New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-05-21
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY.


Church. which begins it's sessions this morning
in Saratoga will be dominated by the conserva-
lives They may not have so large n majority
rs they have had In some previous General AS
scmblies; and for that reason they may be some
what more disposed to meet the liberals hair
way on questions which involve no important
principle When the controversy over Professor
Briggs eliminated In his suspension from the
ministry of the Church the charge OF false
teaching there was a cry in many quarters for
the expulsion of the professor and all who held
his views. That cry is no longer heard. Neither
IS Professor Briggs any longer told that as an
honest man he ought TO leave the Church whose
teachings he denies. On the other mana, the
liberals have ceased to demand a revision OF the
Church's Confession OF Faith, since the attempt
to revise 1t completely failed. That era oil
the great controversy has passed into history
Though the conservatives are In a numerical
ma jorty. they have discovered that they are not
strong enough to drive liberalism ont OF the
Church The most they can do Is to hold 1t IN
check, and in their hearts they are not entirely
sure they will always be able to do that.
As for the liberals though they are in n mi
nority they are strong enough to hold secure
position of tolerance in the Church Failing in
revised to meet their views. they have taken
the ground that their views may be properly
regarded as in substantial agreement with the
spirit of the Creed. though not perhaps with It's
letter They have repudiatcd none Of their
views. and have no intention of doing so. On
the contrary. they are indrstrl0uSy striving 10
propagate their ideas in the Church. ana they
confidently look forward 10 having large ma
turns ont that exactly the OPP o>itc Of what was
expected TO happen has really happened. when
the controversy over the Creed and the Bible
first broke ont the fear WAS general that IL would
spill: the Church in two as it had been split
years before by the controversy over the Old
and New School theology But, in point Of fact
there Is now hardly any possibility OF diSrlp-
ton over the questions ut issue. Neither side
will voluntarily withdraw. and neither side Is
strong enough 10 force It's opponent TO with
draw. while each hopes that by holding on II
will ultimately come ont on top. Moreover. this
method OF close in-hshiing has another advan-
tage not 10 be- ignored by militant churchmcn
II enables the comlatantS on both sides t. hit
each other more effectively than they could at
long range The Old and New School schism
Il a proof Of that Before II occurred the two
factions fpUtSit1l llir points III l~Nu' Win w
ireme bitterness But In process Of time after
the two wings separated n spirit Of mutual toll
Grafton and goodwill began to manifest itself
until finally the schism healed. Should Il
schsm occur now It would probably be healed
In the same way. but In the mean while the
strange spectacle is prescribed Of the organic
unity of the Church being apparently strength
cncd by an absence Of unity In matters Of be-
lief
While some OF the questions. notably that re-
| latlng 10 the Asscmblys control Of theological
scmnnrles. Will come up in the present Assem-
! bly,. Il is thought 10y many that great deal Of
attention will BE- paid TO the practical work Of
the Church. Statistics show that the great mis-
slonary and philanthropic enterlE'seS of the
| Church are In a prosperous condition. and It's
| growth during the last year has been steady and
| healthy. After all the controversies which have
| been SO much in evidence in the Church have
| been largely speculative in character, and have
| had only n slight relation to the real life OF the
| Church Both the liberals and conservatives
are working faithfully TO advance the kingdom
of righteousness, and will continue to do So even
while they are fighting each other until they
suddenly wake up some day 10 the fact that,
| owing to the silent march Of thought. there Is
no longer anything 10 fight about, and The battle
ground OF to-day will become the peaceful dwell.
| lng-place of ld-time foes.