The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-05-02
THE CASE OF DIR. BRIGGS.
The Real polnt In Issus Between the Pres
ID hxierInn nnhEniAcnpal Church

The Real Point In Issue Between the Pres.
bytsrIan andEpiscopa, Church
The New York Sun, In discussing the
changed relations OF DR.. Briggs from
the Presbyterian to the Episcopal
church, makes the following comments
on, the popularity Of his case:
.'The views Of DR.. Briggs strike at the
very foundation Of all supernatural re-
llglon. and though he might be re-
eeIved Into Unltarianlsm, It ID not easy
to see how he can be admitted consist
entity into the Episcopal ministry, unless
he dlscards and recants them. Practi-
cally, he refers the supernatural to the
test OF natural science, and that, OF
course. IL to destroy II completely. The
came is true OF DR.. McGlffert, who re-
CARDS the last supper rs a simple meal.
unprecedented. and having no sacra-
mental character, dealing with 1t In a
spirit OF natural criticism purely. This
exodus from the Presbyterian church
may be due largely to social tastes and
ambitions, so far as concerns the laity.
but however prompted, 1t Is full OF sig
nilcance. For many years past. efforts
to bring about the organic unity OF the
Presbyterian and Episcopal chuches
have been blocked by the radical differ
ences between the 'presbyterial and the
prelatical form Of government, but now
there comes q considerable and It may
bt q p%ortentlous Presbyterian surren-
der to Eplscopaiianism, led by q theo-
logical party and assisted by a social
Impetus OF great influence, more espe-
cially at q time when declining religious
faith asks for nothing more than com-
Portable religious associations and de-
corous worship. At the coming meet
Ing Of the general assembly there will
come up for consideration large ques-
lions affecting the very existence OF the
Presbyterian church." 4
To the above comments Of the Sun,
the New York Church Economist adds
the following observations: with the
theological questions involved in this
step the Church Economist has only a
remote connection. but 1t Is within our
province to consider its ecclesiastical
bearings. These are important and far
reaching. The present step is not a
hasty n on DR.. Briggs's part, nor Is
1t one, We have good reason TO believe
which is isolated in Its. character. 1t is
not at all unlikely that within n short
time quite a number OF other Presby-
terrain ministers will adopt the same
course OF action. An interesting prob
lem now comes up in the shape of the
attitude OF the men Of conservative
temperament among all evangelical
sectS toward the Episcopal church.
Rightly or wrongly, in the popular esti-
nation the admission of DR.. Briggs to
orders in the Episcopal church without
any modification or explanation On his
part Of the theological positions which
were considered incompatible with con-
%tinuaIce in the Presbyterian ministry
will raise a question far wider than
orthodoxy in any one denomination.
Some of the severest critics OF DR..
Briggs have been men outside of the
Presbyterian denomination, and the
Episcopal church must now be prepared
to face a storm of criticism from con-.
servative quarters all over the country"