St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-05-22
Is the Desire Of Many Good
Men in the Assembly at
Portland,
But to Retsin Union Semi
nary Is Also a Wish Dear
to Their Hearts.
Methodist Conference Legis-
lateS on Societies for
Young Folks.
Several Important Changes
in the Discipline and
Management.

PORTLAND, Or, May 2l.-The judi
cial committee, before which the Briggs
case is to come, and upon whose finding
and recommendations the assembly will
be called to act, is by no means unan-
imouS, and apparently cannot be
brought to unite in its findings. There
will, it is said, certainly be minority
report, and it will be in favor of the APP
pellantS in the case. A member of this
minority stated that not only was the
committee not likely to agree in its find
ingS, but it is likely to be quite discord-
ant in its recommendations. The queS-
ton at present 10 be considered is not
the merits of the case, but the techni-
calities involved.
A prominent official contends that the
only question to be decided by the COM
mittee is whether an appeal is in order,
and to report its finding, to arrange
papers and to prescribe the mode of
procedure. The man mentioned above
went on to criticize the work OF the
moderator in appointing such COM
mittee, and when asked what that
meant said that the majority would at
least have been conservative, explain
ing that conservative" meant anti
Briggs. What this meant, if the
question is strictly one of law and not
of doctrine, was not gone into. The
position of many on the questions at
issue between the Union seminary and
the assembly was expressed by one
who remarked:
Want TO ssShake,' Briggs.
81 could grow eloquent had | ability
on the history of the seminary. We
honor, love and esteem it, and our
highest desire is to save it to the church,
but we want 10 get rid of Briggs"
When asked what would be done If both
could not be obtained, he remarked that
it was an unpleasant alternative. As
was evident at Detroit, fear of closing"
the seminary is in a sense the only re-
Straining influence at work. Even safe
guards of constitutional rights would
not apparently avail with men thus
minded.
The appellants in the Briggs case are
leaving no stone unturned and are
Sparing no expense to gain their end.
They have caused all their documents
to be printed in stout octave volume,
including the records of the presby-
ferries touching the case, the appeal and
various other papers. These volumes
are kept securely guarded so that they
shall not fall into other hands until the
matter has been duly presented i'll open
session.
The coming of DR.. Briggs, which was
announced several days ago, caused
some stir at the time, but all have
settled back into state of quiet ex-
peetancy. Why he was coming was
problem hard of solution to many, but
it seems evident that reasons were well
taken. He will have to appear before
the assembly to show cause why an APP
peal is not in order. if it shall be de-
ciGed that the appeal is judicial
case" and if that position is assumed
he is the only man who has a right to
appear on the floor. If it should be de-
cided that it is not judicial case"
and that an appeal does not 0e, or has
been improperly taken. he will have
made his journey in vain.