New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-04-27
CONDEMNS DR.. BRIGGS.
DIR. CLENDENIN ASKS BISHOP POTTER
NOT TO ORDAIN HIM IN HIS CHURCH.
THE RECTOR OF ST. PETERS. WEST CHEs-
TER, ANALYZEs DIR. BRIGGSS LAST
BOOK, AND PROTESTS AGAINST
HIS BEING ADMITTED TO
THE PRIESTHOOD.

THE PRIESTHOOD.
Bishop Potter recently informed the Rev. DR..
F NJ Clendenin rector OF st. Peters Church,
West Chester that he would hold an ordination
In his church on Sunday morning. May IA IL
was the Bishops intention then to advance 70
the priesthood two deacons the Rev. DR.. Charles
A. Briggs, a professor in Union Theological
Seminary, and the Rev. Charles II. Snedeker
Dr. Briggs whose teachings at Union SEMI
nary and whose published works had oc-
casioned great controversy in the Presbyterian
Church. left that body some time ago and re-
ceived confirmation in the Episcopal Church.
His reception into that communion was far from
cordial There were many criticisms of the
Bishops action in the Church papers, and many
leading priests Of this and other cities were
outspoken in their condemnation OF the adrnis-
sion OF one whom they regarded as holdihe
heretical views on the most fundamental ques-
tlons OF the Christian faith.
Later, however. DR.. Briggs was recommendea
by the Bishops examining chaplains and by the
Standing Committee of the Diocese OF New-f orK
for admission to holy orders. and was made
deacon in the Episcopal Church Ihe same
authorities concurred In his proposed advance
ment TO the priesthood
Dr. Clendenn who is ranked as a stanch
Bishop Potter to alter his plans and to withdraw
the proposed ordination from st. Peters. west
Chester He analyses DR.. Briggss last DOOR,
condemns his views severely, and fatty protests
against DR.. Briggs being ordained at all 10 the
priesthood.
DR.. Clendenin's letter to the Bishop is as fol-
| lows:
| Throughout this book Of DR.. Briggs Is found
the teaching that the Bible. we have H. Is
but goss-a faint reflection OF some lost bpie'
which Scholarship Is going some DAY 10 re-
! store TO our delighted minds. 'Our Matthew Is
| ba sed on the primitive Matthew" Q3f our
Mark" according to Dr. Briggs, lies tne least ,. VI
any Of the gospels our Luxe his own story'
and "our Gospel of John Is probaDly paseu IPoi
! an original Gospel OF the Apostle john Cotl;
Let be grateful for the hope IN the worn
| probably"
DR. BRIGGss VIEW OF THE CHURCH.
II man ventures to show DR.. Briggs that
"the holy Church throughout all the world re-
ceives these Scriptures as the Word of God, he
| answers in plainest words. "the consensus OF the
| Church. the citations and reverent use OF Script
! ures in the Fathers their recognition by the
| earliest standards-these historical evidences
| have no value I'm the study of the Holy SCRIPT
! ures" II the consensus of the Church Is not 10
! be received upon so vital subject as the Bible.
| why may not the same hand sweep out logically
! any part Of the Catholic faith which fails TO
|
| The Christian Church was born upon the day
| of Pentecost Upon that day CWhitsun- Day)
| the whole Catholic Church reads In her greatest
| service the account in the Book OF Acts or the
| coming OF the Holy Ghost-the Comforter, our
| Lord had promised to send to His people. Noun
| ing shows more clearly DR.. Briggss complete
misconeeption Of al truth ana Sutnoa 'nas Hs
| first quotes with approval the words OF man
| who said the gift of tongues was not that tney
| spoke in foreign languages but in the ecstatc,
cd
| and in his own words he closes with the clear
| bald statement that this speaking in many an
| ferent languages unknown before Is not only
| psychologically and physically incredible, but
has little historic support" (o1S). Now st. Luke,
| or according to DR.. Briggs. the second or thrd
| editor" of this Book. says twice over atter
naming many of the nations there present that
every man heard them speak in his own Ian
| guage" I'VE do hear them speak IN our
| tongues the wonderful works Of God
II follows by inevitable logic that II the "edi-
tor Of the Book Of Acts made twice a mis-
statement regarding the Gift OF Tongues, ne
| may have been mistaken about the Whole STORY
| Of the coming of the Holy Ghost-it may nave
been but a wind. or at best whirlwind when
| that day happened down with considerable
| Holy Ghost did not come down there is no
| Catholic Church. no sacrament has any mean
| ing. and Or. Briggss ordination ltselt wouiu De
| but an hour OF wasted life.
statement OF Holy Scripture twice repeated
within a few lines leaves practically nothing OF
| n
| do not as a rule, charge our worst EDITORS
with living over once about the same thing.
THE LORDS IMAGINATION"
Not satisfied with casting doubt about the
coming OF the Divine Paraclete. this man goes
on To the awful conclusion. mo human imagi-
| nation has ever eoualled the imagination OF the
| Lord Jesus in storytelling" C341) He presumes
| 10 Justify Our Lord in quoting the Book OF
| Jonah; that Book being according to Dr Brlggs'
"a work OF the imagination C34S), and otherwise
| he touches with ruthless and irreVerent WoIus'
| that Person OF human and divine history De,
| fore Whom even Renan stood with uncovered
| head. -,
| counts so fearlessly the veracity OF the New
| Testament and it's central figure, makes snort
| work of the Old Testament.
| II is true our Lord said OF the Old Testament
| Books These they which TESTIFY or Me-
but when DR. Briggs Is through with describ-
ing "The use" "of myth and legend MS.
torical hction," 'fdyll'' and other works OF
| Imagination" the truthfulness Of the much
| abused Spaniard is to be preferred.
| WHY DOES DIR. BRIGGS SEEK ORDINATION?
Wbv IN Gods name does such as DR.. Briggs
want to come into our Communion. why does
anv man want to have him come? No part Of
| tho Catholic Church In her services reads so
much NJ Holy Scriptures as do. and no part
| ~ tho Church 7 believe hears Gods word with
| greater reverence. DR.. Briggs does not In any
| fair and honest sense OF the word. accept the
| Bible as 1t is-he dscards the authority ana
| consensus Of the Church For what reason,
| therefore and on what ground does ne wish 10
| come with U.S. for accept In every fair non
! est and historic sense Of the word, ooth the
| Bible and the consensus OF the Church
| The Church at best with DR.. Briggs. is poor
| affair In the calmest way possible ne writes
| C66O The Church needs greater reforma.
| tion than IL has ever yet enjoyed. the grace OF
cod wiIl reveal itself to another Luther and an
| ether Calvin at no very distant day. for the
sanctiHcation of the Church and the preparation
| OF the Bride for the Bridegroom
DR. BRIGGs's LAST BOOK.
DR. Clendenin takes this position In letter
| u.b,ch he has written to Bishop Potter ana
which is as follows:
NV Dear Bishop: few days after receiving
vour letter advising me that you proposed hold