The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-12-01
BAD DAY FOR DIR. BRIGGS
His Objections to the Heresy Charges
Not Sustained by the Presbytery.
A Majority Of Four Members of the Trial
Court Against Him on the Decisive Vote
The Cincinnati Divine on Trial.

NEW YORK. Nov. 30.-When the New
York Presbytery adjourned. yesterday
afternoon, in some disorder. the adherents
of DR.. Briggs were in q joyful mood. for IL
had been decidedly o Briggs day. The de-
cisions of the presbytery had all been in
his favor. As q consequence of these de-
~velopments. and the probability that TO-
days session would be replete with still
more interesting features. tho galleries OF
the old Scotch Presbyterian Church were
filled with men and women long before
the hour set tor to-day's session
to begin. As the accused entered the
room o rustic went through she great
assemblage. Many laid their hands to-
gether. as If wishing to applaud, but not
daring to do 30. When all the eccleslastical
and lay members had arrived the moder.
ator rose. prayer was offered, . hush fell
on the assemblage, and tho presbytery
was again in session. By unanimous CON-
sent of the court the names of live ministers
absent from yesterdays meeting were
added to the roll of jurors, and q like favor
was extended to one elder.
Moderator Bliss announced that the bust
ness before the house wss the c0nsidera.
ton of the objections filed by DE-. Briggs.
OOl6Ct1On6 one ana Two were:
/ object that the charges put in my hands
Nov. 8, 1892. were finally disposed OF Dy the dis
missal OF tho case against me on Nov. 4, 1891,
and that the presbytery could not legally cite
me q second time to answer the charges which
they had dismissed.
l object to the order and regularity Of the pro-
ceedings in the presbytery In any and every ac-
ton taken against me since the dismissal OF said
charges on Nov. A, 1891.
These objections were voted on separate
ly. and were not sustained. Dr.. Briggs
said that he would waive the third objec-
ton. and no action was taken concerning
It The fourth objection was:
object TO the relevancy of ali the proofs from
Scripture, confession and catechisms.
Col. A. p. Ketchum, of Calvary Church,
opposed a motion to sustain the objection.
Dr.. Brown offered An amendment reguIr-
ing the removal of the proofs from the spe-
oitcations TO the charge. The question. as
thus amended. was carried by the vote of
II to sc. \
In the fifth oh. ~sctiop. DR.. Briggs objected
to the offer of every thing by Wholesale. and
refers to where the prosecuting committee
submits his inaugural address and his
writings without specifcation. b OBJ
lection stirred MP considerable discussion.
Finally Elder c. H.. Woodbury.. of DE-. Park
hurst's church, made Q motion that that
part of the eighth charge in the amended
charges, as objected to by DR.. Briggs In his
fifth objection. DO stricken out II was
Of Is to 50. A ToiI-oaii was
asked for. The roll-csll was TAX.
en-. resulting again IN . defeas
for DR.. Briggs, and sustaining the commit
tee by q vote of 6S to Is. This was rather q
telling blow at DR.. Briggs, but 1t also
served TO show the opinions of the men,
bers, and furnished q forecast of the final
vote after the evidence in the trial is all
in. Dr. Briggs then took an exception 20
the action OF the presby terry.
While the last vote was being counted
the moderator said several overeoats had
been lost at previous sessions, and he adj
vised every body to look ont for hIs prop
erty. He said this was not intended Is q
rejection on any member of the presby terry.
1t was decided, Just before adjournment,
that the presbytery close the week on
Thursday afternoons instead of Friday. ~
resolved at the opening of the trial. The
trial will be continued tomorrow.
Rev. n. p. Smith Now on Trial.
CINCINNATI. Nov. So.-The trial proper of
Prof. Henry Preserved Smith began to-day.
Its progress was delayed. however, by q
long discussion over the form of the record
of yesterdays action, and still further by
the discovery that no full copy of the
amended charges and specifications had
been given the accused. The court walted
-ktla tho olarka orauorad THE aud dur,no