New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-18

since the controversy began that II was dishonest
thing for the seminary to break loose from the AS
sembly and carry with II the million or more al
the endowment which it had received during ;ta
time that il known as Presbyterian insti-
tuition. The friends OF the seminary. however. as
sert with mucn FEASIBILITY that the seminary Is
still Presby terrain. since al the members OF its rae
ulty excepting Dr.. Briggs approved divnes, and
It's directors all members Of the Presbyterian
ministry or members OF the Presbyterian churches
The 100000 or more of property owned by the
seminary is tempting prize. however, and IL the
matter reaches the courts there is danger that
much Of the splendid endowment will be swept
away before settlement can be reached
TO SPELL CHURCH WITH BIG C.
1--WE fought in '6l," said a leader In a recent AS
sembly ito spell nation with capital y. Millions
Of property and thousands Of lives were sacr!iced
in that contest but II was worth al that II cost
It may be necessary TO spend years. and perhaps a
good deal OF money in a civil contest before we shall
be able TO spell church with capital C. but II Will
be worth all that It costs
New-York City has been the storm centre OF the
controversies which have swept through the Preeoy-
terlan Church for the last half-dozen years, ana
there is probably other Presbytery among the
pa where the action of the Assembly is reviewed
so critically and discussed so frankly as there Inc
last year has been exception 10 this rule. stu
dents from Union Seminary have naturally peen
coming for lcensure in greater number there man
10 any other Presbytery Unable 10 decide VIVA I
he Assembly in 1894 the Prcsbyery asked for def
mite instructions from The last ASsem a tH a
tnoritatively the pathway would be free rom me
stumbling blocks over which me prethrem nate ~
in former years. The following PLAIN question Was
"fhe Prespytery OF NewYork overtures the Gen n,
eral Assembly to instruct II in its relation 10 lts
duty toward students applying TO be taken under
is care who are pUrsHS or epnnres resp@cing
whose teaching the General Assembly disaVows re-
THE Assembly gave an answer as definite and bind
ing upon the NewYork Presbytery ana iAleEenual, ,
y upon the entire Church as Enss WIruS Of tbe
general principles that young man SHOULD staiu
en- his own merits s as m IN It expane
that II is the genius of the whole Presby terrain sEs
Ing and presbyteral supervision. land 10 make ei-
fectqa rroysiGm max aba fa, TT an Xpresson
from the form of government The acton OF former
Assemblies then given as ioundatlon lII us
ironclad answer beginning like one OF 81 Pau!
conclusions in his Episile TO the Romans with
wherefore, inasmuch as obedience TO the const!-
tuition of the Church is obligatory on all tresny-
terios we recommend that In accordance Win me
the Presbytery Of New-York be Instructed and en-
Joined receive under its care for censure stu
studies In theological seminaros respecting whose
teaching the General Assembly disavows response
The Assembly adopted this action and transmit
ted it to the NowYork Presbytery, but the end was
not YET, ana Wnen the customary ""S
pointed to examine the minutes OF the Assembly.
the only subject which they could find in the vol
ume Of SIG pages which required the special atten-
lion OF the PreSbytery that relating TO the
overture concerning Union Seminary students DR..
John {. Bliss. the chairman OF that committee, was
the Moderator of the Presbytery during the Briggs
trial. and while his rulings admitted to be
uniformly impartial, Il was generally understood
that he was a conservative Imagine the surprise.
therefore. when his committee brought in report
which contained this paragraph:
I'm its answer the General Assembly gives this
Presbytery certain instructions, for which all due
cons ldera ton should be shown by as loyal pres
byters But the Assembly further proceeds to en-
Join this Presbytery as to its action with refer
ence to the lcensure OF the .tudents In thus at
tempting 10 authortatively control the Presbytery
In this matter II seems to us that the General A.
sembly exceeds Its constitutional powers and in
fr,nges upon the inherent rights Of the Presbytery
which are specifically reserved to II by our consti
tuition as to the exercise OF It's functions in the
reception and lcensure of candidates for the Gospel
ministry"