St. Paul daily globe., 1891-05-29
A TRAGIChL CLIMAX,
Judge S. M. Breckenridge Falls
Dead in the Detroit As
sembly.
The Dead JuriSt Had Just Re-
viewed the Case Of DR..
Briggs.
This Tragedy May Have a
Beneficial Effect on the
Assembly.
Debate on the Now Famous
HePeSy-Tainted Union
Professor.

DETROIT, May 2S.-To-day's sessions
of the general assembly were entirely
given up to consideration of the case OF
DR.. Briggs, of Union Theological semi
nary. A sad climax to the great debate
was the death of Judge S. NJ. Breckin-
ridge, of st. Louis, Immediately on
closing an impressive statement Of the
legal aspects of the case. On reassem-
bling after the noon recess the debate
on DR.. Briggs was resumed, and Judge
Breckenridge, of st. Louis, member of
the committee on theological semina-
ries, and one of the most eminent law
yers in the South, stated the legal points
in the case. Years ago, he said, Union
seminary was independent, but in 1871
became Presbyterian, and, of course,
the assembly from that time controlled
the appointments. If we don't veto
now, said he, we never can. DR.. Logan's
amendment for deferring action is i'm
practicable. We view the transfer from
one chair to another the same as an ap-
pointment. We can do nothing wisely
except disapprove. l think it is worse
not to assign reasons. A judge some
times cannot give all the reasons for his
decisions on the bench But without
assigning other reasons, it does seem to
me that the mind of the church for some
months has been anxious and that we
should relieve it. His last words were:
"Now, gentlemen, / feel that have dis
charged my duty and wish to be excused
from further speaking." Reaching for
glass of water, he
Threw Up His Hands
and fell, striking the back of his head
heavily on the floor, After the judge
had been carried to an anteroom the
debate was arrested, and when, a few
moments afterward, physicians in the
audience who hurried to his aid pro-
nounced him dead, the assembly voted
to do no further business. and instead
of the banquet in the rink this evening
to hold prayer meeting in Fort Street
church. A committee consisting of
Prest Patton, Rev. Drs. Hays, G. A.
Dickey and II. 7. Smith, and Elders j.
which Rev. DR.. Vermiiye, a delegate
from the Reformed church, was added,
was appointed to make suitable arrange
ments in view of the occurrence. Prest
Patton asked to be excused because of
fatigue. While this committee was alb
sent the assembly engaged in devo-
tional exercises. DR.. Vermilye said the
Judge had passed from this assembly to
the general assembly and church of
the first born" DR.. ErSkine told of
Judge Breckenridge's distinguished
family. He was the son of Rev. DR.. j.
breckenridge who was the brother of
hn Ixyf, tod I,,n nrfa a1
William and Robert. His mother was
daughter of the beloved Prof. Samuel
Miller, of Princeton, afterwards an
honored secretary of one of our boards
in Phila belphia. where he had a notable
discussion with Archbishop Hughes.
A1ger's Timely Offer.
1t was announced that Gov. Alger had
offered his special car and train to con-
vey the remains and the committee to
st. Louis. AS several of the committee
had decided to accept this offer, the as
sembly continued its devotional exer-
ciseS till the committee could perfect
and announce its arrangements for the
journey and for the memorial meeting
tonight. DR.. Logan, of Scranton, said
the judge had been warm friend of the
work among the freedmen when it had
but few friends. The special committee
as Rev. Drs. Hays, DicKey, Ersklne and
Smith, with Elders Rankin and Mont
gomery. DR.. Nichols, the pastor of
Judge Breckenridge, is absent, but will
return i'll time to take the train. There
was no opportunity to see the remains,
and after announcing that there would
be prayer meeting in Fort street
church at s O'clock this evening, the
meeting closed with prayer by the
moderator. Many will recall the SINH
lar sudden death of eX-Gov. Washburne
at the great meeting of the American
board at Springfield, Mass, which so
greatly Softened the heated discussion
which there, as here, was going on
over doctrinal matters.
The great wealth of flowers which
had been provided for the banquet was
used to decorate Gov. Ayers private
car and the special train provided by
him to carry Judge Breckenrldge's re-
mains with The special committee to st.
Louis. The prayer meeting at the Fort
street church tonight, which took the
place of the banquet, was largely occu-
pied with "reminiscences of the Judge.
The tone of the meeting was tender and
subdued, and without question the ef-
feet of this sad occurrence will be both
to sober and soften the discussion
tomorrow of the Briggs question. 1t
will also probably tend to secure final
vote upon it earlier than wos expected,
and the judges last solemn and earnesG
words as to the absolute necessity of
acting now, if at all or ever, on the ap-
pointment or transfer of the learned
DR.. Briggs will have great weight with
those who hoped that there might be
some way for the assembly to take
more time for deciding what to do after
assuming at this session control Of the
case. This will probably tend toNshorten
debate on propositions like DR.. Logan's.
Judge Breckenridge, whose death is re-
corded above, re presented the Missouri synod
as one of the elders, and was a conspicuous
1igure in the assembly, as well as wise coun-
seilor and safe leader, He was born in Bal
timore, Md, Nov. B. 1928, and WAS educated
at the Union college, New York; Centor col
lege, Kentucky, and the College of New Jer-
sey, a. Princeton. He graduated at the law
school of the Pennsylvania university at Lex
ington, KY, and settled at ST. Louis in 1850
where he has since resided. In 1854 and 1855
Judge Breckenridge represented the city and
county of st. Louis in the Missouri legisla-
Iure, and in 1859 he was elected Judge of the
circuit court of the state. He became elder
of the Second Presbyterian church of St.
Louis in 1871, and in 1874 was a member of
the general assembly which met in this city,
In 1875 Judge Breckenridge was made mem
Der of the general assemblys committee on
the revision of the book of discipline, which
made its final report in 1882. He was men,
her or the aSSe mhlinS of 1881 100 and iQ2