New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-10
DIR. BRIGGS ON TRIAL NOW.
LISTENING TO THE AMENDED CHARGES OF
The COMNlITTEE.
TIE PREsBYTERY SETS ASIDE HIS OBJECTIONS
TO DR.. BIRCH AND HIS AssoCI ATES BY 4
VOTE OF 70 TO 5s-THF HEARING
TO TAKE PLACE ON NOVEMBER
2s-A MEMBER OF THE
BODY CHANGES HIS

AZ PLaSE ON NOVEMBEh
2s-A MEMBER OF THE
BODY CHANGES HIS
FAITH.
| DR.. Pentecost's Hindoo philosopher in Central
India who replied to the evangelst's greeting
with the query: What is the latest phase Of
the Briggs case?" might have listened to a new
chapter in the Scotch Presbyterian Church yester-
day afternoon. Occupying invisible space between
Dr. Field, the Editor of The Evangelist" and
DR.. Stoddard, the Editor of The Observer" the
Brahmin would have seen a goodly company OF
earnest Christians gathering TO defend the faith
oncc delivered to the sants"-Presbyteran saints,
he assumes as the majority coming together were
members of the Presbytery or adherents Of the
Presbyterian Standard. The ELECT ladies' wera
not lacking in their devotion TO the subject under
revicw--the alleged heresy Of Professor Charles A.
Briggs Of the Union Theological Seminary. Mrs
g. w. F. Birch, the wife of the chief prosecutor,
| with friends occupied gallery pew near tho
| pulpit while directly opposite her was Mrs.
| Briggs, the wife CT the defendant, with several
| friends.
On the pulpit platform was moderator upon
whose shoulders have rested for year burdens
| of responsibility sufficient to crush ordinary
| man. but Dr. Bliss has given the subject carefut
thought, and his decisions. points of order on
questions of information in general sustained py
the Presbytery: when appeal is taken IL Is Tor
the purpose of relieving the moderator and making
the Presbytery responsible for the decisions
When he decided yesterday against DR. Briggs, an
appeal was taken, but the house stood by ito
| presiding officer. At the left of the moderator
sat DR.. S. d Alexander pastor emeritus OF tine
| Phillips Church. and the stated clerk OF tho
Presbytery for many year. At the right were
/ h. ftn naafnr n
/ Faith Church, and the temporary clerk OF the
| Presbytery and assisting him was Dr. lhoinas
Douglas of Romeyn Chapel. In front Of the
moderator and below him the much-aoused
Dr. Briggs, sitting alone at q table near the space
| assigned TO the press representatives,. On tho
other side were the official stenOgrapher. not far
| from the table occupied by DIR. Birch. the chair'
man of the prosecuting committee, ana ms four
colleagues Dr. r. F. Sample, DR.. j. j. LampeS
| Professor j J. Stevenson, OF the university oA
the City Of New-York, and Colonel John ..
McCook, Of the law firm of Alexander a. Green@
and an elder in the Fifth Avenue Church. inc
! scholarly president Of the Union Seminary Dr.
! HASTINGS and members Of the faculty occupieo
seats near DR.. w. NJ. Paxton, OF Prince'on
Seminary. Dr. John Paxton, DIR. r. K bootn,
Dr. c. $ Robinson, DR.. &. l. Shearer, Dr u IL
parshurst DR.. Van Dyke, and several iaymen
were near the front, but the happiest man II the
house was Dr. W. NJ Smith, the pastor OF baoS
| Ruth" Cleveland.
THE PROCEEDINGS BEGIN WITH PRAYER.
When 2 O'Clock arrived Dr. Bliss opened tne
session with prayer for guidance. Inc comnnS
zee OF arrangements reported that Z. A. MofriSon
| had been chosen official stenographer Inc roii
was called. and the men who are 70 dec'ai"
Or briggs n heretic or free him from the charge
1
settled hack in their pews CONSCIOUS OF "e"
| double duty as witnesses and jurors, for ai'er
Going on the stand and declaring him. in their own
oninion innocent or guilty, they are TO return "
| ,beir scat, and vote as if they had previously
| ,ormcd M opnon on the subject. Dr AieNan'
| dor read the action of the Portland Generai As-
| .emblv The case had been remanded 70 the
| prosbytery for new trial, and the prosecuting
committee had the privilege OF ainehulhs CIio
| charges or specifications if justice seemed 70 ue-
mand il. Dr. Bliss asked the committee II 10
| world adhere to the old charges or submit new
ones 49,
Dir Rriycs rose 4it once 10 object, rot 70 tne
| charges but to the committee ltSelt' hc Woui"
| have the constitutional question setted Is 'no
| committee headed by DR. Birch committee ol
, prosecution? The committee did not rsPo"u az
FIRST The professor then gave brief summary OF
bor,d that the SYNOD of New-York would settle
| En-, question Of the status Of the committee Dy
optortaininr the complaint filed by Dr. FRANCIS
| pre,yn and ll3 ministers and elders OF the Fres~
| hvtcrv The SYNOD having failed TO do so, tha
| resuonsibility was thrown upon lin. as an orishaA
marty of bringing the questions AGAIN OeioIe .iio
| Presbytery He would not pat any oos'ruc,i'n
in the way of the course OF procedure piescIi"'~
bv thc General Assembly, but he desired to nave
| th. nreliminary objections determined at TIE QUIZ
DIR. BRIGGs'S FORMAL OBJECTIONS.
The objections which DR.. Briggs presented were
signed by him and were as follows
hereby submit to presbyiery the following OBJ
| iston, To- the procedure: . . ,a
WI committee originally appointed to arrange ans
prepare the nceessa.S pOr~iaso hr po Claiming to
he committee oI prosecution ana tAeS are
as sucn by the moderators living S, mem - et 70 'oo oct
ac,Itx usstlorrl by complaint TO the synod OF New.
York. ana 1t has not yet been lawfully oe'ern'heu w.
'nt n ms committee appeared before the last Gen.
era Assembly as an original parE, , aia Inv ;rSsmsnt
NJ the Presbytery In disnsing the case against me.
they appear before you as % s9 osa ~ aS ~ p an
orIrnnl Marty IL questioned In the sdld Complaint aho
oiiS'a " py ~ hnsn lawfully determined by the synod.
,31 This committee claims 10 represent the PTessys.
terlan Church In the United states OF America, az!
be napcdent Of s gf when hs Psry
by apDealing to the General Assembly hSsihst tne
Judgment OF the Presbytery. In dlsmlssng the case
sraIn,t me. They appear before you with
revrr al OF the judgment Of the Preoytery Whch tney
have obtained Their right 10 act independently OF the
Prrsbycry Is questioned In the said complaint ana
# has not vet been lawfully determined BY the synod
IN Tnis committee appears before YOU having
| acted as IS claimed In violation of the constitution
Of the Church. which provide, that when compaint
ha. been signed by more than one-thrd OF those
nresent and voting In the Presbytery II acts as
Stay to further .proceedngs. The above mentioned
comnlant signed bv majority Of the voters. has
been filed with the Synod Of New York. and has been
fonnd I'm order bv tho synod OF New York. and Is now
I'm the possession OF that synod. Until the questions
raised in s,id complaint have been Determined ths
committee cannot legally take any action In tho
matters complan"d o. They cannot act as pros
ecutng committee. or as an original party or as
-I..Ia ..l4l IL lo..