The evening world., 1891-05-12
VOTES AGAINST OR. BRIGGS.
The Presbytery Adopts the Incrim-
mating Report Of Heresy.
Heated Debates in the Heresy Pro-
cectiings at the Scotch Church,

Only one part Of the programme agreed upon
for the meeting this morning Of the New YORK
Presbytpry. which 10 to trv for heresy Rev.
Dt. Charles A. Briggs, Professor Of Biblical
Theology at the Union Theological Seminary,
was carried out.
The agreement was to meet at 10 O'Clock,
and to proceed at once to the consideration OF
the committee reports on DR.. Br,ggs's case.
The meeting was promptly called TO order ny
Moderator Snearer ut that hour, and the re-
port which was considered "at once" re-
terred to finances, not to DR.. Briggs The
reading occupied thirty minutes.
Dr. Briggs appeared to be deeply interested
in printed copy Of the statement
The readiny done, DR.. Bircn, DR., Briggs
o,tterest opponent, and chairman Of the COM
mittes appointed to investigate and report on
the Objectionable views expressed In DR..
B.ipgs's inaugural address, read the majority
report on that address, signed by MIN. Ora
Forbes, Lambke and Prof. Stevenson.
He said the minority report would DO read,
too, but ne left that task to Rev. DR.. Mcllvaine,
Its only slgner.
Rev. DIR. Briggs, with Q copy OF the report
In mis- hand, followed the reader liue by line,
looking up now and then at him when he be-
came emphatic and laid particular siress on
certain words.
The old Scotch church was crowded, Pews,
aislvs and galleries were nlled. many ladies
beng among the spectators. Everybody lis
tened attentively, and all eyes were turned
toward the centres OF attraction, DR.. Briggs
and DR.. hastings, his friend and defender.
DR.. Birch said he subscribed to all OF the
majority report excep; 10 the Committees
recommendation for judicial investigation.
he objected to the word judicial.
| d.. Paxton then moved to give three cor
responding members OF the PresUytery VINO
we're present-Rev. Vance, OF Chester. whose
Presbytery inaugurated the movement against
DR.. Brigas, and Rev. Messrs- Greene and Pat
itrson, of Phiadelphia-a voice In the pro-
| ceedngs.
the motion was voted down. DR.. Brigg,'s
friends had scored the nrst point.
EIder Edwards. minority member OF the
inv tstigating committee, Gut VINO did not sign
the report, made 9 atenent He sid:
~ agree with everything DR.. Briggs said.
and maintained In committee that we mad
hing before Us except the inaugural ad'
dress
II am not In sympathy with the doctrine OF
heresy. but don't believe tnat we have any
right 10 try. Dr. BrlgRs for views tnat ne has
expressed for the last fifteen years and fol
whicn another body-not this Presbytery-li
tno.e Views are heresical, has the only right 't
Elder Edwards said the reason he did moi
sign ine report was snat Il did y contain =
word OF his Language, and hr did not yet q
proof Of the document until too late TO m Akt
Rev. DR.. McTlvaine said he did make changes
i.ngqanes but no, IN me minorisys mo , views:
port. He could not reconcns DR.. Briggs
inaugural address with the Confession o.
Faith.
The Moderator said motion to aocept the
reports was In order. and DR.. Birch made tn,
motion TO adopt the majority report.
Dr. Lambke followed win written state
port. He saw much to admire II
br. Briggs psr'onssllS' wnn,s SSt no, .I,,... !.
carefully comparsd the views expressed by Or.
Briggs with the Westminster standard. They
radically connicted.
scources of divine authority was not In har'
! mouy with the Confession.
DR.. Briggs distinctly averred that person'
| cannot enter iuto frieudly relations with INT
. divine authority through the hibie.
lie declares that the suficienoy OF the Biblt
, is wAntins--all at variance with the Comics
J sion.
The Confession. on the contrary, affirms the
sufficiency and supremacy OF the Holy Scrip
REV. DR.. Page suggested, as q method o
procedure, that DR.. Briggs be questioned OF
the POINTS at issue. A good many were 10 IN,
dark, he said. and II enlightened could vote
The Moderstor decided that DR.. Briggs wa
not on the witness stand.
Dr. Birch objected vigorously TO ten minute
limit for speeches, and the motion was Win
Rev. DR.. Marl,ng precipitated an e1citini
I discussion when he moved 10 connne debate =
the last paragraph Of the majority and minority
, reports-whether an Investigation should o'
Dfss Rev. Dl. I MoIlv.,ue moved to substitute til,
3 minority for the majority report, and argued
a. length. Dr. Mciivaine warmly defende'
Il 4. j. % O'clock the motion to substitute sh,
! minority report was put TO q vote. =.
Tne motion was lost. the vote standing y
!, in favor OF the minority report exoneratlni
Dr. Briggs, 10 IS against 1t a. follows:
r MINISTER'S
Yeas-E. Alexander. 4. o. A.ierbury. w
n. ". Confiina. J. Ii. Edwards, I. R
Gl,Is, sIssS u w. eFnnsl,sn.rd' H.T.ms%. Jane. A II
: i. ii. MariinV, j. n. MoIiVainc. Ge9r.e :
! George :. Payson. W. N. Rice. :. B. Ros.i
sem IN su1a1B shaw " s1%n NJ smith, mil sGa- Z.
0 Thompson, q. 8. Webster. 4. N. White
Y total, 81
Yeas-J.s storrA, Clark Brooks. Allen Hay
u RoUert JonnSton-totAl 4 Grand total s5-
MINISTER'S.
y y r. r Booth, W. 7. Carr, James ChAmOrrr
Q Conrad poenk, TnomAs Douglas. u. b. III
dot, A. Folsom, J. =. Forbes, +. " D. Gal
A. B. King, j.; J. Lambe: .. g; Law
W. L. Moore, j. Z. Nightingale, Geo. Nixon
ton, L +. Psyson, Hugh Pritcnard, W.nde
!. Prime, J. & kams-I Chss- y. Robinson
i z. +. Roof, r. F. stemple, j.: Sandsrson,
8 II. SchaufiieT, G. l. SheA or, w. 9. i. Snsdd
! A. snilanH, John NJ. Stevenson, W. q. Steiti
. A. W. sprou. L. L. spinning. 7. X. Voeg.
j lein, John Il. Wyles, David q. Wyie-toiAl
a.
' RLDERs.
Il Nays-John J. MoCook, W. r. WArTAlL J.
4 / Stevenson. j. Q. Tucker, KIlian Van RenssS
4 laeT, D. N. Wilcox, John DeDhoim, NJ.
J. Dodd, N. K. sawyer, r. Rogers-total, 10
Grand total. S.
h Rev. Dr.. Birch then moved the adoption q
A the majority report which was done " I'll
I. ing vole OF ~ 20 90.