Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-22
DIVIDED ON BRIGGS.
Two Reports Will Probably
Be Made to the Presby.
terian Assembly.
ONLY 4 QUESTION OF LAW.
A Majority of the Committee Decide
an Appeal Is Not in Order.
THE MINORITY WORKING HARD.
Nethodists Officially Recognize the Young
EpwOrth League.
ONLY A QUESTION OF LAW.
THE MINORITY WORKING HARD.
DOINGS OF THE CHURCH ASSEMBLIES

PORTLAND, Ore, May 2l.-The Judicial
Committee of the Presbyterian General As.
semhiy, before which the Briggs case is to
come, and upon whose finding the Assembly
will be called to act, is by no means unani,
nous, and apparently cannot be brought to
unite. There will, it is said, certainly be q
minority report, and it will be in favor OF
the appellants in the case.
a member of the minority stated that not
only was the committee not likely to agree
in its findings but it is likely to be quite
discordant in its recommendations The
question at present TO be considered is not
the merits of the case, but the technicalities
involved.
\ prominent official contends that the
only question to be decided by the commit
tee is wherher an appeal is in order, and to
report its finding, TO arrange papers and to
prescribe the mode of procedure.
Conservatism is Anti Briggsism.
The member mentioned above went on to
cririCise the work of the Moderator in ap-
poiati"C such committee, saying he ma
inr.Jv ar Least should have been conservative
@.a!ning that conservative meant anti
Br -cs. What this meant, if the question is
strc,lv one of law and not doctrine, was
not gone into.
The position of MANY of the questions at
issue between the Union Seminary and the
Assembly was expressed by one who re-
marked, Il could grow eloquent. had the
ah.tjty, On the history Of the Seminary
We hoa2r, love and esteem it. and our
highest desire is 10 serve the church. but we
want IT, &c; I'd Of Briggs"
When asked what would be dore if both
could an. he obtained, he remarked that it
was ar unpleasant alternative. AS was ev-
il"ut A. Detroit, fear of losing" the Semi
nary is, in a sense, the only restraining in
1ca"cc al work. Even safeguards OF consti-
tuuona. rights would not apparently avail
with men thus minded.
i}ricgs' Friends Are Working Hard,
The appellants in Briggs case are leaving
10 stone gn;lrned, and are sparing no ex-
rcaSe n gam heir end. They have caused
81. tsel- dncUTents 20 De printed in stout
or-ave volume. including the records of
rn" Pre>AyIeries touching the case: the ap-
'"a. aad various otEer papers. These VOL
rr are kept securely guarded so that thev
shall pot fail into other hands until the
ra''er aAs been duly presented in open
session.
Tie coming of DR.. Briggs, which was an
roa"cet several davs ago, caused some stir
at -He tiEne but ali have settled back into a
safe % quiet expectancy. WHY he was
cHE. was a problem hard of solution to
many, 9Hl il seems evident that his reasons /
were well taken. He will have to appear |
before the Assembly to show cause why an |
anoal il not in order. If it shall be de- |
cIed ;hat the appeal is a judicial case he
is the only man who has right to appear
uu the floor. If it is decided that it is not a
-u.ical case, and that an appeal does not
sa,d or has been improperly taken, he
viii have made his journey in vain.