St. Paul daily globe., 1892-05-28
Is the Desire Of Some OF the
Opponents of Professor
Briggs.
Growing Conviction That the
Assembly Is Acting Too
Hastily.
Significant Union Of Power
full Men to Conserve
Briggs Rights.
The Accused Willing to Con-
fess Judgment on Two
Points.

PORTLAND. Or, May 27.-The Briggs
case is still on. A floral column of red
roses fully five feet high was placed to-
day upon the desk occupied by DR..
Briggs in the Presbyterian general as
sembly. The column was surmounted
by white dove with outspread wings.
The attendance and interest i'll
the proceedings we're undlmln-
ished. The assembly proposes
to gain time by night sessions.
The lines in the appeal case are being
drawn more closely, and men who have
no sympathy with the views OF DIR.
Briggs are strong in their efforts to
force it through the assembly. When
such men as Elder Junkin and DIR.
Mcpherson join together in an ayoWed
attempt to conserve the constitutional
rights of the individual, that union IS
significant. There IS an effort on foot
to proceed with the case to all end.
This was evidenced by the remark of
prominent commissioner: "We want
to decide this case and set this man
adrift in the wilderness"
There is a conviction that the assem-
bly, is going too fast and making prece-
dents with too much speed and without
sufficient deliberations. A peculiar III
cident occurred in the afternoon. DR..
Birch was reading his paper supporting
the appeal and quoting certain words
uttered by members of the presbytery
of the Briggs trial, when a commits
sioner rose to the point of order ''that
it is improper to read these extract lest
some present may be thereby infu-
enced."
Clearing the Issue.
At the afternoon session Elder Jun
kins, of Philadelphia, offered resolu-
ton to bring matters before the court to
a close. lie proposed to reverse the de-
cision of the preSbytery, send back the
papers and direct the presbytery of New
York to try the case upon its merits
without prejudice to either party. He
declared the assembly cannot try the
case at this session upon its merits. The
action Of the presbYtery has been unjust
to defendant: that he ought to have an
opportunity to stand before his peers
and assert and prove his innocence OF
the charges.
DR.. Mcpherson, of Chicago, seconded
the resolution. He SAID he understood
DR.. Briggs would confess Judgment upon
two of the grounds of appeal. These
would be sufficient to allow the assem-
bly, to send back the case. If the as
sembly received the appeal when no
plea was entered in the lower court, and
no sworn testimony heard. it would i'll
validate the rights of every member OF
the church, and these are higher than
those of any individual.
VIII Confess Judgment.
After a brief argument, DR.. Briggs
stated he would personally be willing to
confess Judgment upon two points in
the appeal. and would do so after con-
sultation with the members of the pres
bytery. Col. MeCook stated the appeal
must be sustained, the decision of the
Preshytery reversed, and the presby-
terry directed TO try the case
on its merits. On these grounds
the prosecution committee would be
glad to accept the proposal. Upon the
return of the cenferres, DR.. Briggs
stated he agreed to Junkin's resolution.
but objection was entered by the prose-
cutien committee, and the moderator
ruled that the case must proceed.
Then DR.. Birch went over the grounds
of the appeal. Dr.. Briggs was heard for
an hour in rebuttal and a recess was
taken until p. Ill.