, 1892-05-27
A CELEBRATED CASE.
DR.. Briggs Still Before the Pres
byterian Assembly.

No Decision as Yet Reached-The
Fate of the Distinguished Her
etic still in DOubt-Other BusI-
ness Transacted by the Assembly.
PORTLAND, Or, May 27.-The same over
cast sky and the same crowd Of auditors
greeted the opening of the Briggs case to-
day that were noted yesterday. A floral
column of red roses five feet high was
placed upon the desk occupied by DR..
Briggs. 1t was surmounted with white
dove with outstretohed wings. What it
| symbOlized was a matter of conjecture.
The hearing on appeal was delayed to hear
the report Of the standing committee on
church extension because of the necessary
departure Of Dr. White, secretary Of the
board. A report was heard by the assem-
| bly, in prefunctory manner. The board of
| church extension is one which never al
lows its expenses to exceed its income.
Applications have been made for III
church edihces and fifty-three manses at a
total cost of $119 900. The total income
amounted to 100000 and expenditures to
$102 900. Aid was granted to 352 churches
and forty-four manses. By a wise provis-
ion all the churches aided are permanently
secured to the denomination. The board
has also an architectural annex which fur
nishes plans for new buildings. The re-
port was accepted and its recommends
tions adopted without debate.
The assembly was then again consti-
tuted as court by the moderator. A resOlu-
ton was introduced by Judge StruVell, of
Montana, looking to the return of the
RriDgg tn tba " Of NpuU Xnrlr
for new trial. Amendments were offered
slightly modifying this action but with the
same object in view. Parties to the appeal
were allowed to withdraw in order to pre-
pare form of action, which will be mu-
tually acceptable. While they were thus
consulting the reading Of the report on re-
vision Of confession Offaith was proceeding.
Just before the closing of the reading Of
the revision report the parties to the ap-
peal returned from their consultation. The
revision then went over again as unfinished
business.
Judge Struville took the stand and stated
that there had been no agreement reached
and Elder McCook was designated by DR..
Birch as lone selected to make known the
will of the committee" The resolutions
were re-read by the clerk. Mr.. McCoOk re-
GREETED that he was compelled to again ad-
dress the assembly. "On Nov. 4th 1891, it
was urged by me that we should then and
there proceed to trial. The presbytery did
not see fit to accept the proposition but
made the decision from which we have ap-
pealed. We are here to prepare to argue
appeal, and we can do it in fifteen minutes,
fifteen hours or fifteen days. The assembly
has relieved us of all questions concerning
the past. If you say, drop the case, we
shall gladly do it, but we stand here now
ready to go on. The responsibility must
be with the assembly. We cannot accept
the proposal to return and begin the case
in New York 'de nOYO." This might be
interpreted to mean new charges and spec
iicatiOns, whereas, we desire only the
privilege of amending the former papers,
if thought necessary. Another sugges-
ton is that the Presbylery
be directed to try the case fair.
This suggestion we most vigorously depre-
cate. The moderator then ruled that as
the committee of prosecution refuses to
agree to the propositions suggested, and to
allow the case to 20 back at once to New
York, the assembly must proceed to hear
the appeal. The question is whether the
appeal shall be sustained in part, in full,
or pro forma, after which it is in the dis
cretion of the assembly to reverse or modiy
the judgment of the inferior judiciary if
errors are found, or to remand the case for
a new trial.
1t was evidently a desire of a very
large part of the house that the case be re-
manded, but this was thWarted by a re-
fusal of the prosecutors to consent. The
proposition to sustain the appeal "pro-
forma" elected a vigorous negative head
shaking by DR.. Birch. Mr.. McCOok said
that the question is dismissal or a full sus-
tanning Of the appeal; pro forma action is
not desired.