The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-06
BRIGGS TO Be TRIED
The Presbytery So Decides by a
Very Close Vote.
CLERGY FAVORED PosTPoNEMENT.

A Thousand People Assembled to
Hear the Discussion, but Were De-
MED the Privilege-The Proceed
ings We're Very Turbnleut-The
Vote Pleased DR.. Briggs.
New York, Oct. Cat the semi
annual meeting Of the New York pres
bytery, held yesterday in the Scotch
Presbyterian church in West Fourteenth
street, Rev. John c. Bliss, pastor of
the Washington Heights Presbyterian
church. presided as moderator. The
prosecuting committee appointed last
spring to prepare papers IN the trial Of
Professor Charles A. Briggs presented
its report, embodying the charges
against him.
DR.. Briggs was one Of the first min
listers to arrive. There were shout $50
members OF the presbytery present
Among other prominent Presbyterian
clergymen present were Rev. Drs. John
Hall, Parkhurst, Paxton and Marvin
Vincent.
1t had been announced that the ses-
sion Of the presbytery would be held in
the church. So great was the interest
in the trial that fully 900 persons had
taken seats by II o'clock. They sat
there until o'clock, and would have
waited longer in the hope of hearing
some Of the trial, but were then in
formed by some of their reve reud friends
that they had been cleft" as the meet
ing was in progress in another room,
and that there was not enough room for
the crowds waiting for admission.
The Case of DR.. Briggs.
1t was decided that the afternoon ses-
sion should be held in the body Of the
church, and that the meeting should be
private. Immediately on reconvening
Rev. DR.. Birch arose to present the
formal indictment prepared by the COM
mittee against Professor Briggs, but he
had read only few sentences when he
was interrupted by Rev. DIR. Alexander,
who moved that the presentation of the
charges be postponed and the committee
discharged.
A heated argument ensued.
Drs. Alexander and Thompson argued
that the matter was too important to
be FASTENED, and that the interests of
Presbyterianism would be served by
postponement.
DR.. Birch replied, and the presbytery
took recess for an hour and a half
without settling the matter.
The report of DR.. Birch's committee
arraigns DR.. Briggs on two charges:
First, that he teaches that the Bible
is not the only source of divine truth.
Second, that he denies the immediate
sanctification after death of those who
have died in the faith.
The report is very long and contains
many excerpts from Professor Briggs
sermons and books.
DIR. Briggs Must Stand Trial.
When the presbytery reassembled DR..
Birch read the report. While it was
being read DR.. Briggs entered and took
a seat in the front row. AT its conclu-
sion DR.. Alexander reintroduced his
resolution. A long discussion Of this
motion followed and it was finally put
to test of roll call The vote resulted
as follows: Yeas, 90 az elders and so
clergymen); nays, 81 go elders and "A
clergymen, thus defeating the motion.
Then the original motion was adopted,
confirming the recommendations of the
committee that DR.. Briggs be served
with a copy of the charges and stand
trial. The fact that a majority Of the
committee were in favor of shutting off
n trial and diseharging the committee
was very pleasing to DR.. Briggs. Dr.
Briggs now has ten days in which to
make his reply
After some routine business the con.
yention adjourned until today.
Yesterdays proceedings were very
turbulent and several times there were
calls for Christian spirit in the discus
sions.