New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-05-12
THE CASE OF PROFESSOR BRIGGS.
HOW IT LOOKS TO AN UNDENoMINATIoNAL
JOURNAL.

JOURNAL.
From The Outlook.
The question whether or not Dr. Briggs is TO be
Permted 70 reeve h Gbu az on 1t, Ne
think this statement must be accepted as true alike
Re ord,netton In the Presbyterian Church DR.
Briggs is not permitted 10 exercise ministerial func
nor even because he is not Christian teacher. but
because he does not teach, that type or form OF
Christianity for which the supreme authority IN me
Presbyterian Church insists that Churcn I'm must
receive and recognize them, or does 1t also say
Though this man is a Christian and Christian
eSGher me ne E eoG ma Church represents
The which the Church gives 70 tnls cues e
~ indicate the true answer to another question:
Is the Episcopal Church in this country sect or
living a teacher or leader. are united by their at
tachment 10 some particular dootrihes OF teneets
,,suaIiv in religion philosophy, The Presby-
terian Church by it's decision In the cases OF Pro;
lessor Briggs and Dr. smith. mas dec a o1a
Ian he a minister in that denomination who Is
not united with others by ms H those
tah ia 49, IN the Westminster Confession OF Faith
The public are standard is 10 be applied to Pro-
lessor Briggs by the EpscopeI Ohut en- ~
Nd IN that Church unless he proves nmstI
united with others In MS o wit hose which
Lui,harto been regarded the distinctive ooc
trines or tenets Of the High Churcn dS,rne or
uInts ne more accurate 10 say Inc noCulhe vi
vow NAT psrty For the real secret OF me oPpo
~ ordination IL mr. opPo1ltlDi'
49, sntrjt ~ traditonalism Whlch ~ lhe 's -t,a
t INA t,Iiprarcbai party in all communons Chrb
thc, hie . e. i,ist this Does the Episcopal HuS
IeaI o. he authority OF tradition ana the III
stau ~ ~ free Biblical research oy inouein
co i.i rnetbods or does II welcome "ilnln its
18th classes OF men-the crltlcs anu w
Si,innoIists the men who discard ua1tl0n p aiu
H. men who build upon IL Inc SniuIoun ~
INA Lns ,nhraces both; the Congregational Chu1 tn
hn,h an ENGLAND ana America embraces po,h Inc
I Den 80 arisn hierarchy has endeaVored MOI SUI
dssT?Iiiv 70 exclude the critics "hl the uaui-
.torits;s In the Protestant Episcopal CnurCh sue
s m endeavor to do so? This Is the one
important question inVoVeu' - o,,o,ded 7, ,s re-
And this question cannot De aVolueu. A. II t. re-
ncrfed In certain quarters that pressure - peiIs
bpougbt m hear on DR.. Briggs 10 Withdrh" DIS
snnIcation for ordination 10 the priesthoou, anu
fbat n II is not formally Withdrawn uine VII ne
aIioved eapse without action upon !, unIn ne
ssNs Tor Fsurope DR.. Henry &. Potter. the bsnoP
10 whom this application has been mace ~ a
prudenf man as bishops ought 10 De, ana uouDtIess
DESTROYS OF avoiding controversy IN ms uIoCese'
where are living I'm armistce nov IN "a 1aa
the EXTREMIST partisans or Hlgn ,,sad Rsbon
Church But no has ever accused blsioS ~
Potter Of cowardice doubted ms eleaIhess ..
vision And II is quite apparent IN ms Ghse ma
any evasion OF the issue Is a determination oi IL
For the question Is, Can one who dlsaVoWs tne au-
thorty OF tradition he ordained as priest IN the
Episcopal Church? II he is not ORDAINED me I'M I'M
mediate answer TO that question is In the heghtlNs
And II Is quite mma terial whether that answer y
given by a refusal 10 ordain. neglect 10 oruah d
heresy trial after ordination. or a successiul en-
deavor 10 induce the applicant 10 Wlthora" MS
application. In any case he Is not ordained ,,A
For these reasons we repeat the sentence VIII
which opened this article The question whether
DR.. Briggs Is 10 be permitted 70 receive oralhauon
priest In the Episcopal Church puts thal
Church on trial