New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-05-18
DIR. HALL SPEAKS OUT.
DEFpNDs Union sEMINARY's ATTITUDE
IN THE BRIGGS CONTROVERSY.

ASSERTS THE RIGHT OF SEMINARY To '"N-
SERVE DIVINE TRUTH THROUGH THE READ
JI-sTMENT OF SOME MODES OF ITS En-
PRESTON AND TO BE IN
rELLEcruALLy FREE
Addressing the Alumni Association OF Union lheo-
logical Seminary yesterday the Kew Ut .""
Cuthbert Hail. president OF the seminary "e'".u
a powerful and eloquent defence or the i''eP
attitude taken By the seminary In the co"''oe'
which Professor Briggs teachings aroused III
forcefu language he insisted on the right Oh d 7e'
nary to conserve Divine truth through ,ne 'ea.
iustment OF some modes OF its expression anu us
right to be intellectually free and Independent, %
much impressed were tine alumni with 'he au'''
that Il was decided to have printed copies vi !. -
"a every PRESBYTERIAN minister in the United states.
There were three cardinal principles p'' "a"
contcnded. which should govern the relation oi '"e
seminary to the ministry. Reasonable independence
was the first President Hall proceeded:
Tho ,dea, seminary Is. and OF right ought to BE-
nieiiectuaily free and independent, this prima'is
not for its own comfort but br' neaps. of the
Ghurch and Of Christ indepen'cnoe is Ie'a nass
wherein Applied It's wholesome application IN nns
present case obtained by noting In These are in
one drection destructive indviduasm; IN the otnr'
direction mechanical coniormiy 70 seminary is
to be distinguished from Destructive r, az ndyidm
4 seminary intoxicated with me IN nn,nion might
take delight in calling In aies,ioh s f,,th invoking
essential substance o. crea,ine out OF nothing
he spectres Of uncertainty and meshing IN va"
minds Such destructive lndvidqasm Is
a perversion OF reasonable indepennencri; dnnrn
OF ratona-m This wsntonness OF doubt revr rTch
tse on he school r sd snd Necessary its morbid
pervcrson in unlicensed and uncaled,io o n6upr y
.,f,sa nd VA
distinguished from reasonable nde b,n opin,on
The seminary does not exist be reflector OF
tho contemporary opinion of me mnS,.y ,honebt by
when tho rectitude and the comprehenslveness OF
contemporary opinion shall he promoted
In the course Of his remarks upon the second
principle the conservation OF a ministerial STAND
ard. Or. Hall said:
It may h" questioned whether the popular a , al
the ministry ever more lofty from an e'h a.
and spiritual point Of view than It is to-oa yy
whether men eyer committee nnded Of him in
turn a fuller guarantee Of personal sincerity. IN
hs age G5 Than me oca il
confidence rather than in fear II minister ,bou pSs
10 approxlmafe eihicay. Intellectually spirituaIS
70 ,he mnis,eria standard. Hc Is 20 soms eH,e e
eervation Of that standard IA the mission oi INC
seminary
The conservation NJ truth through tho rcahjust-
ment Of some modes of ts expression was tne mn"
principle for which pr Hall contended' ITO "o-
ceeded:
eternal unchhoongeabie indestructible. as 1t was
In the beginning Is nov. and ever snai e us' d.
vino truth change from time to time me n'sl loys
Of religious thought shows tn,. aye AZ another
point. each age true to ts own intnlive SEM Us
need I'm" nIs,%,y Of n resdi.tmenr Of expression
has always been opposed and resisted Cnans'hs
he emphasis has always been regarded by some as
gofff val ont
ground It has been resoiute'y nna are "ertain
The change OF emphasis has always so"e -, ,hol ~
optic Of opposition anh ihe snchansed in spite OF
the mutation Of emphasis
Before closing Or Hall severely commented up
on tho crrort. that have been made ~ einDaliasS
~, Union Seminary. Referring 10 what shoua ne
N. relation OF the ministry to the seminary he
said:
r,fe,s fnll n, contrasts between what oush. 70 he
I'd ~, "a And I'm nothing is tho triumph OF
Gods grace more eminent thon when y hops one
,nadeounte and unjusD a. means of reaching
what ought to be hale no hai Ssnr ana 4t%
al maturity ought 70 he the attitude OF the MN
,""n,a co,ion IN he Church Of Christ along
Inc lines which I have Just described II ought 70
be something far different from that whlch, tor
,ho ,n"s, mar, II is In the Iigh' Of the whole hts
tory Of religious opinion. In the ight OF IN" cI''r
sion Of truth has in al ages accompsnied the
conservation Of truth. the ministry ougnt nor az
yeopment TO TAX" par scraa ,hn sincerity OF men
or institutions that. by their earnesiness IN r.
norting me very new aspects Of Gods eternal truth
are Winning toward that truth and toward n"
tudes who but FOR such work as TINS would douni
the ability Of Christianity to survive critical and
do not presume to question the moral honest S,.
crcdt the men and the institutions representing
a liberal. evangelical school ot 'hfS'lah ,nnns en-
do not utter one single word OF condemnatlon
concerning those who deem II their duty 10 make
tho ruthless statements which hay" Of late been
The action past contemplated which aims TO
the ., nn% r2 ' fr fh
which. TO-DAY. have affirmed such opposition
az , hnmn hoT fwsr 'Gen myself an o.
the evnneelicals have not one though, on ntermesS
,"n II" word. have Of ate been 80 vehement But Of
two things I am profoundly certain. am certain
end, tend TO diminish the usefulness OF the
churches and of ~" lnd wa meant mho how
ever con.cientousy undertaken these pro-
ceedngs may BE- they cannot rdn 70 n the enr snr
efficiency OF the Church OF Christ. or to tho infu-
s"izeE men o who need sorey and instantly to be
pointed 70 maj Great Fountain which has been bee,
Divine Redecmer who alone can assuase the sor-
rows OF miserable world And am certain that
AZ. movement which Is founded in truth, which
builds all rs abors on the unaeag P pen bnrch
and which has. as lts sole aim the glory and honor
nj the Lord Jesus CHRIST IN Ills reNealen trutn.
n ia not sweet to the heart OF any 10 endure
injustice hut We should be unworthy OF our calling
II we were not willing TO endure II manfilly and
natiently when such mighty privilege Is ours.
;he nriyiIegc OF serving Chrsts living and progress
live church as she steers her homeward way along
the splendid shore OF truth.
THE SEMINARY'S GRADUATING EXERCISES.
Last evening the thrty-six students composing
tho graduating class OF tho seminary received their
diplomas from John Crosby Brown. president OF the
Board of Directors.
The exercises were held In the Adams Chapel.
Four members OF the graduating class delivered