New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-08
DIR. BRIGGS breaches HERE
SAYS THAT THE CHURCH is STILL
LEARNING TRUTH.
THE LATTER-DAY SEARCHING AND CRITI-
CIsM OF THE SCRIPTURES. HE SAYS IS
GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT-SER-
MON IN HOLY TRINITY. HARLEM

GUIDED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT-SER-
MON IN HOLY TRINITY. HARLEM.
The Rev. Dr. Charles A. Briggs, whose pro-
posed advancement to the priesthood of the
Episcopal Church called forth protest from the
Rev. Dr. F. NJ Clendenin, and has aroused con-
siderable opposition was the preacher yesterday
at the Church Of the Holy Trinity in One-hun-
dred and twenty -second-st. and Lenox-ave..
Harlem
The fact that DR.. Briggs to preach had
been announced, and the church was crowded.
every seat being occupied and many being COM
PEELED to stand in the aises and In the space at
| the rear of the pews. Many Of those who were
present were apparently not members Of the
Episcopal Church. being unfamiliar with the use
Of the prayer-book.
The sermon was looked forward to with the
keenest interest, because Of the expectation that
Dr. Briggs would discuss the main points
Of the controversy his ordination
There was some disappointment that he
did not take up the specific objections to the
teachings Of his recent book, and thus make his
| sermon reply to DR.. Cendenins protests, but
his discourse was listened to with closest atten-
ton by a congregation that unmistakably
friendly TO the preachers theological attitude.
DR.. Briggs carefully confined himself to
statement of the principles which underlie his
teachings and by which he justihes the work of
| Biblical criticism, in which he is eminent, and
| did not at all touch the question Of the results
OF such criticism, or whether its deductions are
in conformity to the doctrine of the Episcopal
Church.
The preacher expounded his belief in the Holy
Ghost az one OF the three divine Persons In the
Holy Trinity. as inspiring Holy Scripture and
| tha i,Iit o1
THE Church." he said. has ever been advanc-
| ing in doctrine. in worship, in organization and
| in llfe under the impulse Of the indwelling
| Spirit toward the realization Of its glorious
| destiny" He showed that the revelation OF
truth has been gradual, and held that all truth
has not yet been revealed. He said: THE sacred
deposit Of truth In Holy Church, the sacred
record OF truth in Holy Scripture, must ever re-
main the sacred nucleus, the holy norm, the in
fable touchstone and test of all truth; but II Is
not, and cannot be, and never has been regarded
by the Church as being the whole truth Of God"
Truth, DIR. Briggs held must be searched for
unweariedy and perslstently, and the seeker
SHOULD not be content to use rusty tools or anti
quated methods but should the most ap
proved methods and all the sharp-edged tools OF
modern criticism and science"
There are those" he said, who think that
|
vealed to the ante-Nicene Church. In nothing
could they be more mistaken. The Church has
heen learning In all the Christian centuries and
is learning to-day"
u Tie preacher said that the new methods Of
study. the critical and scientific processes Of in
vestigation require changes in the realm Of re-
ligion and theology. There are men," he said,
"in every age who oppose the advance Of the
truth They deprecate any advance in the
knowledge Of the truth any improved methods
OF study"
DR. Briggs touched more closely. though in
general terms, upon the controversy which is
being waged in regard to his teachings. when he
said toward the end OF his sermon that he be-
leved that the critical study OF Holy Scripture
was under the guidance Of the Holy Ghost. and
made this statement to Biblical criticism:
"Our age is an age Of the most exact, pains
taking and thoroughgoing critical scholarship.
Holy Scripture has been searched by critics as
| never before and the result Is that 1t stands
forth before the world in its native historical
beauty. wealth and power as the holy. divine,
| eternal Word Of God to man. Nothing OF any
| historical value has been lost or impaired The
| Church doctrine OF the Bible, defined by the
| Church. stands forth more glorious than ever.
Nothing has been injured but human tradi-
tionaI opinions about the Bible which have
never received the sanction Of Holy Church"
DIR. BRIGGsS SERMON.
The full text Of DR.. Briggss sermon is as fol-
| lows:
"I believe In the Holy Ghost" In these ancient
words coming down through the centuries from the
primitive Church. We in common with Christians Of
every name throughout the world. have voiced our
faith. as ever. In morning and evening prayer.
This simple compact sentence of the Catholic faith
is full OF rich and glorious meaning 1t contains
all the wondrous revelations OF the Divine Spirit
in Holy Scripture all His stately steppngs in Holy
Church all our personal experience OF His gracious
redemptive nativities.
81 believe in the Holy Ghost that is. believe
in Him as the third person OF the Holy Trinity. as
the real present onnipotent, all-shaping. personal
influence In all history and in all life; in all that
lie Is in His essential being. in all that He has
doing now and ever will do until the
| ultimate end OF all things has been attained AS
| we say in the creed II believe in the Holy Ghost
| the Lord and giver OF life. who proceedeth from
the Father and the Son. who with the Father and
the Son together is worshlpped and gorhed" He
! Is OF one substance with the Father and the Son.
coequal and coeternal. the third Of the personal
distinctions in the Unity Of the Godhead. whose
special function is procession from the Father and
| the Son 10 be "the Lord and Gyer OF Life TO man
and universal nature
II believe In the Holy Ghost" who according TO
| Holy Scripture in that grand poem OF the creation.
hovered the shapeless, liteess. gloomy chaos
with creative energy, producing out of 1t light,
! organization and life In all its wonderful variety
as seen In nature, and who as the mmanent power
OF deity carries on the whole order OF its
evolution toward the ultimate accomplishment OF
| the divine ideals.
THE HOLY GHOST INSPIRED SCRIPTURE.
| IT believe in the Holy Ghost" who spake by the
prophets: who with His divine energy entered into
| men and women took possession OF them. enlight-
! ened their minds TO give them insight into
sacred truth grasp to comprehend the great things
| OF God and foresight to forecast the issues OF
events and who then assured them OF their possess
| sion OF the truth OF God; gave them certainty OF
their prophetic CALL endowed them with courage to