The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-10-25
HERETO OR BELIEVER?
JUDICIAL FORMS UNDER WHICH
DR.. BRIGGS WILL BE TRIED.

There May Be Middle Because of
the New Book OF Disc;piae-How the
Tribunal viii Be Constituted-The
Accused Professor Will Be His Own
Counsel
(Copyright)
New YORK. Oct 24.-Of the two famous
beresy trials in the history of the Presby-
terrain church in America, the first split the
church, and the second shook it so violently
that the effect was felt for ten years after
ward. The first was that Of the Rev. Albert
Barnes of Philadelphia; the second was that
Of the Rev. David Swing of Chicago; and to
these in a few days will be added third,
that Of the Rev. DR.. Charles A Briggs of
the Union Theological Seminary in this
city. What will be the result no man can
say. but it will surely be momentous,
Christians Of every sect are watching every
step in this now famous controversy, and
the near approach of the trial-it is set
DOWN for Nov. 4-arouses an interest that
grows daily.
1t is not the purpose of this article to
touch upon the merits of the question. 1t
Is sufficient to say that the issue involves
DR.. Briggs. If be is found to be guilty of
heresy, how can the eminent clergymen who
have warmly upheld his belief escape a SIM
liar ordeal9 Can the church withstand the
shock Of dozen or a hundred such trials.
which would seem to be logically necessary
after the first! These queries are, in this
place. merely the echoes OF comment heard
in church circles here. They are only mat
ters of news without controversial bear
ing 1t is the intention of the writer only
to describe heresy trial; to tell what is
done, and to prepare those who will read OF
DR.. Briggs defense before the presbytery
Of New York to understand the bearing of
the facts
The trial will open at 10 o'clock In the
forenoon Of Wednesday, Nov. 4, in the
Scotch Presbyterian church on Fourteenth
street, near sixth avenue. 1t is an old
fashioned edifice Of the conventional type
making small pretentions to beauty either
within or without In the principal meet
ing room the tribunal will assemble. The
psws in the middle will be reserved for the
members Of the presbytsry, and the public
will have the remainder Of the church.
When every seat is occupied the doors will
be CT sed.
When presbytery meets for judicial pro-
ceedings 1t is called judicatory. in the
language Of the church. The regular mod
orator is the presiding officer. In this case,
the ministerial duty will be discharged by
the Rev. DR.. j. G. Bliss, of the Washington
Heights Presbyterian church. He was
elected at the meeting of the presbytery on
Oct. D, and was not opposed. His views
upon the present controversy are regarded
as mildly conservative. The friends of DIR.
Briggs believed that they would have no
reason to fear that DR.. Bliss would be
swayed by his opinions when the case came
to trial. DR.. John Hall b d been sug-
gessed as compromise candidate; upon his
declination, DIR. Bliss was accepted by both
parties.
Next in order came the opposing counsel.
Dh the part OF the prosecution the csse will
be presented by the committee which for
mulated the charges against DR.. Briggs.
By the rules of the church this committee
must continue to act in every stage of the
proceedings, though when the case goes on
appeal before the synod and later before the
general assembly. the prosecutors may re.
quest and receive the assistance of any
member of the higher body. The commit
tee IS made up as follows: The Rev. DIR.
George W. F. Birch, the Rev. DIR. Joseph J.
Lanpe. the Rev. DIR. Robert T. Sample,
Piot. John ]. Stevenson, Col. John J. Nc
q Sook. The last named is an elder in Dr.
mars church. and he is also a lawyer of
Z notable ability and attachments That his
aaVice will be OF the utmost importance to
Tue prosecution goes without saying. His
experience In debate and in the presentation
gl facts to the minds Of jury make him a
dangerous ad versary.
II u. Briggs will not have the advantage of
iega counsel. In the Book Of Discipline,
py Tue rules Of which the proceedings in
sucn cases are governed, occurs this provis-
Un' NO professional counsel shall be en-
pioyel TO appear and plead in cases of proc
ess before any OF our ecclesisstic i judi
oaloties hut If any accused person feel
uhagie 70 represent and plead his own cause
70 advantage, he may request any minister
W eiaer belonging TO the iudicatory before
hin Icu ne appears 60 prepare and exhibit
ni gS cause as he may judge proper
!. nHs means that DIR. Briggs could select any
a"yer who was an elder entitled 70 sit in the
peso5terv, on the occaeon Of this action.
anu tnus obtain the assistance of skilled
sslealer. de or mis- friends might exert in
nuence to have lawyer, friendly to his
aus, sent by one of the churches whose
osslOn tney could control. Lawyer Wood
ouIy Oh the Madison Square church, and
one OF Two Others have been mentioned as
10 ISSUE I defenders of the accused professor.
~ u briggs will appear for himself He
a rs s1at ne cannot honestly say that he IS
.naDie 70 represent and plead his own
s. -aSe 70 advantage" He will make no such
i1a 'e e 70 the presbytery. he is study
ava -1 ans OL the charges anu Citations,
s ~ every point in The Book of Discipline,
~ Is aslVing deep into church precedent,
:. 'uat ne may meet his accusers on at least
"a equal footing.
r., ~ nlucn Tor the judge, the accused and
of OunseL Now as TO the jury. This is,
s"1rse' the presbytery. There are fifty
b v ;,. and each may be represented
~. pastor and elder. Then there are
cbs.sI hundred cierRymen who are not in
VshSy Vi churches, but are members Of the
q a. s Ork presbytery. The total number is
q fa,,1SSV. But some of these are in dis
sbis a. lahds; some will be otherwise uDavoid-
!, Absent. II 80 ia all attend the trial.
n Tbs . regarded as very large number.
rner,t = OK OF Discipline provides that no
a eap ,s.I hot present during the whole trial
NJ ese, 'ole. The roll must be called after
4 nan. 'sssss and adjournment, and the
uf.ssi.l absentsss must be noted. BY
res1 Jus consent, this rule may be sus-
Il oter.,. 70 case o. any member, but its
a ft-4-'h WI naturally limit the number
lot Fuo are recorded in the final bal
Dusi. u tue tribunal constituted. The
sgas-.1II bs the andisnce, but only on
Fids5 49,. ~ the presDytery, for IL & pro-
tor -aI ~ any stage OF a case q lgdicg-
a. ss,sgg; ~ q tsO-thirds vote, decide %
- coed doors
exec. 9.ss a procedure provide for the
exs,i--.ll ~ u DltDessss AID their cfOss-
ID rel-.sli'ilt TIE Presentation ~ syidenos
~ 49, ano tbs bearing II fbe parties
fst " " solfif.... 4. f-f1' .s-.- - - r