New-York tribune., 1891-05-25
DETROIT PULPITS FILLED.
VISITING PRESBYTERIANs PREACH IN MANY
CHURCHES.

LEGAL ASPECTS OF DR.. BRIGGSs cAsE-D1s
HERRIcK JoHNsoN's PLEA FOR SUNDAY
OBSERVANCE At THE coLUM.
BIAN EXPOSITION.
fsY TELEGRAPH THE rkIBUsEI
Detroit, May 24-The Briggs case is still slunD'
bering in the hands Of the chairman OF the Com
mittee on Seminares, who will call his colleagues
together Tomorrow While the commissioners
are free in discussing the merits of the case, they
are equally reluctant to be quoted. The jury
idea seems to prevail, namely. that they will be
disqualified If their views are known. Both SIDES
or all sides seem satisfied with DR.. Patton a.
chairman Of the committee, upon whose finding
much depends. The ant-Briggs men feel safe,
naturally and the Briggs men. who say they had
little to expect from the Assembly, declare that
they know no other conservative in the Assem-
bly, who win treat them so fairly. The legal
minds in the Assembly are puzzled over the
problem whether the Assembly can decline to
act on DR.. Briggs's appointment without forfeis'
ing Its right to take up the case again
Another question which has arisen concerns
the validity of the memorable compact OF 1870
Had the seminary directors the right to form
such compact? Had it ever any legal bind
ingp Can it be broken by either party without
throwing the matter into the civil courts ? These
are a few Of the queries which received various
answers on the excursion yesterday to Ann Arbor,
in the hotel corridors last evening, and at tho
tables to-day DR.. Briggs may rest assured OF
one thing; his friends, and he has many here, arc
doing their best in bis behalf But, as one OF
them said last night " II he would only keep
still till the Assembly speaks" His Brooklyn
speech following closely upon his categorical
answers has been printed here, and furnishes food
for thought and comment.
The General Assembly Commissioners are en-.
joyng to the full the Sunday quiet which has
fallen upon this fair city, With prominent clergy
men in every pulpit the church attendance, al
ways large has been considerably increased DIR.
Green the moderator, preached in the morning In
the Fort Street Presbyterian Church, where he
has presided so ably during the three days since
his election President Patton, of Princeton, de-
livered an eloquent sermon in the Westminster
Presbyterian Church, the aisles OF the spacious
ediice being filed with chairs. In the evening
Dr. Patton preached in the Jefferson Avenue
Church. President Roberts, Of Lake Forest Uni-
versity: DIR. w. H. Roberts, of Lane Seminary;
DR.. J. J. Ramsay, of New-fork; Dr. BAKER ana
DR.. Dickey, of Philadelphia DR.. Hays, of Kansas
CITY: Dr. Mason Of Metuchen, n. j.; DR.. Arthur
Mitchell. DR.. A. V. V. Raymond and Professor E.
Ia.
the visiting preachers
The feature OF the day was meeting in behalf
of Sunday observance in the afternoon, held under
the auspices of the Assembly Sabbath Committee.
Elliott h. Shepard, OF New York, presided, and ad-
dresses were made by Or. Herrck Johnson, OF
Chicago; DIR. John g. Gordon, oil Omana, anu Dr'
J.. e. Mason, of New-Jersey Mr.. Hheparu IL.
ferred to the starry angel Of the golden candle
stick OF the Central Presbyterian Church III ln,
Producing its pastor, Dr. hickey. Dr johnson
discussed the opening on Sunday OF the ga.ee y.
the Columbian Exposition. He SAID In supstahcs'
The puritan sabbath is gone. Tho American sun;
day is here. shall the Continental sunday come 1Ss
That Is the problem sha. eSnF%n ins omsn s Espoon
be opened sunday shall present proposTons in IN
answering this last question n IN ao s bsc Sn ali the G
tions sacred memories ana usages OF our Amencsa s
life In order to take sncn step 5neee ySrsnS tSe
innovation These reasons have not been gwen. ..a ~
is not question of closing the gates on & suheSy & 'nst
the great Paris Exposition the American aepdrSes Ss
was closed In 1876 there was enor'
but Phlladephla-God bless her said NO with IT,,
will Tine American people said NO. MI oSrss, gs Se ex
hbitions Il YOU w but my engine will keep the SAD
BATH And did To open these gates on sueas
sunday and in a Governmental way. The &ESp9sia0a, Expo ,
will receive exhibits from all part, Chat 0I se AMERICA has
accomplished in the last 400 years The American American
sunday has been our glory ana our Joy yng ag 10 esbbs
is own goods Shall we import mongrel thing, 2
Continental Sunday and exhibit that as our sn
day here now There is large degree OF ireedon'
but the liberty of the working classes and OF the to-
have piece of information. The Government OF
China out Of respect for the western ops spesace
and here is another have petition lust reeessea s
from China AGAINST opening the g&fS & 0t e iee
lives of that heather nation think wnen on. oi ios
to the religion OF this country cS,caao IN Iss
and find our Exposition open. and that under overn.
ment sanctionl What a humiating spec'acie "'a'
One proposition is that it would make our National nal
Government direct party TO an open ASSAULT ap0n oho 10
aPOSn oap Nation Si' Il Would LEAD 70 f things in and
about Chicago demorazng IN s e.ec. saas ~ n
q opened in our city On o tn%a4a the e%
nenses Of the Exposition and the cable roads have
given 100000 more together onehfth Of The amouns
subscribed and they are hot for sunday opening wnrn
ing from ali parts the adjacent country trpm oo1U
to 100000 visitors, who would 60 home sgsn @ SrnSa
in addition to all who would rcan there over sunday
And this with the saloons wide open all day a., wouiS wo
break down every barrier to the sabbath II the Gov;
eminent can open & tar nor his business On sun
day II the Government can open It for pleasure what
is to prevent any person from ee Sae any ON Sunday
would be to sell the Lords Day for few pieces OF
silver Were there no money IN T. ,herT % %Vna a o. osos R
labor needing it open is simply bosh. Shall our I'm
Maste.1 Thirty years ago when our country was in
the tiroes Of the Civil War; President Lincoln Issusa
man and beast Of the prescribed weekly rest. the
sacred rights of the Christian soldiers, becoming
S.terence 10 the best sentiment OF Christian people
and due regard for the Divine will demand that sun.
day labor in the Army and Navy be reduced 70 the
measure ~ strict necessity Suppose now on January
I 1890 the United states Commissioners OF the Co
nmban Exposition. who as truly and authortatlveiy
s,resan, the government should issue similar order
the Exposition would not be open one hour OF sunday
A resolution embodying the ideas presented by
DIR. johnson was adopted by rising vote
WHAT PROFESSOR JOHNSON ADVISES. i
HE WOULD SEND COMMITTEE TO TALK 10
DIR. BRIGGS AND THE UNION SEMI