The age-herald., 1899-05-26
A SECOND CASE
 OF DR. BRIGGS Dr. hCGifieFtS Writings Called HeFeSy
 By Pr6SbyterialS PROCEEDINGS ARE ENTERED The Matter Finally Left to New York
 PreSbytOry. DENIED SIXTEEN OF THE GOSPELS Is the Charge Against the Man Who is Said to Be A Scholar But Not Pres
 byterian.
)ENIED SIXTEEN OF THE GOSPELS

Minneapolis. Minn., May 25.-In the hands Of the Presbytery of New York is the fate of Rev. Dr. Arthur c. McGiffert professor of church history in Union Theological Seminary, New York. The general assem- ply of the Presbyterian church steered clear, as 1t hopes, of the rocks of another heresy trial when it voted this afternoon, after a fierce, earnest, tumultuous and sometimes personal debate, to refer the whole matter to the Presbytery of New York for such disposition as in it's judg- ment the peace of church and the purity of the doctrine may require"
 The minority report read by Dr. Benja- min L. Hobson, of Chicago, made it manda- tory upon the New York presbytery to ap- polnt committee to confer with Dr. Mo Giffert and if he would neither modify his Views nor peaceably withdraw from the church, proceed against him in accordance with the provisions of the constitution of the church.
 That would have meant a heresy trial. IThe majority report except for slight verbal changes, made for the sake of clear pess, adopted at the end of the session, is as follows
 We recommend that the whole matter of the teachings of the book of Rev. McGinert, D. D., entitled a History of Christianity In the Apostolic Age" be referred to the l'resbytery of New York. to which belongs the primary constitutional responsibility, for such disposition as in it's judgment the peace of the church and the purity of the doctrine may requiret
 After a lengthy discussion on the two reports Dr. Radcliffe concluded with these worlds
 "The time has not yet come when tho whole authority of the churches should be exercised. When the committee of the New ! ork P-esbytery has acted and the Pres hgtery. too, then there will be ample time fAr the assembly to review the case. I am not moderate conservative, I am no mid e1e-of- the-road conse-vatiye-I am a PreS- pyterian Being relieved from all differ oaces and from all antagonisms, we are all becoming Presbyterians. l ask you in the interest of the Presbytery of New York of general harmony, for the sake of the great and glorious peace of the churches for the sake of magnificent opportunities that lie before us-s'trong and united-in the near future to leave this case simply where 1t belongs, by permitting in the fear of God, the Presbytery of New York to attend to its own business"
 Dr. Hobson replied to Dr. Radcliffe with a speech which was magnificent from an representative point of view. but vastly in ferior to Dr. Radcliffe's in effect and elo- Quenoe.
 Must Modify HIS Views
 pr. Hobson declared that "if Dr. Me- Giffert refused to modify his views or leave the church there must be a heresy trial. It would be wiser painly to say to Dr. McGiffert: You are a scholar; all honor to scholars, but the Presbyterian church is no place for you. Go where you will be more at home.'" 7"
 Continuing, he said
 Tt Is said that Dr. McGiffert will not fail to withdraw. May the Lord put it into his head to do so," but in the meantime here was the spectacle of the great Presbyterian church sitting at the feet of an individual and begging him to go and leave 1t in peace.
 Dr. W. H. McKibben, of Cincinnati, de- clared there was unrest in the church, "when in Cincinnati we have to issue a declaration of belief in the Diety and of the Son of God. And if there is no justi- fication for a judicial process, when, in Gods name will there be justification?'
 Time to Close Up the Ranks
 Ut is time to close up the ranks and for PresbyterianS to march shoulder to Shoul- der," safd pr. ". P. Merrill of Chicago, a member of the committee '"The majority report means harmony and union. Like prophet of old, with beetling brow and hoary hair and beard, Dr. Dunlop Moore of the Presbytery of Pittsburg lifted up the voice of conservatism. "I have read this book" said he. "It ds bad; there are worse, for some books deny the authenticity of every one of the gospels. pr. McGiffert questions only sixteen out of twenty-seven. The book (and the old man shook with feeling) Is an abomination before God. Some one has spoken of the kind tone of Dr. Gffert's letter; 1t gives me no encour- agement. If l had MT. Giffert here would knock that nonsense out of his head" This last sentiment was liberally applauded.
 After long and tumultuous debate which was at times somewhat personal, the vote on adoption of the majority report was reached which was carried by large majority and later made unanimous, while the majority shouted for joy.
 The eleventh annual assembly of the Presbyterian church had dealt with the hardest problem that confronted it.