New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-29
BRIGGS AND LAMPE SPEAK.
is THE PROFESSOR A HERET7Ci
BOTH SIDES HEARD IN THE TRIAL BE,
FORE THE PRESBYTERY.
PRELIMINARY OBJECTIONS FILED BY THE DE-
FENDANT-AFTER AN ANSWER FROM THE
COMMITTEE A MOTION is MADE TO
STRIKE OUT TWO OF THE
CHARGES-DR BLISS
MAKES STATE
NfENT.

CHARGES-DR. BLISS
MAKES STATE
MENT.
The trial of Professor Charles A. Briggs OF tho
Union Theological Seminary. was resumed yester-
dav afternoon in the Scotch Church. The roll
was completed yesterday. and no name can be
added 10 il except by unanimous consent, ana
every man now enrolled must attend every
session OF the trial or he cannot vote at the close
unless unanimous consent be obtained. Inere
IRE 2ls members Of the Presbytery, l62 ministers
and "a elders. or that number l2o ministers
and SO elders present; 60 members oelnS
absent. Many Of the absentees are foreign
missionaries, DR.. John Hall, Dr. D. X. herr'
and DR.. B. Krus being the principal city pastors
who did not respond TO their names, IL Is UNDER
stood that the health of one or two OF these
brethren would not warrant exposure to the In
clement weather yesterday
DR.. John C. Bliss, the moderator opened tho
meeting with prayer. and after the roll was COM
pleted he made personal statement, expressing
his entire confidence in the conscientousness OF
the accused professor and his friends, and OF
the members Of the prosecuting committee, and
begged the members Of the Presbytery to hold
their Judgment even balance as possible
during the trial. Dr. Briggs then filed his pre-
limnary objections in an address that occupied
about fifty minutes. DR.. j. j. Lampe, MEM
Der Of the committee, replied, and DR.. George
Alexander offered resolution TO amend the
amended charges by striking out the
two to which Dr. Briggs had made his
principal objections Pending action on this
motion n recess taken until O'Clock THIS
afternoon Colonel John j. McCoOk, another men,
ber Of the committee, expressing the hope thas
by that time the committee could decide TO with.
would meet the objections on this point presented
by DR.. Briggs
DR. BLIss's CONFIDENCE IN BOTH PARTIES
The moderator, before calling upon Dr. Brlggs
to reply to the charges, made the following
statement regarding his own position IN the
case and his feelings toward the parties:
In view Of certain expressions OF opinion which have
come to nc both religious and secular,
would make statement bearing both sides OF the case
before
IYrs-As TO the action spirit defendant. and
his friends respecting the interpreta-
ton q the the methods Of procedure In this case
In raising the questions and In making the oolecuohs
which they have presented here or which they may y@
present and complaints carrying these points 20
Synod tcY are not considered desiring merely TO
obsuct the progress trial It's merits 10 act
any cause needless hndrance or delay.
Instead this their is TO be viewed In the hghs
Of the strong convictions which they hold against some OF
the methods pursued ond certain DECISIONS made In this
case and in the light Of their honest desire to conserve
great important principles in the constitution end
government of our Church In this course your moderator
thoroughly convinced that they are perfectly conscien
and sincere.
Second-On the other hand TO the position. pnr.
pose and animus Prosecuting Committee your mod
orator as thoroughly convinced that they are not In that
position because they sought enjoy it, that their
am Is not that Of "hersyhunter.," and that they
have no unnd personal feeling whatever toward him who
araiGned But they are thus acting under the
obligations laid upon them from deep sense OF duty
70 the truth and Church and because that they
certainly represent large portion OF our Church In
feeling Of alarm over the effect
Of the forth by the defendant and In their
they conscientious and sincere as the de-
fendant
Now OF this view Of both sides Of the case. I would
have every one this and all outside OF IL fully
assured And further let avouch the confidence has
every member OF this court will ende0yor TO hold his
judgment as close perfect balance possible in hear
ing this whole case, that without any previous bias
he nav reach the decision that shall be Just and
will be effort the part OF all TO avoid
raising points which discussion OF
delay In the conduct OF our proceedings
DIR. BRIGGS AS DEFENDANT AND COUNSEL
Dr. Briggs prcfaced his objections with tho
statement that it was his desire TO have the case
tried on its merits as speedily as possible, but
he reminded the Presbytery that he appeared
both as defendant and counsel, and was re-
sponsible for the management of the case in all
matters of law as well in all matters OF
doctrine. While he might easily waive his rights
as defendant, he could not waive his duties a.
counsel, for he was looking TO the future as well
as to the present and no should be able 10
say, if he could help IT, that he had allowed the
prosecution the Presbytery TO take illegal action
or TO establish dangerous prccedents without
resistance AMI protest. Il cannot yied," he
said to the impatience of friends on the one
side. the crowding of enemies on the other
side " These objections were then presented and
ampliied:
% object that the charges put in hands November
o. 1892 finally disposed Of by the dismissal OF the
against November T. 1891 and that the Pres
bytey could legally cite second time to answer
to charges which they had dismissed
CD object order and regularity OF the proceed
ing In the PcsbyUry, in any and every action taken
against the dismissal Of the sid charges on No.
yember T. 1891.
3) object TO the amended charges that they do not
comply the law respecting amendmcnt and that they
violate the express directions OF the last 'eneal Assembly
90 l object the relevancy OF all the proofs from
Scripture Confession and Catechi'ms.
5l object to their Of evidence by the wholesale.
CHARGES MOST OBJECTIONABLE.
Dr Rricos said that the committee had pre-
scntcd nine charges in its new complaint. eight OF
which were new. Waving objections which he
mght Justly urge against the entire eight, he
,vould make his stand against two of them. On
this point he said
have called the attention OF the Presbytery 10 tne
fact that charges l. H. III. and vi violate the law
rho and are with the order OF the Gen.
orr, Assembly that they change the nature OF the
ORIGINAL charge introducing several new doctrines OF
the Standards and OF the Holy Scripture and also by
combining two or three offences In the same charge IL
for YOU to this objection and 20 take the re.
sponsbilty for any violation OF law. The only thing
that insist upon the interest OF justice Is that every
offence alleged against me shall be acted upon by sep
,r,te vote only In this way you comply with the
that "a each charge shall be separately taken
ONLY by this procedure you reach 4 Just verdict.
f0 Two charges remain to be considered, namely Nv
and VII object them two grounds. al, these are
new charges which 80 change general nature OF the
original chorces they cannot legally be allowed and