-
tionalism. But they did not charge this,
as it probably would nave thrown the
Synod into open rupture. The next
Synod will meet at Atlantic City.