New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-11-17
PUSHING THE BRIGGS CASE
AN APPEAL TO The GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
THE PROSECUTING COMMITTEE STATES ITS

THE PROSECUTING COMMITTEE STATES ITS
GROUNDS FOR NEW TRIAL
An appeal from the decision of the New.iork Pres
bytcry In DR.. Briggs's case has been taken by the
prosecuting committee. The necessary papers were
filed with the stated clerk, the Rev. S. ID. Alexander
iast Saturday. The title OF the appeal IS; " Inc
Presbyterian Church IN the United States OF America
against the Rev Charles A. Briggs. ID. ID. Appear
TO the General Assembly from the decision anu maj
judgment of the Prcsbytery Of New-fork, dismisshs
the case rendered November 4. 1907 1t Is signed
by all the members OF the prosecuting committee he
Rev. Drs. George W. f. Birch Joseph j. lampe anu
Robert F. Sample. John J. stevenson ana John D.
Mctook. The appeal begins as follows:
"The undersigned the Prosecuting Commuee e'o',
believing that the trial OF the said Dr. Briggs one o
the most important In the history OF the rcs'' 'eu
Church. by reason of the great and daneeous e,iV.
contained In the address Of the said Dr. Briggs NJ NM
tnanr,,ration o as Professor OF Biblical Theolosy
In IJnion Theological Seminary denvereo a'
the Goth day OF January, 1891, upon ""on 'a"
y,,ral address charges and specifications "ere p@SoN
and tabled and prosecution manguia'eN " 'o
bytery of New-York in the name OF INC i'osD, -.
Church in the United states OF America Anu ooA.
that the distinct and definite conoem'a""u Va
errors nv The Supreme Judicetory OF the SAD rIes
80. c,-., q necessary in order to prevent their
snrasd ard Influence in the denomination aho' Who
having the highest respect for the SYNOD OF
believing that a special responsibility r''s "p"" '"0
General Assembly in cases tha' anew o 49,,
,r,ne of the Church and concern tie PiVuoo.n
- truth and holiness through all the churches oei
its care as set forth In Chapter Aii.' 0e'uonS ~
. Of IN, Form of Government; and in view " 'ne
straheness of the speediest settlement oil TINS most
,nnor,ant question do hereby appeal 10 ana req"es'
your venerable body TO enter iInmcoiA'eS "p"" VI.
consideration and judicial Investigation VI ,ie "PP
hereby presented and 10 finally determine uie case ~
~ he
as 10 secure the purity ana ue poa'o VI '''
tine oarlist possible day." !,
,cH .nn..I then recites a history Of the cease, be-
u.,n,ng with the appointment last April by inc
P-esbytery Of committee TO consider the inaugural d"
hr,ss Of Dr. Briggs in its relation to the OonIeso
Taith and ending with the resolution passed ny "'0
Presbytery on the fourth day Of the preseh. n0n'"
diminishing the case, all OF which is sui iesh !" vi.
minds Of those who are interested IN LIT Dr'es' anu
his doctrines. ,,
civ grounds Of appeal are given as follows
aIreg,larity in the proceedings Of said Presbytey
Of New-York.
Receiving improper testimony.
.DeclInng to receive important tesnmohy'
fastening TO a decision before Tic 'es'iino"' was
funy taken. o..n.. =, t,s
pase. s.o,u,.,
aMistate or injustice in the decision"
Each ~ these grounds Of appeal supported oy irom
en. TO nine specifications OF error, sucn as
aTbs admission and consideration by the Pesby
terry Of paper by DR.. Briggs. which purporca 70 10
affections to the suiciency of tbs charges ana epco
sections IN form or legal effect but WHICH WAS ia
fact and is denominated by pr' hi'sss
the charges and specifications
.Tbe admission Of arguments on the mcns "a "i'
rase before the Prosecuting Committee was near" "f'
the merits by the Presbytery. ., -. ~.
Irr-,,,ar,, in not determining the question OF ue
Bc,encv OF the charges and specifications eeio'e u'e
missing the case ,on &c merits
INIT without hearing the presentatatoh oi 'io '"'"
a., IN. hands of the Prosecuting Committee
ar-.cr,ori,y In the dismissal OF the case upon .io
orra ~ declarations made by DR.. Bnsgs anu o.'
chalmers OF interpretations put upon some Vi ms -,
,nasmuch as BY the resolution of the fresoy'eis
ing the case, such paper anc such ueo''As -, 80
oven the force of sworn testimony contrary - wv
vieions OF The Book Of Discipline -.
oDr Briggs. not being sworn as witness couiu
49,, .hr,srore he cress examined by the ProsecuAns
Committee nor by any member OF the court
arhe appeal specifies errors In that the preahpAo'
u m prrcs termed It, to the charges and speclhca
tons was considered by him and by the Jnoic"'ors %
virtually part Of the charges and speclhcs"ons' "ns
:, formed no part thereof moi served upon nm
a sbonld not have been referred to in the tr1a ltse
sIbe dismissal of the case wes Irregular because
9. ,.s without the careful and private delbeauoh re-
oulred bv Section 90 of the Book Of Discipline
1.-THE Prosecuting Committee was prepareu I" gus
tan every one Of the charges end speclhcauohs' oue
was not permlttem so TO do
Other specifications of error are based On inai-
sstatons of prejudice the part Oh the fresp!ry'
as well as individual members thereof some OF whoih
gave reasons for voting to dismiss entirely foreign 10
anything contained in the charges
further ground for appeal is because the decision
Of The PresLyery may be Interpreted as an approval
by the said Presbytery OF the utteranes In the in
augural address because its for disnissing
the vague indefinite and uncertain, ana ara
in a sufficient answer to the alleged errors
Briggs touching his loyalty to the Holy Scriptures and
the Westminster standards and Of his disclaimers OF
interpretations put on some OF his words are in no
sense a rctraction Of the words contained In the IN
aieural address, and that by the dismissal the peace
and Quet OF the Church never be secured
A complaint to the synod of New York, against The
action Of the Pcsbytery in dismssing the Briggs case
has also been entered. signed by the Rev. Dr. shedd
ministers and elders subject TO the jurisdiction Of the
Presbytery Of New York This complaint, except as
to formal matters necessary to distinguish IL from
appeal Is substantially tho same the appeal and
The appeal of the Prosecuting Committee will come
before the next General Assembly, which may meet
at Portland, Ore, on the third Thursday in May, 1892.
bly,, 1t win be binding, aud no appeal can be taken.
The Assembly may dismiss tie case, may try IL, or
refer ii back to the Presbyery for . new trial As
Briggs TO the Presbytcry OF New-York
his SUICIDE FOLLOWED HIS MOTHERS DEATH.
George B. Jones designer in the ladies' tailoring de-
partnent Lord Taylors Broadway store killed him.
self in his room, in John IAdngs boarding house No.