The Wilmington daily Republican., 1891-05-29
In TEE ASSEMBLY.
Sudden Death Of Judge Brecken-
ridge, of ST. Louis.
HEART DISEASE WAS THE CAUSE.
He Had just Explained tho Legal
Phase of DR.. Briggs Case to the
Presbyterians, After DIR. Patton's
Remarks, When He Fell to the
Floor.

case was brought up for discussion yes
terday Rev. Z. L. Patton, d. D., took
the floor in support of the committees
report. The substance of his argument
was as follows:
He would like to eliminate from the debate
the personal element. He would be willing
to go on record with the report as IL was word
for word. He recognized the learning of Dr.
Briggs, and was his friend. So far us the di-
rectors of the seminary were concerned lie
could not see how this report could be con-
hiderod reproach. They elected Briggs in
good faith, and could not be blamed for the
mans subsequent uttcrancos. The real ques-
tlon was whether tho assembly had any con-
stitntional right to veto transfer of q pro-
lessor from ono chair to another. The in
ference WAS that tho right existed. The as
eembly was tho supreme adjudicatory of the
Presbyterian church, and could not shirk the
responsibility OF putting construction upon
that compact Union seminary could takc tho
the assembly into the courts to test the
validity of that Interpretation of the contract
The general assembly should not surrender
any OIL rights. lie pleaded that the appoint
ment Of o committee, as contemplated by the
report, was recognition OF the rights of the
directors Tho conference of committees
might bring solution of the whole question
by settling which party was right in Its con-
struction Of the contract II they could not bo
settled thus 1t could be arbitratcd.
Unwilling to Call Briggs a Herctic.
Of the champion of liberty, yet he was. uo
was a professor and felt for his class. II an
appointment was not acted on at once, IL
should have been put out of the power of tho
assembly TO hold threat over man for
years. Technical disapproval must be ex-
pressed. 1t was claimed that the report gave
no reasons for the action recommended. This
was done in the interests of the church. In
the Interest of fairness he wanted to say that
personally he had not put line in the way OF
nY RripnS Ha NynuI ha tnar Int
resolution should be adopted at this time
which would declare that DIR. Briggs was unGt
10 pronch, or that he WAS hereto. He hud
opposed In tho committee the putting of any
such thing In the report, not because 1t could
not be said, but in the interest of Dr. Briggs
III the presbytery OF New York shall prosecute
Dr. Briggs, no matter how IL shall go the case
would finally come to the assembly as tho
ooart OF last resort. Sixty-three presbyteries
had asked that Dr. Briggs uncertain position
on dogmatic points would be inquired into.
Was this the kind OF man who should be con-
hrmed by even passive action2 lie claimed
that DR., Briggs and his friends not being abs
to understand and explain that which ap-
pcared in the inaugural, he was an unsafo
man to allow To DO confirmed. The assembly
must absolutely veto now or never. The as
ssmhly was unanimous in desire to save DIR.
Briggs.
The Assembly at Fever Heat.
Professor Schaff, DR.. Briggs colleague,
WeAo dAA AhtIANobSi olCNt1pOit
for part of the time on the platform,
and later occupying President Patton's
chair.
While the debate progressed the as
sembly was at fever heat. Moderator
Green was utterly unable to control the
congregation.
AT the recess following President Pat
toms speech the expressions were very
free. Dr. Dickey, of Philadelphia, who
has made one Of the most eloquent and
fiery speeches of the session thus far,
was standing in the vestibule. "If Pat
ton wants to be fair" he said, why
don't he say so in the resolutions, and
mot say one thing in the resolutions and
another on the platform"
The Legal Phase.
When the assembly reasselnbled Judge
s. M. Brcckinridge of st. Louis, said he
had been urged to speak of the legal
phase of the question. He said:
Years ago Union seminary was a free asso-
citation. In June, 1910 II bad of its own will
come under the power Of the assembly, SO fnr
ns the disapproval of professors WIS concerned,
Tie assembly had no right to approve. II had
only the right TO dlsapprove. The power to
disapprove, II not exercised at the meeting fol-
lowing the election, wus abrogated. This
made tho duty aud right of the assembly,
under the law, very clear. There was no power
70 delay action. There were only three things
that could be done, either dsapprove. do as
tho committee had done. or they could refuse
todsapprove, DIR. Briggs and send the matter
back 10 the directors because the proceedings
were irregular.
The question of kindness did not require the
assembly to go as far as betraying a great
trust. II was good rule never TO give reasons
for judicial act unless compelled to- and
then make them brief possible. The
doubt to the position of DIR. Briggs was
good ground for disapproval Was 1t not
spectacle TO see a man under indictment con-
hrmed In officer
Dropped Dead from Heart Diseasc.
Just as Judge Breckenridge finished
his remarks he turned partly toward the
temporary clerks desk, gasped and fell
to the floor insensible. He was carried
to the ante room and DIR. Yemans at
tended him, but in few moments he
was dead The cause of death was pro-
nounced to be heart disease.
The shock to the assembly when
Judge Breckenridges death was an
nounced was a perceptible one The de-
bate was discontinued at once, the ban
quet set for last night postponed and a
memorial service ordered instead.
A committee consisting of Rev. f. L.
Patton, G.. s. Hayes, G. A. Dickey and
p. Il. Smith and Elders George Junkin,
J. J. McCook and E. W. Humphrey was
appointed to take charge of the remains
and prepare minute to be presented to
the ssaaTnhiv.
Death Ad.jcs19ned tho Assembly.
Without waiting the assembly lis
tened to remarks on the character of
Judge breckenridge, prayers were Of
fered, the scripture read and hymns
sung. The funeral committee accepted
Gen. Alger's tender of his private car to
take the body home, and the remains
were shipped to st. Louis last night.
Just before he began his last speech
Judge Breckenridge was conversing
with the. Rev DR.. Vefp1ilye, delegate Of
the Reformed Episcopal church, speak
Ing of his wife and children, and made
gan appointment with DR.. Vermilye to
lunch together today.
The sad incident Of the afternoon en-