Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1892-06-04
NUMBER 90.
BRIGGS CASE.
4 htrong Movement to Rsfcr tho Cnss
Back to the New York Prcsbytery.

4 Strong Movement to Refer tho Cnss
Back to the New York Prcsbytery.
PORTLAND, Ore, May 2s.-A floral
column of red roses, fully five feet high,
was placed Friday upon the desk occu
pied by DR.. Briggs, in the Presbyterian
general assembly. The column was
surmountod by white dove with ont.
stretched wings. His case is still on.
The lines in the appeal cases are being
Hlawn more closely. and men who have
l.o sympathy with the views of DR..
Briggs are joining in opposition to the
resolute effort of some to force it
through the assembly.
When such men as Elder Junkin and
DR.. Mcpherson join together in an
avowed attempt to conserve the consti-
tutional rights of the individual. that
union is significant. There is an effort
On foot to proceed with the case to an
end. This was evidenced by u remark
Of prominent commissioners: we
want 10 decide this case and set this
man adrift IN the wilderness" With
| others is a conviction that the assembly
is going too fast and making precedcnts
with too much speed and without sufli.
cient dcliberation.
A peculiar incident occurred in the nf-
ternoon. DR.. Birch was reading his
paper supporting the appeal, and quot
ing certain words uttered by members
OF the prcsbytcry of New York at the
Briggs trial, when a commissioner
raised a point of order that it is i'm
proper to read these extracts, lest com.
missioncrs here present may be thereby
Influenced" At the afternoon session Ell
der 'Junliin, of Philadelphia, offered
resolution to bring matters before the
court to close. He proposed to re-
verse the decision Of the prcsbytery,
send back the papers, and direct the
prcshytcry of New York to try the case
upon its merits, without prejudice to
either party, He declared the assembly
can notify the case at this session upon
its merits. The action of the presbytery
was unjnst to dcfcndant-he ought to
have had an opportunity to stand before
his peers and assert and prove his inno-
cence of the charges.
DR.. Briggs stated he would personally
be willing to confess Judgment upon
two points in the appeal and would do
80 later on in consultation with MEM
bers of the presbytery. Col. McCook
stated the appeal must be sustained,
the decision of the presbytery reversed
and the presbytery directed to try the
case on its merits On these grounds
the prosecuting committee would be
glad to accept the proposal.
Upon the return of the conferees DR..
Briggs stated that he agreed to
Junkin's resolution, but objection was
entered by the prosecuting committee,
and the moderator ruled that the case
must proceed. Then DR.. Birch went
over the grounds of the appeal and
specification hereunder. When the
reading was concluded, DR.. Briggs was
heard for an hour in rcbuttal. 1t was
evidently desired by a very large part of
the house that the case be relnanded,
but this was thwarted by the refusal Of
the prosecutors to consent.
The proposition to sustain the appeal
pro forma elected vigorous negative
headshaling by DR.. Birch. Mr.. McCook
said that the question was dismissal
or full sustaining of the appeal; pro
forma action was not desired. A man
datory order for the reception of dele
gates from other denominations TEN.
porarily postponed the case of appeal.