Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-05-29
DEATH PRESENT
At Session of the PRESBYTERIAN
Assembly.
A CONSPICUOUS FIGURE LAID Low

Judge :. N. breckenridge Stricken just
As He Had Completed a speech ON the
Heresy Case - Heart Disease Puts an
End tea Distinguished Career-F1ow-
ers Intended for Banquet Used to
Decorate "a Funeral Train-The Discus
sion of Prof. Briggs Doctrines.
DETROIT, May 29.-Grim death put a sud
den and awful stop 10 the debate in the
Presbyterian assembly yesterday over the
Briggs Case by hushing forever the voice
of one of the debaters just at the close of
his speech. Judge :. NJ. Breckenridge,
one of the most conspicuous figures in the
assemblyssNwas the victim, and his startling
taking Oft cast gloom that was dramatic
over the whole body of commissioners.
Judge Breckenridge had just completed
his remarks on the Briggs case and turned
toward the clerks desk when he gasped
and fell insensible He was carried to an
ante-room and attended 10y DIR. Yeomans.
but expired in a few minutes. the cause
of death being heart disease. The debate
was discontinued at once, the banquet set
for last night postponed, and memorial
service ordered instead
Preparations for the Funeral
\ committee consisting of the Rev. +. L.
Patton. q. :. Hays. c. \ Dickev and II.
p. Smith and Elders George Junkin, J. J.
McCook and f. w c. Humphrey was an
pointed TO take charge of the remains and
prepare minute to be presented to the
assembly. While awaiting the report of
the committee on funeral the assembly lis
tened TO remarks on the character of Judge
Breckenridge. prayers were offered the
Scriptures read and hymns sung The fu-
neral committee accepted Gen. Ayers
tender OF his private car 10 take the body
home. and the remains We're shipped to St
Louis last night just before he began hi>
last speech Judge Breckenridge was con-
versing with Rev. DR.. Nermilyea delegate
OF the Reformed Episcopal church. speak
ing Of hi wife and children. and made an
appointment with DR.. Nermilyea to lunch
together to-day. The sad incident entirely
upset the assembly. and after arranging
Tor the funeral the assembly adjourned
Banquet Flowers for the Dead.
The tlowerS which had been provided for
the banquet were used to decorate the
special train provided 10y Governor AL
ger 10 carry Judge Breckenridge IT.
mains with the special committee TO IT.
Louis. The prayer meeting at the Fort
Street church last night was largely occu-
pied with "reminiscences of the Judge. the
tone OF the meeting was tender and sub
dued.
Effect on the Discussion.
Without question the effect of the sad
occurrence will he both To sober and soft
en- the discussion. of the Briggs question.
1t Will also probably tend 10 secure final
vote upon il earlier than was expected.
Judge breckenridge last solemn and
earnest words a. TO the absolute necessity
of acting now if at all or ever. on the APP
pointment or transfer of DR. Briggs will
have great weight with those who hoped
that there might he some way for the AS
sembly to take more time for deciding what
to do
sketch of the Judges Life.
Judge :. VI. Breckenridge represented
the Missouri synod a. one of the elders
He was born in Baltimore. Md. Nov. 3,
lS9s, and was educated at the Union col
lege. New York; Center College. Ken
lucky, and at Princeton. He was gradu-
ated at the law school at Lexington. Ken
lucky, and settled at st. Louis in 1870,
where he has since resided. In 1854 and -
he was in the state legislature. and in 1879
he was elected judge of the circuit court.
He became elder of the Second Presbyterian
church in ISL, and in 1874 was member
of the general assembly which met in tits
city. In ISIS he was a member of the gen
eral assembly's committee on the revision
OF the book Of discipline. He was a mem
Der Of the assemblies of 1851. lSs2 and 1883.