Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-12

r, 513.) The presbytery. noting nv absenc
for that reason, ought 70 have postponed &C
ton until the next meeting.
-. had no opportunity for making any ex
PLANTATION to the presbytery. such as nigh
have made the appointment of a committee un
| necessary. 1t was my privilege SO to do, and i
was in the interest Of healthful discipline tina
the presbytery should have first afforded m,
the opportunity.
"a. The committee was appointed in April I,
consider an inaugural address delivered Janu
airy 20 in public in the chapel of the UnioI
Theological Seminary, and soon after pub
! lished, and which has been accessible to an,
member Of the presbytery for several week
which could have been read by any member o.
the presbytery in an hour and considered by
him. 1t IL not the practice of 1uiicatories Of
the Presbyterian church to appoint committees
| to investigate such printed documents.
IS. In accordance with the ancient rules oul
old Book of Discipline defines that in order t.
| render an offense proper for the cognizsnce Of
Judiciary on this ground-commOn rumor-
the rumor must specify some particular sin OF
| sins; it must be general or widely spread; il
must not be transient, but permanent and
rather gaining than declining, and must be &C.
companied with a strong presumption of truth
Taking up charges on this ground requires,
OF course, great caution and the exercise OF
much Christian prudence. The new book OF
Discipline, when it simpliied those laws said
u
not be commenced unless some person under
takes to sustain the charge or unless q judica-
tory finds it necessary for the ends of discipline
to investigate the alleged offense,' but it does
not do away with the great principles of Pres
byterian practice which have been followed by
judicatorIes for centuries in all parts of the
world.
The committee was not appointed on the
ground OF common fame to investigate rumors,
put to investigate printed pamphlet, and.
therefore. 1t has no legal existence. II it had
been appointed on the ground of common fame
the duty of the committee would have been not
to investigate the pamphlets. but, in the Ian
guage OF the old Book Of Discipline. they should
have considered that a general rumor may be
raised by the rashness. censoriousness or malice
OF one or more individuals. When this appears
to have been the case such individuals ought to
De censured in proportion to the degree of
criminaiity that appears attached to their con-
duct
CHARGES MALICIoUsLY INSPIRED.
Prof. Briggs said he was prepared to name
certain individuals who rashly. consciously and
maliciously instituted the charges against him.
Here he was called to point of order, and al
lowed to continue his protest within relevant
bounds. He said he had asked the members of
the presbytery over and over again to charge
him with heresy. He said he wanted it quick
as he could get it. He wanted an adjudication
of the presbytery upon the question. Then
let it go to the general assembly. What he
complained about was that he had received no
official intimation Of the committees appoint
ment.
Rev. Dr. Birch rose to a question of privi-
lege. His right to speak was questioned over
and over again, but he kept the floor and
finally was accorded hearing. He said he had
personally notified DIR. Briggs of the NEE ting
of the committee and had invited him to be
present to explain matters and avoid prosecu-
ton. He said DIR. Briggs had replied. declin-
ing to attend for two reasons-first, ill health;
second, because the committee was not legal
one.
DR.. Birch was going to continue, when he was
interrupted.
Then the presbytery accorded DR.. Birch and
DR.. Briggs five minutes each to speak. DIR.
Birch continued by saying that when he COM
planned against seven young men who were
about to be licensed. on the ground of iner-
rancy, DIR. Briggs said to him, Try ME, sir;
L m the person. Then DIR. Briggs admitted
receiving letter from DIR. Birch, but said it
was not official and that any protest he might
wish to make must be based upon an official
communication.
Then followed an unintelligible mingling of
motions. At last DIR. Van Dyke was recognized,
and his motion to adjourn to this morning was
carried unanimously.