The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-07-06
Is DR.. Briggs Tending to Rome?


The Rev. DR.. CHARLES A. BR1oas,
whose higher criticism Of tho Bible
caused his withdrawal from the Presby-
terian Church and his entrance into the
ministry of the Episcopal Church, seems
to be preparing to 60 step further in his
search for authority and to render sd-
hesion to the Pope.
In the last North American Reriew DR..
BRIGGS has a significant paper on Re
form in the Roman Catholic Church.
The present Pope be looks on "a essen
TALLY "reformer." Great reforms are
in his mind which ere long will become
evident in fact; and the fundamental
principle of reform with Plus X. is "to
make JESUS CHRIST Himself the center
and handspring Of reform, and as this
is exactly what the most enlightened
Professionals desire for their own Churches,
what more, asks DR.. BRIGGS, can they
ask for the Church Of Rome?' Then
comes this significant paragraph:
-The more advanced Protestant scholars have
been working for half . century and morn 70 lead
Christians back TO Jssus CHnIsr. and have only
partially succeeded. II now the Pope, - the head
of the Roman Catholic Church. owing 70 the rever.
encc and obedience given him By that whole Church
as the successor II ST. PErn and the living repre-
sentative Of our Lord. can succeed In raising up
Catholics throughout the world 10 this exalted posi-
tion OF reforming everything In CHRIST, there win
be ere long the greatest revival and reformation
known to history. and the Protestant Churches will
have TO bestir themselves TO keep pace with H.
Here are other remarks by DR.. BRIGGS
which seem to indicate his drift Roman
ward:
There arc many Protestant theologians who
think 1t tine dogma OF the Immaculate conoept,onl
inevitable consequence Of the doctrine OF original
SIM
1T was . purely academic question whether In
falnbity is to be lodged In the Council or the Pope"
The infablity Of the Pope, IS defined by the
Vatican Council, limits infanioiity and 20 hedges II
with conditions that intaible decisions in the past
hard TO md. and not likely occur In the future
except In great emergencies.
The Roman Catholic Church made an important
reform In dogma when LEO XIII. directed that
THOMAS Aou1NAs should be used as the standard
authority In all Roman Catholic colleges and semi.
naries.-
1T Is doubtful, to say the least, II there would
have been such an antthess between Protestant and
Roman Catholic dogma II THOMAS AouNAs had
been the universal standard Of doctrine In the sx
teenth century"
A more thorough study Of the Bible has ahown
that the Reformers were ali OF them, greatly mis-
taken In their interpretations Protestant theology
has. for the most part. abandoned the high Angus
tinianism Of the Reformers. Tho common doctrine
OF the present Protestant theoiorlAns would not BE-
recognized BY any OF the Rsformers The dogmsue
differences with Rome either no longer really exist
or are In different forms. and concerned with differ
ent questions"
There Is authority In the ancient Church for
bishops, parochial. diocesan and provincial. and
even for tho Pope. In the Judgment Of many his
tonans"
The intrusion OF tho Cuta into civil Affairs.
which was the chief occasion OF the Reformation has
been rendered moro and more impossible by the
Providence OF GOD in History
1T Is of the highest importance that tho reform
movement has been renewed With 90 much promise
under Pope of such spirituality. simplicity and
openmindedness . man who inpresses those ID
mitted to his presence and converse - being pos
sessed OF unusual grasp Of mind. insight and real
moral power"
Utterances like these seem to suggest
that the Rev. CHARLES A. BRIGGS, now
OF the Episcopal Church, is turning his
thought in the direction Of the Church
OF which the Pope is the head on earth.
All along it has appeared evident that
il he did not follow the lead Of his
teachings into square rationalism he
was bound to fetch up at Rome.