Evening Star Newspaper, May 22, 1893, Page 7

THE EVENING STAR: WASHINGION, D C.,, 1S IT HERESY? The Words for Which Prof. Briggs is Called to Account. THE CHARGES IN DETAIL. — The Issues to Be Brought Before the Gen- eral Assembiy—Accused of Departing From the Teachings of Scriptare and of the Presbyterian Standard—Has He Embraced Another Faith? — + “The Presbyterian Church in the United States of America against the Rev. Charles A. Briggs, D. D.,” is tie title of the casé which is to be brought before the bar of the general assembly, the highest court of the Presby- terian Church, this week. It may be that consideration of some legal point involved may result in sending the case down to the synod, over which the appeal from the judg- ment of the New York synod was taken. How- ever, there seems to be among the members of the assembly a general desire to get the case off the docket finally and settle once for all a controversy that has vexed the church for over two years. There seems to be little doubt that in the assembly, as constituted, a large majority is opposed to Dr. Briggs. Though the case has not come up yet in any form it has dominated everything. and constant evi- dences have been given that stanch Presby- terians have girt their loins for an ecclesiasti- cal combat which will not be uncertain in its results. At the very outset the retiring mod- erator, in the sermon which preceded the con- stituting of the assembly, declared in unmis- takable words the view of the conservatives, that such teachings as those with which Prof. Briggs is credited cannot be tolerated within the church. Then the report made by tl special committee on theological seminari gave evidence of the belief of the majority that the assembly must adopt means for secur- ing control of the teaching in such seminaries and ineure for the fasure ministry an orthodox training according to the conservative view. THE ELECTION OF MODERATOR. ‘The Briggs case was not an open issue in the election of the new moderator, yet it was sig- nificant that the assembly departed from the custom of making nominations without *peeches, and that in the presentation of can- | didates particular stress was Isid in each in- stance upon the fidelity of the minister named to the standards of the chureb. The very fact that such nominating speeches or testimonies to the qualifications of the men uamed were called for, because as some members claimed they did not wish to vote im the dark, showed the state of mind at least of some commission- ers who seemed to be filled with fear and sus- icion that the heteredoxy ascribed to Prof. Lriggs might even secure a seat in the moder ators chair. and from that material influeuce over all the proceedin’ the great assembly. Then a further evidence Of the overshadowing presence of the issues raised by the case was given in the sermon de- livered by the moderator to the assombly y terdar, in which he maintained the duty of the Ministry to be feithful tothe great trust im- posed upon them, to guard and preach the gospel and inveighed against rationalism or intellectualisin that sought to revise or add to the word of God. Waile the Briggs case was not a direct issue im the election of moderator, as there was no candidate known as a Briggs man, it had an influence in the choice, as there seemed to bea determination among many of the anti-Briggs men to choose a moderator with a view to the questions which he might have to rule upon who would not be likely to be lenient at a critical moment. Dr. Craig Bare evidence yesterday of his uncompromis- ing adberence to all that the conservatives hold as sacred in the teachings of the church. A GREAT ECCLESIASTICAL BATTLE. If the question comes before the assembly on its merits it will be fought out on both sides by men who are the greatest masters of theology and polemics in the charch, and the combat Will be a notable one. The controversy will be conducted by the cultured men of the assembly in courteous phrase, but beneath the gioss the fight will be a grim one. On the one hand will be arrayed earnest men defending as they be- lieve the sacred faith of their grand church, whose history and achievements, since the days of Calvin, are a matter of pride to them; and on the other band men equally earnest iu Purpose who believe that an enlightened view ef the Scriptures and the standards of the church give room for some modification of the severe doctrines of Calvin. It may be that the Yast proportions of the case. from an argu- mentative point of view, will make its trial by the assembly impracticable and a commission will be appointed to adjudicate it, Prof. Briggs required several days to present his case before the New York Presbytery, and the arguments made by the members of the prosecuting com- mittee would fill a large volume. ‘One who had acquired acasual knowledze of the ease might have the impression that the question was merely that of tolerance or intolerance; that Prof. Briggs had gone astep further in the way of liberal thought than his brethren. and that he is undergoing some sort of persecution for hia daring. To Prof. Briggs’ opponents, how- ever, the case presents itself in another light. The question that will be tried. if the caso comes to trial, is practically not whether Prof. Brigzs is right, but whether he is Presbyteriau. Of course, according to the Presbyterian view, it may be said that if he is Presbyterian he Tight. It is not, however, tho standards of the church that are on trial, but Prof. Briggs, His utterances are to be measured to see if they conform to the standards. If the contention Of those who are prosecuting Dr. Briggs is cor- rect Dr. Briggs may still be ever so good and true « man, but he is not Presbyterian, but has adopted another faith. Hence he is guiity of heresy from a Presbyterian standpoint. 18 IT PRESBYTERIAN ? This view is set forth clearly in the argu- ment made for the prosecution by Mr. John J. McCook, and which has been placed in printed form in the hands of members of the assembly. Mr. McCook says: “It is, of course, easy for a many to say, Suppose, however, I am con- Viced of the trath of these doctrines, will the eburch muzzle me, silence me, for uttering what Lam persuaded is true? This brings us Dack to the question of heresy. Look at the iple which such a question involves. I an imagine a man, after an exhaustive stady ef pauistic and scholastic literature, becoming soconvinced that the Roman Church is the true church that he might preach Romanism from a Presbyterian pulpit, It is not likely, but I make the supposition. The presbytery wonld, doubtiess, interfere. “And then suppose that he should say: -You are silencing me for teaching what I believo to be true. You aro Ses, be is known to be pally very conser- Yative. Still less would it be fair to say that Dr. Briggs attacks the Bible. He is recognized as a profound, spiritually minded student of the Scriptures and a sincere tieal Chris- tian. It is not because he denies what the Bible and confession explicitly teach. or teaches what the Bible and confession cleariy deny, that he has been arraigned. The matter is o1 in. He holds and teaches eliefs which his accusers declare to be inconsistent with the statements of the Bible aud confession. He denies the inconsistency, and the presbytery of New York, although it does not say that it believes his opinions to be true, agrees with him to the extent of declaring that, whether trae or in its judgment they are not incompatible With sincere accep- tance of the Bible and the confession. “Therefore, there is no proper debate as to whether he denies inspiration or denies that the Scriptures came from God. or denies eternal probation after death. No well-informed and calm-minded person can suppose that theso things are true.” ACTION OF THE NEW YORK PRESBYTERY. In this connection the wording adopted by the New York presbytery in passing judgment of acquittal on the case is interesting. The presbytery declared as follows: “The presbytery has kept in mind these es- | tablished principles of our polity, ‘that no man can rightly be convicted of heresy by in- terference or implication; that ‘in the inter- pretation of ambiguous expressions candor re- quires that a court should favor the accused by | patting upon his words the more favorable rather than the less favorable coustruction.’ d ‘there are truths and forms with respect to h men of good character may differ.” “Giving due consideration to the defendant's explanation of the language used in his in- augural address, accepting his frank and full disclaimer of the interpretation which has been put upon some of its phrases and illustrations, crediting his affirmations of loyalty to the | standards of the church and t> the Holy | Scriptures as the only infellible rule of faith and practice, the presbytery does uot find that he has transgressed the limits of liberty aliowed under our constitution to scholarship and opinion. ‘Therefore, without expressing of the critical or theological views embodied in the inaugural address or the manner in which they have been expressed and illustrated, the resbytery pronounces the Rev. Charles A. Briggs. D’D., fully scquitted of tho offenses alleged against him.” The presbytery also expressed “‘an earnest conviction that the grave issues involved this case will be more wisely and justly de- termined by calm investigation and fraternal discussion than by judicial arraignment and protean The Charces Against Prof. Briggs. ‘That the readers of Tux Stan may know ex- actly the nature of the accusations against Prof. Briggs, belew is given an abstract of the charges which were tried by the New York presbytery and now Come to the assembly on appeal, and which, with all the specifications and citations, fill a samphlet of thirty-two pages. ‘There are ia all eight separate charges, and all are founded on utterances made by Prof. Briggs in the inaugural address. delivered by him at the Union Theological Seminary, in the city of New York. January 20. 1891, on the oc- casion of his induction into the Edward Robin- son chair of biblical theology. It is repre- seuted by the prosecution that this address bas been published and extensively circulated with the, knowledge and approval of Prot. Brig and has been republished by him in a secon edition, reaifiming his utterances, CHARGE 1 “Teaching that the reason iss fountain of divine authority, which may and does savingly enlighten men, even such men as reject the Scriptures as the authoritative proclamation of the will of God, and reject also the way of sal- vation through’ the mediation and sacrifice of the Son of God as revealed therein; which is contrary to the essential doctrine 2f the Holy Scriptures and of the standards of the said eharch; that the Holy Seripture is most nec- essary and the rule of faith and practice.” ‘AS specifications under these charges the following sentences from the inaugural address are cited, which the prosecution declares are contrary to Scripture and to the standards. “Divine authority is the only authority to which man can yield implicit obedience. on which he can rest m loving certainty and build with joyous confidence. * * There are his- toricaliy three great fountains of divine au- thority—the Bible, the church ad the rea- son.” “Martineau could not find divine authority in the church or the Eble, but he did find God enthroned in his own soul. There are thove who would refuse these rationalists a place in the company of the faithful. But they forget that the essential thing is to find God and di- Vine certainty, and if these men have found God without ‘the mediation of church and Bible, church and Bible are meass aud not ey are avenues to God, but are not God. gret that these rationalists depreciate the means of grace so essential to most of us, but we are warnod lest we commit a similar error and depreciate the reason and the Chris- tian consciousness.” “Unless God's authority is discerned in the forms of the reason there is no ground upon which any of the heathen could ever have been saved. for they know nothing of Bible or church. If they are not savingly enlightened by the light of the world in the forms of the rea son the whole heathen world is lost forever.” ~The Authority of Holy Scripture.—We havo examined the church and the reason as seats of divine authority in an introduction to our theme, The Authority of the Scriptures, be- cause they open our eves to see mistakes that are common to the three departments, Pro- testant Christianity builds its faith and life on the divine authority contained in the Scrip- tures, and too often depreciates the church and the reason. Spurgeon is an example of the average modern evangelical, who holds the Protestant position, and assails the church and reason in the interest of the authority of Scripture. But the average opinion of the Christian world would not assign him a higher in the kingdom of God than Martineau or man. May we not conclude, on the whole, that these three representative Christians of our time, living in or near the world’s metrop- olis, have, each in his way, found God and rested on divine authority? ‘May we not learn from them not to depreciate any of the means whereby God makes himself known to men? Men are influenced by their temperaments and environments which of the three ways of sc- cess to God they may pursue.” cuaRoR 11. “Teaching that the church isa fountain of divine authority which, spart from the Holy Scripture, may and does savingly enlighten men, which is contrary to the essential doc- trine of the Holy Scripture and of the standards of the said church, that the Holy Scripture is most necessary and the rule of faith and practice.” ‘The specifications cite, in support of these charges the following quotations from the inaugural address: vine authority is the only authority to | whicl man ean yield implicit obedience, on which he can rest in loving certainty and build not experts on this question. I have devoted | with joyous confidence. * * There are his- my life to the study of Roman Catholic litera- tare. and I am leading you on in the paths of Divine Providence.” Possibly you would reply: “You are a remarkable scholar: we admit that no one of us has given as much attention to the Literature of the fathers and the schoolmen as you have. But our church, whether mistaken or not, bas required of you, at your ordina- tlon, to take a vow to sustain its standerd: doctrine. We are not silencinz you be you know more about this literature of the t than we do, but because we believe diffe @atly from you. And our belief is not some- thing which can be changed, even at the de- mand of a great schoiar.’ I have made the remsin in the Presbyterian Church long enough fo listen to such a reply. He wold take his! patristic and scholastic Literature with him and to his spiritaral director, who would doubt- Tess te!l of bis own accord the Presbsterian Charch would have been quite justific to lea: trial is not persecution, for when the charges are proved it is simply proved that the accased has been converted fo another form of religion. We are sorry that he is so mistaken, we wish that he had not lert the faith in which he once believed; but we hare to choose between our own doctrines and za PROF. BRIGGS’ ATTITUDE. On the other haud, it must not be supposed that Prof. Brigss is im the position ofa man who knows he 1s opposing the doctrines of the church and yet insists on remaining in the church. Prot. Briggs denies that the views he has uttered are inconsistent with his ordi-| each in his way, found God and rested on nation vow or the doctrines of the church. Proz. Briggs’ position was summed up brie Tar Stax by a theologicn on that wide of case as follow: Dr. Briggs does not attack the Westminster confession of faith and the catechisma As far as we bave been able to learn, no living man reveres these docn- ‘ents more than he does, or has studied them imal the light of history, manuscript records and church life more patientiy than he has. One of his chief grounds of attack upon those whom he calls ‘traditionalists’ is that they have Geparted from the Westminster standards, and are setting up private tests of orthodoxy based On their own noa-Westmmste: opinions, With folerence to the divine decrees, which have | thom the prosence chamber of God. They d in inviting bim | | | Christianity builds its faith and life on the di- torically three great fountains of divine au- thority—the Bible, the church and the rea- son. “The authority of the church.—The majority of Christians from the apostolic age have found God through the church. Martyrs, saints, fathers ond schoolmen, the profoundest intel- Jects, the saintliest lives have had this exper- ience. Institutional Christianity has been to e therein and thereby entered into communion with all saint, It is difiloult for many Protes- tants to regard this experience as any other than pious illusion and delusion. But what | shall we say ofa modern like Newman, who supposition, but there is no one who would | could not reach certainty striving never so hard through the Bible oF the reason, but who did find divine authority in the institutions of the chureh “The authority of Holy Scripture.—We have im that if he had not left the church | examined the church and the reason as seats of divine authority in an introduction to our theme, the authority of the Scriptures, because ommon to the three departments. Protestant vine authority contained in the Scriptures, and too often depreciates the church and the reason. Spurgeon is an example of the aver- age modern evangelical, who holds the Protes- tant position, and assails the church and reason in the interest of the authority of Scripture. But the average opinion of tie Christian world would not assign hima higher place in the kingdom of God than Martineau or Newman. May we not conclude, on the whole, that these three representative Chrixtians of our ti living in or near the world’s metropolis, bi vine authority? May we not learn from ¢ not to depreciate any of the msans whereby God makes himself known to men? Men are influenced by their temperaments and environ- ments which of the three ways of access to God they may pursue.” CHARGE MIT. “Teaching that errors may have existed in the original text of the Holy Scripture, as it came from its authors, which is contrary to the essential doctrine taught in the Holy Scripture and in the standards of the said church, that the Holy Scripture isthe Word of God, written, framediately inspired, and the rule of faith and practice.” puntshment.or is a Universalist or believes in a | j they open our eves to see mistakes that are | “MONDAY, MAY 22, 1893-TWELVE PAGES. do large part in the revision controve ) The quotation from Dr. Briggs’ address cited im support of this charge is as follows: “I shall venture to affirm that, so far as I can see, there are errors in the Scriptures that no one bas been able to explain away; and the theory that they were not in the original text is sheer assumption, upon which no mind can rest with certainty. If such errors destroy the authority of the Bible, it is already destroyed for historians, Men cannot chut their eyes to truth and fact. But on what authority do these theologians drive men from the Bible by this theory of inerrancy? The Bible itself nowhere makes this cl modern evangelicaliem to frighten children. ‘The Bible has maintained its authority with the best scholars of our time, who with open minds have been willing to recognize any | error that might be pointed out by_histori- cal criticism; for these errors are all in the circumstantials, and not in the essentials; they are in the human setting. not in the precious itself; they are found in that section of the Bible that theologians commonly account for from the providential superindence of the mind of the author, as distinguished from divine revelation itself, It may be that this providential superintendence gives infallible guidance in every particular; and it may be that it differs but little, if at all, from the providential superintendence of the fathers and schoolmen and theologians of the Christian Church, It is not important for our purpose that we should decide this question. I should abandon the whole field of providential superintendence so far as inspiration and divine authority are concerned and limit divine inspiration and authority to the essen- tial contents of the Bible, to its religion, faith and morals, we would still have ample room to thority where alono it is essen- m. important, in tho tenching that devotions, our thinking and our conduct.” manor Iv. “Teaching that many of the Old Testament Predictions have been reversed by history and that the great body of Messianic prediction has not been and cannot be fulfilled, which is contrary to the essential doctrine ‘of Holy Scriptare and of the standards of tho said church, that God is true, omniscient and un- changeable.” The following words of Prof. Briggs are aoted a8 @ specification in support of this charge: “Minute Prediction.—Another barrier to the Bible bas been the interpretation put upon predictive prophecy, making ita sort of his- tory before the time, and looking anxiously for the fultillment of the details of biblical pro- diction, Kuenen has shown that if we insist upon the fulfillment of tho details of the pre- dictive prophecy of the Old Testament, many of these predictions have been reversed by history; and the great body of the Messianic rediction has not only never been fulfilled, The creeds of the | eburch nowhere sanction it. it is a ghost of | 7 the body. If this were so, how can any of our race carry their evil natures with them into the middle state and incur the punishment of their sins? The eternal punishment of a man whose evil nature has been stripped from him by death and left in the grave is an absurdity. The Plymouth Brethren hold that there are two natures in the redeemed—the old man and the new. In accordance with such a theory, the old man might be cast off at death. But this is only a more subtile kind of Manicheism, which has ever been regarded as heretical. Sin, as our Savior teaches, has its source in the heart—in the higher and immortal part of man, It is the work of sanctification to over- come sin in the higher nature.” Appended to this one quotation from the Scripture from the confession of faith and from the catechizens to show the Presbyterian doctrine that “the souls of believers are at their death made per- fect in holiness and do immediately pass into ee MODERATOR CRAIG’S SERMON. He Preaches Against Human Attempts to Improve on God’s System. Dr. Willis G. Craig, the moderator of the assembly, preached the sermon tothe assembly yesterday morning. ‘The church was crowded. It was generally expected that in this address the moderator would declare in some manner his adhereace to the conservative side of the controversy in the church, and in this respect he did not disappoint his audience. Dr. Craig aready aud forcible speaker. His general theme was the fidelity of the ministers to the trast imposed on them, He said that the de- posit of the faith with the church is the mighty thing which dignifies her above all other insti- tutions upon the earth. Humanely, he said, 50 large a party in interest in this deposit of the faith has the right to expect faithfulness on the part of the church to this sublime trust. He spoke of the constraint imposed upow them as custodians of this faith and by their vows, THE PATHOS OF 1 “But after all,” he said, “these are not the constraining considerations. Men may be without influence under these considerations. They may be able, by reason either of the indifferentism of the human spirit or its ca- pacity at self-deception, to elude the conatrain- ing power of these wide-ranging considera- tions which force them toward fidelity to their solemn trust. But a man that has got a broth- er’s heart beating within him and is accus- tomed to walk amid the tumultuous throng of men who themselves are walking beneath the twin clouds of death and judgment, and who knows that he alone, and the company of the faithful with him, have any specific that has any power whatever to deal with this tremen- | dous verity of a sin-cursed and sin-darkened ‘at cannot now be fulfilled, for the reason that | World, and does not find himself constrained its own time has passed forever.” CHARGE v. “Teaching that Moses is not the author of the Pentateuch, which 1s ccntrary to direct statements of Holy Scripture and to the essen- tial doctrines of the standards of the said church that the Holy Scripture evidences itself to be the word of God by the consent of all the parts, and that the infallible rule of interpre- tation of Scripture is the Scripture itself.” The following brief sentence from the inau- gural address is given as the single specifica- tion under this charge: “It may be regarded as tho certain result of the science of the higher criticism that Moses did not write the Pentateuch.” CHARGE VI, “Teaching that Isaiah is not the author of half the book that bears his name. which is contrary to direct statements of Holy Scripture and to the essential doctrines of the standards of the said church that the me Seriptu: evidences itself to be the Word of God by the consent of all the parts. and that the infallible rule of interpretation of Scripture is the Scrip- ture itself.” Only brief sentence from the inaugural is appended in support of this charge, as fol- lows: “Isaiah did not write half of the book that bears his name.” CHARGE VIL “Teaching that the processes of redemption | extend tothe world to come in the case of many who aio in sin; which is contrary to the essential doctrine of Holy Scripture and the standards of the said church; that the processes of redemption are limited to this world.” ‘To suatain this charge tho following selec- tions from the address are given: “The processes of mption ever keep the race in mind. The Bible tells us of # race origin, a raco sin, a race ideal, @ race Re- deomer and a race redemption.” “Another fault of Protestant theology is in its limitation of the process of redemption to this world. and its neglect of those vast periods of time which have elapsed for most men in the middle state between death and the resurrec- tion.” “The Bible does not teach universal salva- tion, but it does teach the salvation of the world, of the race of man, und that cannot be accomplished by the selection of a limited number of individuals from the mass, The boly arm that worketh ration does not con- tract its hand in grasping ouly a few; it stretches its loving fingers so as to comprehend 3 many as possible—a definite number, but multitudes that no one can number. The sal- vation of the world can oniy mean the world ass whole, compared witi which the unre- deemed will be so few and insignificant, and evidently beyond the reach of redemption by their own act of rejecting it and hardening themselves against it, and by descending into such depths of demoniacal depravity in the middle state that they will vanish from the ight of the redeemod as altogether and irre- dsemably evil, and never more disturb the har- monies of the saints. Appendix, 2d ed. Page 104. “This raises the question whether any man is irretrievably lost ere he commits this unpardonable sin, aud whether those who do not commit it in this world ere they die are, by the mere crisis of death, brought into an unpardonable state; and whether, whén Jesus said that this sin against the Holy Spirit was unpardonable here, and also hereafter, He did not imply that all other sins might be par- doned hereafter as well as here. To show that these declarations aro contrary to the standards the specifications quote from the confession of faith that ‘the souls of tho wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.” CHARGE ViIL “Teaching that sanctification is not complete at death, which is contrary to theessential doc- trine of the Holy Scripture and of the stand- ards of the saidchurch that the souls of be- lievers are at their death at once made perfect in holiness.” “Another fault of Protestant theology is in ‘its limitation of the process of redemption to eee heh ee eter eee | will inl oe mitniteres abd nap ol nai aeasite of time which have elapsed for most men in the middle state between death and the resur- rection. The Roman Catholic Church is firmer here, though it smears the biblical doctrine with not afew hurtful errors. The reaction against this limitation, as seen in the theory of second probation, is not surprising. I do not find this doctrine in the Bible, but I do find in the Bible the doctrine of a middle state of con- scious higher life im the communion with Christ and the multitude of the departed af all ages; and of the necessity of entire sanctifica- tion, in order that the work of redemption may be completed. , There is no authority in tho Scriptures or ih the creeds of Christeudom for the doctrine of immediate sanctification at death, ‘The only sanctification known to ex- rience, to Christian orthodoxy and to the ble is progressive sanctification. Progressive sanctification after death is the doctrine of the Bible and the church; and it is of vast import- | ance in our times that we should understand it and live in accordance with it. The bugbear ofa judgment immediately after death, aint the illusion of a magical transformation in the dying hour, should be banished from the world, ‘They are conceits derived from the Ethnic religions, and without basis in the Bible or Christian experience as expressed in the symbols of the church. The former makes death a terror to the best of men, the latter makes human life and experience of no effec and both cut the nerves of Christian activi and striving after sanctification. Renouncing them as hurtful. unchristian errors, wo look with hope and joy for the continuation of the Processes of grace and the wonders of redemp- tion in the company of the blessed, to which the faithful are ali hastening.” Appendix, 2d ed., pages 107, 108, “Sanc’ tion has two sides—a negative and a pori mortification and vivitication; the former manward, the latter is Godward, Believer: who enter the middie state, enter guiltless; they are pardoned and justitied: they are man- tled in the blood and rightcousness of Christ; and nothing will be able to separate them from His love. They are also delivered from all temptations such as spring from without, from the world and the devil. They are encircled with influences for good such as they have never enjoyed before. But they aro still the same persons, with all the gifts and grazes, and also the same habits of mind, disposition and temper they had when they’ left the world. Death destroys the body. It does not change the moral and religious nature of man, It is unpsychological and unethical to suppose that the character of the disembodied spirit will be changed in the moment of death. It is the Maxichean heresy to hold that sin belongs to the physical organization and is laid aside with | disposition out of which grows all rationalis | bec: by the pathos of the situatioa, by the urgent demands of pitiful humanity to stand faithful tow trust which involves their everlasting re- demption, then that man, to my mind, has passed beyond the power of any constraints | whatever intended to make him faithful to the trusts which he has undertaken, “1 wish to iliustrate this briefly. If St. Fran- cis d’Assizi, the founder of the great mendi- cant order of the thirteenth century, had had communicated to him during some ceaseless vigil of the night, a sovereign remedy for lep- rosy, among whose foulest victims he appeared as a ministering angel, nursing, tending and solacing with a self-abnegation so rare as to ke him the hero of his generation—if there had been communicated to him, I say, this specific for leprosy, the very fact would bave rendered his person eacred by the importance of the trust confided to his care. “If he, in ruthiess folly or curiousspeculative zeal, had stopped, by the specious arte of an unproved method of inquiry, to spend his mornings and his evenings in dissecting this specific confided to his care until, perel he had ruined its virtue and then stepped out, with its parts critically separated and divided, and sought to make application of them to this hideous diseae, and failed when he came to make tho application, by reason of the fact that he had extracted the sovereign virtue by his vain and pucrile attempts to make disco eries which elude the mighty sweep of the human understanding, the pitifal spectacle of lepers dying by the thousands for want of the specific which had been confided to his care would have served to etrip his person of all reverence and to consign his memory to per- petual obloquy. x0 “478” on “aura.” In summing up Dr. Craig said: Now, finally, how shall we exercise that guardianship? and Iam through. How? Only a moment, 1 ‘The Scripture is prompt to tell us. We shall exercise this guardianship by renewed conse- cration manifested in two particulars, First Preaching this wordwithout “ifs” or “ands” or nuts.” We don’t in this day quite seem to be willing to let God, speaking after the manner of men, keep up His end of the row. We have got to do something to help God in this matter of regenerating the human family. And so if we think that the specific is n little wrong here or a httle wrong there or migitt be bettered here and so on, we stand out as valiant men, with eyes of aquiline keenness as we say, casting around the whole sweep of the three great postulates of human thought—God, rational creatures and the universe—and then we say, “We will apply this remedy according to our new prescriptions.” Now, I say we can't be faithful to our conse- eration in any such way as that, and I would like to be a means in the hands of God, per- chance, of helping some swect-hearted Chris- | tian today, who is not averse to beinz spoken to by the instincts of brotherly love, by saying to_him: ‘My brother, there are two little difficulties that have pushed you on that path— oue simply the pride of inteilect, simply the and on the other side a little difficulty, to. wit, that not seeing the application of this great deposit of tho faith immediately successful, you get a little uneasy and try to inject into ommipotence of God the feeble strength of a mortal worm. There is no plus to God's infinity. There is no plus to God's omniscience. There is no plus to God's omnipotence. And what is the use when God has sent us as instruments into the midst of the death and doom of our fellow men with a specitic compounded by God and backed by the spirit and God’s honor pledged to make it efficacious—what is the sense, because the specitic don't work universal cure in fifteen minutes after it has been swal- lowed, that we, in the fear of failure, should begin to make experiments of our own in thé form of a plus and but, in connection with Word of God. There’ is no plus to God’s omnipotence, and God’s omnipotence is back- ing this blessed trust of faith.” THE SIMPLE GOSPEL ENOUGH. And I say to you, my dearly beloved breth- ren of the holy ministry and eldership, with the simplicity of a child’s heart toward you, just as Tsay to my students over and over again, who aro afraid that unless they incorporate into their movements some human potency they incorporate some human potency, like some new idea of the powers of the will, new powers wrought by civilization in the human nature, under the forces gathered from new thinkings. And I tell them, ‘Don’t do that. These are but weaknesses added to weaknesses, Go out with this sovereign trust that God has deposited with you—the word of God; with that, the power of God of aud eternal, lite; God's vivacious word; God's word, that cuts down through joints and narrows to'the very center of human being, and there, as it comes in contact with the quv- ering nerves of human life, waits in august silence until God himself speaks, in accordance with the great truths of the written word, the omnipotent final word of regeneration, and sets them free and inducts them into life. just simply go with the potency of God. is manifested in the truth and exercised by Him at fit times absolutely, personally and without any intermediary. “God will keep up His end of the row,” the aker declared, “if you will give Him a | chance, And in the second piace the way in | | which to exercise the guardianship is that ¥ | conver: | cordance with it, as we are instructed in the | text. Oh, brethren, a conversation and char- ur tion and mind shall be pure and 1n ac- acter that has been formulated by the unadul- terated word, used as aliment, used as drink, instead of being used asa mere instrument of dialectic discussion or of absolutely battress- | ing up theological system; used in the highest | mystery and the widest sweep, as the food pre- pared by God and the drink prepared by God for flis people; a character that is formulated under the influence of an unadulterated God's word written as the mighty power to keep | them firm and true, no matter who comes to attac! “Give me true Christians, eating and drink- ing God’s words as heavenly manna that has burst forth from the throne of God and the | Lamb. and Iam not afraid but that they will | be faithful to the trast delivered to them. “May God make you and me, brethren, faithful—thct is all; faithful and faithtut, Let me say,asI have the habit of saying at the end. gather up everything in one—faithfal, not e of this thing, because of that; faithfal because the needs of humanity cry ‘out for | God's word written to be brought to them as | the power of God unto vation.” BRIGGS IS THE CAUSE. Singular Comment on the Sermon of the President's Guest. The large congregation that filled the First Presbyterian Church at the services yesterday morning witnessed = scene that created a pro- found sensation, Rev. Dr. Wilton Merle Smith, the pastor of the Central Presbyterian Church, New York city, the church which the President and Mrs. Cleveland attended during their residence in that city, preached the ser- mon. Dr. Smith is not member of the gon- eral assombly, but he and his wife are in the city and are the guests of the President at his home. As the President attends the First Presbyterian Church Dr. Smith was invited to Preach out of compliment mainly to the Presi- dent. The latter was in his pew and was ac- companied by Mrs. Cleveland and Mrs. Smith The pastor of the church, Rev. Dr. Sunder- land, and the assistant pastor, Rev. 8. V. V. Holmes, conducted the opening services and then Dr. Smith delivered his discourse, which ‘was written. It was a powerful presentation of the necessity laid upon the Christian church of reaching the churchless masses. In view of the importance of this practical work thut was P alee the church, the preacher toward the love of his sermon deprecated dissensions and disagreements based on doctrinal points, or, in fact, anything that would impair the internal harmony of the church. He spoke of the re- Its of such disputes in the eastern church, and also after the reformation, and said that in both cases the church was prevented by these diseensions from exerting the influence that properly belonged to it. At the present time, the preacher said, in view of the urgency for united, aggressive Christian work, the oxtreme men on both sides should be sent tothe rear ‘and the moderate men should come to the front and settle the questions at issue. ‘This was the only part of the sermon that could be construed as a reference to what is known as the Briggs case. Dr. Smith closed his sermon and offered prayer. Then Dr. Sun- derland came forward to announce the hymn, but before doing #0 he said that no doubt all rere edified by tho sermon which they hed just jenrd., “I take only one exception to it,” continued the doctor, whose face was flushed, and wl was evidently laboring under great excitement, “and that is the speakor did not mention the cause of the present dissensions in the church. Dr. Briggs is that cause, I would not be in that man’s boots for all the world.” The doctor then gave out the hyma and took his seat. But the effect of such an unusual com- ment on a sermon was manifest in the hum of excited whispers that ran through the great congregation. Dr. Smith pronounced the benediction and the congregation gradually dispersed. Peri Aen IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. ‘The Women’s Boards Organized for Mis- sionary Work. ‘The woman’s foreign missionary work of the Presbyterian Church is carried on by seven societies and boards, under whose charge the women snd youth of the church are organized for missionary work, study and prayer. A committee representing these seven societies and boards has been in session since Friday morning at the Church of the Covenant con- ferring together upon subjects of common interest as to practical methods of work, &c. The names of the committee are as follows: Mr. Geo. E. Martin, presiding, and Mr. Meade Williams, representing the board of the south- west, St. Louis; Mr. C. P. Turner and Miss F, U. Nelson, oman’ Foreign Missionary Society, Philadelphia; Miss F. B. Hawley and Mr. C. P. White, board of New York; Mr. Z. M. Humphrey, board of northwest, Chicago; Miss E. A. Darling, board of northern New York; Mr. P. D. Browne, Occidental board, San Fran- cisco, and Mr. Milligan, board of North Pacific, Portland, Oregon. The number of auxiliary societies and bands connected with these boards is 7,151. The amount raised during the past year was @343.- 743.49, an increase of $1,674.95 over the receipts of the previous year. This money has been ap- propriated to the support of about 335 mission- Erics in the foreign Acid, besides the support of schools, medical work, building, &c., the special object of these organizatiuns being to provide for the evangelization of the women and children of heathen, Mohammedan and Repel lands, The publications are Woman's ‘ork for Woman, published at 53 5th avenue, New York, Miss Mary Parsons editor, and Children’s Work for Chiidren, published at 1334 Chestnut street, Philadelphia. Miss Mary I. Lombard editor, besides te, reports, his- torical sketches, &c., to advance ‘the interests of the work, ‘The meeting held thisafternoonatthe of the Covenant is not « business meeting, the annual meetings of the different boards baving already been held. The time will be almost en- tirely given to addresses by the missionaries who are expected to be present. THE WASHINGTON socIETY. In the spring of 1879 two members of the women's Presbyterian board of foreign missions of Philadelphia, with Miss Lov- ing, @ missionary recently returned from Syria, visited Washington for the pur- Powe, of awakening an interest in | the ta of the Presbyterian women in the com- comparatively new ‘Woman's Work for Women,” viz: the salvation and elevation of her heathen sisters. The interest felt crystal- lized in the organization of a presbyterial #0- ciety for the dissemination of knowledge in re- gard to the needs of the “foreign fields” and the systematic collection of funds for this work. This society was organized in the First Pres- byterian Church, March 13, 1879. Mrs, Hodge of the New York’ Avenue Church was elected president, Knowing the high estimation in which our ministers hold this work today, and the strong indorsement given to it, it seems almost incredible that in the early days of the movement, in many instances, it met with but a doubtful approval, and finally won encour- agement and co-operation only through prayer and persistency. Eight auxiliaries were or- ganized during the first year. For the three succeeding yenrs the presiden- tial choir was filled by Mra. Birchard of the Metropolitan Church. At the beginning of the fifth year Mra. D. A. McKnight was elected president and for nine years was its earnest and enthusiastic leader. Declining to serve longer. Mrs. Laws succeeded to the office. It has de- Yeloped. into «strong society of twenty-two auxiliaries ani twenty-three young ladies and children's bands. It supports three mission- aries—Mra. Boyce of Saltillo, Mex.; Miss Hays of Tokio, Japan, who through failing heaith will be‘ superseded by another, and Dr. Mary Pearson Eddy, a medicai missionary, who has Just completed her studies and is commissioned to Syria, It has scholarships in schools in Mex- ico, Yucatan, India, Siam, Laos, Chins and Japan, and ‘supports a native missionary in China, ‘Two missionaries have gone from it to labor in the foreign field—Miss Alexander to Japan and Miss Lattimore to China. But two officers have been with it from its formation to the present, Mrs. Dr. Sunderland as vice president and Mra. F. L. Moore, the very efficient treasurer. Although its results cannot be measured by dollars and cents, yet, viewing it from a financial standpoint, it has been a suo- cess, its funds having increased from $784.92, the smallest amount, to $8,576.26, the highest amount in one year, the total amount collected being €27.878.17. There are yet a fow of the country churches without auxiliary organiza- tions, but the ambition is to make this an ideal presbyterial society, with every church within its limits having society well oquipped and thoroughly enlisted in advancing the mission ary cause—the great work of the century. panties athe ‘The Mount Vernon Excursion. Saturday afternoon the commissioners to the general assembly laid aside for the time the labors of a legislative body and enjoyed the pleasures of a pilgrimage to Mount Vernon. There was no afternoon session and at 1:30 o'clock the commissioners and the members of their families found the steamer Charles Macalester at the 7th street wharf. When the steamer pulled out and left on her trip down the river there were about 1,200 on board. The trip was a most enjoyable one in every way, and all on board had nothing but words of praise for the beauty of the scenery and for the completences of the arrangements made by the local committee. At Mount Vernon sev- eral hours were plensantly spent in inspecting the home and relics of the first President of the | country. It was in a sense a pleasure trip, but to an even greater extent it was a patriotic Pilgrimage tothe Mecca of America, At 4 o'clock the party started on the return trip, a riving in the city about 5:80 o'clock. There was no evening session, and the commissioners nt the time as they saw fit and as pleased thom individually. A College Alumni Banquet. ‘The Washingtonand Jefferson College Alumni Will hold their banquet tonight at the Hotel Ox- ford at 9o'clock. Rev. Dr. G. W. F. Birch of New York will preside, Remarks will be made by ox-Moderators Smith, Niccolls, is and Young and Rev. Drs. Gregg, Dic ‘alton, Maxwell, Ewing, Gileon, Davis and others, ganda Knocked Down and His Leg Broken, About So'clock this morning « white man named James Dillian, living at 7th street and Massachusetts avenue, was knocked down at the corner of 7th street and Pennaylvania ave- nue by two men and his left leg was broken be- low the knee, He was sent to the Emergency Hospital WHERE 10 FIND THEM The Commissioners to the Great Presbyterian Gathering, THEIR CITY ADDRESSES. ALN. Hollifield, doen ¥ Foster, S0hn L: Mesker New Brunswick JT Edward T. 6 ton. Arlineton. Willem 4. itspinw, Tregic say Bryant, Asbiry, Ol New Yore eee A Full List of the Members of the Body and Their Locations in Washington—The Synods and Presbyteries Represented—The OMetal Register of the Body. a Below will be found a list of the commission- ere to the general assembly, with their locations in Washington so far as they have been re- corded at the local committee headquarters: Synod of Atlantic. Falterborc?, #. C. Agantie A Frayer, Walterboro" 4c yy ‘reeland, Waldo, 516 a pincoln, Hotel. 8.'C., 1416 Tat mt asian. 1820 128 at (_t rf 8.C.,. at Eanes ane. Eustis, Fie, Sie tat. Ne ith Wales, Synod of New Mexico. Arjzone—C. K. Nuggent, Tombstone. AT. Fredonia. Arie. Fredonia. 3M Greist ‘aes Grande-H M. Shields: bas ‘Cruces. ROW.D. Bry + yan, Albuguergue, Linco} pion, 1334 Maneacuueette oy, , Lincoln South Florida "6: hice ‘Prof. B. F. Mars . Bue Ry ‘Fredonia. PLtohaeld. ‘Synod of China. —Gibert Bel. Baron’ 8... Fredonia Bioomsbure. S*partels, Wood Nineps, Caine, Wood's. ‘Synod of California. Los Anreles—W" J. Chichester, Los Angeles, Wormley. . Westrutntster, Worm Jolt A. Burrows, Chester, iW. Woolses, Fuion, Buckineham. Hepburn, Campbell Hall, Oaklaid—Robert y.H. Hamilton. East Oakland, Buck: Eranciaco-Jan.Mattvews. San Fric’o, Strathmore. Ben Foes Jen a New il, Ranta Clara. Strathmore, ved i. Crore, Sonora, 717 13th at, judge John K. Low, Mer'ede, Cochran. ‘Synod of Catawba. ie, Oakland, Buckingham. Sacramento, 1218 Ct, av. Percey B. Bromtield, lex % Grorze L. Spinning. New York, 812 17th st Cochran. York, New York city, Wormley's, . t |. Woodbury, New ¥ Bonlder—Frederick R. Wotrine, Rawlins eee REE Rabe Tg "2 iftwood, Col Sprimes, O17 16th at, joi: Mprines, O17 16th st. rrisburg, Pa. 909 13th st. ‘at. ite, New York city. blo—T. C. George De LaVermuc. Synod Rechester_Louis F. uf, Pittsford, a . Wits Ke Taylor Rochextes Tabore—Hev. Henry C. H. H. Stebbins, hochesta Synod of filinols. Alyon—John M. Holi. Vien, 1353 % st, Teenzin, Windsor. Bioominstnn Jolin We, Fagh, Philo, Hamilton, George W. Bainum, Borwent, 18 Grant place. RX" ower, Tolsto, C Frank 8. Stebbin Manley, Canton, . H. Gitman, Kdame, street, crver, Sac City, Lowa, 1732 Netreet, cgi, Arkivort, 924 14th street. Chicago—J.G. K. MeCiure, Lake Forest, Cochran. Artuur @: Sherry. Troy, Toth apd H stresta, war @: Sherry. ‘Tro Donald Mecielian, Caunbride, Whisel Utice Rovere L Bachan, { dee, 1481 ¢ Little Fal's, K’street tty Parker, Coss, Chiat, eee ‘hester—Jouin H Penman. Irvington, Gole, Hyde Park. Chicaro Kane, Chicaro, Cochran, D. Scott, Chicago, port . J. Smith, Rockford, Strathmore. Mattoon—8. M. Morton, Mattoon, 1729 M at + D “neevills, 1235 N,Y.ave. Synod of North Dakota. Faion. 924.8. X- ave, faggot ack. C. Dayton, Dickinson, Fredonia, ‘ood james 8. Boyd, Hillsboro’, G24 14th street. ‘street, Hasniliot, §. Dak, Cy Athens—wiltam A’Pomell these, Ebb, —Witttam A Powell, At fan Henderson, China, E les M. Taylor, Pr th. J. Rice, Hautiton, 1236 N. ¥. ave . Prairie City, Ti. Lincoln. . Vincinia, 1119 K ot, Haratiton. 9, . ae Logansport—W. 0. Lattimore, ‘Peymouth, 1446 Cor ‘Muncie—John B. Fowler, Winchester, Dur Some, Teme, a , tay 3 Cleveland—Jos. N- Jamra D. Witiianson, Cleve wille, Litchfield. John Buchan. Cleveland, Ebbitt. Coiumbus—Thos. William T. Bell, Fox. ton—George H. Fullerton, Sprit illiam F. MoCauley, smes M. Stokes, Jacksonbure, 14165 at Haron Win. 1. Hart, mes Park, Olena. 017 10th sireet. Lima—J. K. Mitchell, Pin Inanc Cusac, McComb, 917 18th Mahonine—David F. Dickson. Eaet "Post Othioe, O17 W Thowms, Marion, Predonis- Mauvee—James A. McGaw. 8, R. Maciaren, Toledo, Ebbitt. D. 3. Tappan, Portemouth, Ebb N. Gray. Ironton: bell. Martin's Ferry. ao he, ateaterville, Linecola. Cherokee—Fvan B. Evens, Muldrow, 10th and H ste arthur Chambzriain, Vinita, 1325 M si Choctaw—8. M. Keamn, h Charies W. Burkes, Lehich, 1245 N.Y, ave, Mask Ee W. C-Ro'¢, Okiauize: im. T. King. Guthrie mi. Audubon, 1710 15th st. XK. 1. Woodbury. Council Biufts. Ewing, Corning, Lincoln, Robt. A. Willis, Emerson, 41 Gch st. aw. Herring’ Wintesett, 1580 Mist, Walter Wourh, Mi She.by. 16 4th t, Sueiby. W814 at Wannais, 1828 14th st. . Wilber, Mt, Ve = Mt, Vernon, Synod of Oregon. Best Oregon —Convell Cox. Enterprise, Tinealm, ‘Portiaad, Hamilton. i Simek nts Panes Hat? Gente nem 'S. Condit, Albany, Eincola, Wm. Fulton, Keokul Davenport, 216 I nton, #20'15:n, Sioux City—Win, H. Cummins, Stoux City, 1323 B st. »—seo. Graham, Srarkevinie, “eo Teint co Seecamere, ae etd Kansas. papa tg WS Bas Ctestecal Sa vermeet Biue Ra Hamil tou a berger. Allecheney, EbbIth Butler_W. E. O ler, Butler Frank Anderson. Butier, Elsmere. BiairevilleD. M. Miller, Johnstown, 810 19th et. William Lang, Ligonier. Strat Carlisle—0.B, McCur 8. C. Alexander, Millersto pure. ;Bancenncn, 1400 Hopkinepl. Topera ch. John W. Bailey, acer P. Barrett, S Worrow, Kansas City. Ht ‘Synod of Kentucky, Ehenezer—Jchn'S. Haves, M F. Seave {a Test, Reynoldevil Erie WL. Brechinr John B. Compton, Meadville, 1215, =. a—J. C. Kelly, Wiltameburg, 1623 15th: Hain, Avtoonn, Tale Toh se = wi. - ‘RB. M. Alexander, Burtsvilie. Bi Detrolt_W. 8, Jerome, Pontiec. $5an Caineron, Dectorts Srethmore, Flint—Frank G. W. Church: Hallstesd. Fitch, Athens, 1921 H st. Ghas he Hooker, Grand Repida Pies tees slamazso— Th wart. Decatur, 900 13th. Jordan, 3 iB Ha bat oH Boke iy : jarren cs rior—C. M. Brown Babbitt, “‘Tecumeah, ‘Ard. Aldrich, Godwater, Buckinghams > = Hh Redpath, Boyne i a ‘Persbi ‘iana—J. W. Boal, Willtaunsport, Fredonia. nk, Shopbell, Willia maport. S13 Vermont ava, juchanan, Morgantowm, 1236 . : Williams, Ravenswood. DARL ore ia, ¢ z # Pn & , Duluth—W. B.Greenshields, gen oceania ‘* Pe. Titchfield, 1104 E.Cap. st. jadelphist Oxkora M. Farr, Mankato, 920 151 cs at, is—Jemmes S. Black, Min Peter, Hamtitog,s* CORR EXC, Brown, Mitineayolie. 1710 Loti ak, Thompson, Red Rivera. C. Pettit eto, Philadelphia, ta—John Peacock, . Falls of Schuylisi. on, Germantown, 1316 son. Germantown. |, Germantown, Ebbitt. . Pottstown. 1411 i st. jen-y T. McClelland, Pi Jonongabela’ City, ‘Fredonia. Pittsbure, Fbbitt. . Canonsburg, Aningtom . Dunn. Pittsburg. RB. Siinuer, Albert Lea. sas City, Lineoin, io, 12: W. Cuinmins, Sedat W. Fisher, Lnisian ith. Macon. 1373 Meee Ma ‘Dinsmore, 1680 C. 'T. Edwards, Western Airica—David W Liberia. Prof. Alfred B. Kin Westoninster—J. ville, Jana, Africa. Biel Caconsiars Mamie as xk ‘isyuaksr, New Alesabdrta, Sor. B16 15th ot st. ‘McAllister, Woolsey, 307 Det, Southera Dakow—Ludwic E. J. Lindsey. Cari HT. Snuth, Good EN. Smith, Bridewst Synod of Tennessee. Holston—C. A. Duncan, Joneshor . H. Anderson, Jonesboro. Kingsion—H. T. Olmstead, Chat James H. Allin, Chattansora, ‘Frank §’ Moore, Maryville. ‘liam U. White, Knoxville. | * Synod of Texas. pire als . “Louls, Cochran, 1s. C. Oxburn, W. Massey. Monticel or erie aah ‘Synod of Neb: |. C. Stark, Hastings. w. L. Dodder.G: ts ea ney Ew L- Dodder-Grand Island, 924 N. ¥. ave. : Lenox, 51016t 0, 413 4th wt aie = Jersey City—Vernon'B. orsey Clty, Haintlton jas. & Bidcoll: Paraalos Paterson, Ebbitt. ath-—Charien Eversit, Bellma, 900 ee "SU eee ee of Utah. Meret ae nape, Orat Fel, Linon, ". Bobback, Hy t an Lincoln THE WOMEN’S BOARD. Delegates Coming to Attend the Great Miss sionary Mectings. In connection with the meeting of the gen- eral assembly there will also be meetings con- @ucted by the Women's Foreign and Home These meetings will be held in the Church of the Covenant. The women's executive com- ‘mittee of home missions will hold the first meeting on Friday morning at 9:30. Represen- tatives of six boards of foreign missions are ex< Pected, and the first meotings of these boards Will be held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock. Ex-Kep. D. R. James, New York, the Arno. Mire Janes, "woman's executive com . 8. rt ead baie "2 3 fs : i i [i i? i 4 Miss 8. Young, Dan’ -. Vice pres. peceaoedires ty Sc thom oe ee Senta se diac in ke = P « hehe ctch sai ee, . aed Y Hy y t if E ! z i Ch, Soc. of, Mrs. Phi as cae es 55 ey gf ik if a} Re byt ¥ Miss A.C. Patterson, New York, the Arno. Rirs. Baker, S. -. the Arno. Mrs. CE. Coulter. Pittsburg, Pa. eec'y of Breed: wen'sdep't. of H. ML. the Arno. Mien ius, New York, the Arno. Mri W. McKee, New York, the Arno, Mrs. KW. Mckee, New York. the Armo. Mra. Are Parsous, dr... com. ot WM. Fieewn. aon. mlssiouary euest of Sirs: Kau arise’ 3 Chee” Sante Rerss, Cal Fact Mis Marina Graham, Milkensburg. Pa. guest of 3 cunpbell, Ne, Va, eae aie Pps Se peoom Paks ; Mrs. A. H. Young, NJ. Lt : EE Armes Goma