| Show THE HERESY TRIAL the briggs heresy case looms up as a matter of great consequence whereas for a time it was looked upon as a mere source of discord in the presbyterian fold the harshness of which would soon be subdued and all made harmonious again it now irom an appeal on the ground of jurisdiction in the matter of procedure has grown into a trial of the issues of the case proper a proceeding to determine the be case on its merits and these involve the question whether or not the he doctor in taking adval advanced leed or tit at let least di divergent ground was baill within the ascole scole of orthodoxy as the same is hold held to be by the presbyterian church the defendant made a great argument in his bis own behalf before the assembly at washington yesterday so logical impassioned and incisive was wad it that we are informed even the men most meet decidedly against him were moved perceptibly for the time being to quote from a those who are willing to lot let the presbyterian church and dr briggs settle their own differences in their own way will feel a curious interest in an episode that occasioned much remark at washing ton After the conclusion of an eloquent sermon to a big audience in another place a week ago sunday the pastor of the church remarked with deep feeling that the beautie of all diesen dissension lion and distraction in the presbyterian fold and the reason why the church failed to accomplish as much as it might is or dr briggs and no one can doubt for a moment that he believed what he be said and that to him and a very large class clam of persons persona whom he represents dr briggs is the sole cause of differ difference enoe of opinion and the creator of feuds the heresy charged against the doe doctor ts 18 an old time one he occupies similar ground gromad to that taken by martin luther in religion and in science it amounts briefly told to a belief in the possibility of thought and inspiration proceeding beyond the domain of more mere ecclesiasticism and finding information as to theology theo loxy and divine things which the bible dote does not give and the preachers do not preach to put it in other language everything is going on beautifully until some rome pestilent person comes la with a new idea and then thereto there 1 endless warfare and schism how well it would be strong and devout souls eoula have believed in al alP lages agea if only these mischief makers could be prevented and the in minde ands of the people he be left free from their unsettled influence it la Is by this principle that a great many chapters oh in the worlds history political and theological have been written referring ferring Ke to this subject the st paul pioneer press reasons in the following strain the Ip individual is of the smallest mo ment meat again and again until this lesson should have been well taught the individual has been removed by accident or violence or the course of nature and it has not made the smallest difference if the idea which he represented was a true one it survived him as it would have survived a million others and grow grew only more vigorous and insistent for his fall if the idea were a delusion by and by it fell away and perished no matter how bow great the intelligence and earnestness behind it it is the ibe war of thought and not of mn mm m n in which the battles of the race are lost and won it then goes on to ask substantially if any doctrine have within it the seed of the divine the element of immortal truth would it give way to the advance of ideas and the growth of civilization nothing ever has persisted in this world unto the end except the truth nothing ever can when the man MAD who represents an idea is remo removed oftener thau than not the idea flourishes the more luxuriantly by hla his martyrdom but if the idea good or bad could dies disappear pear because the matt man behind it vanished then the whole scheme of the universe would be overturned there is much to think of much to remember in reasoning like this truth however persistently warred against aga inet crowded back sua aati trampled upon Is ie eternal immaculate and immortal and cannot be extin gui shed if iff therefore dr jar briggs Is right and his accusers are wrong while he way may be convicted humiliated and even spurned his bis cause or the principle he be advocates cannot be so treated it will live and some day be recognized |
