The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-11-29
PROF. BRIGGs,s OBJECTIONS.
The Committee OF Prosecution May with
draw Two OF the Charges.

draw Two OF the Charges.
The Presbytery OF New York met yesterday
in the Scotch Presbyterian Church after q re-
cess Of two weeks to continue the trial OF
Prot Charles A. Briggs for heresy. Several
ministers and eldors asked to be enrolled, and
discussion arose over their admission. as they
had not been present on tho first day. Unani
nous consent was necessary before they
could become members Of tho court. md there
were several objections when the question
was put The Moderator. the Rev. DIR. Bliss.
appealed to the directors to keep silence. and
he put the question the second time. This
time consent was unanimous. There are now
12O ministers and forty elders on tho roll OF
judges who are to try DR.. Briggs.
After an hour Ind been srent In these pre-
liminaries the Moderator said:
lin view OF certain opinions that have como
to me from religious and secular sources l
want to say emphaticallv that in raising oh
jcctions and making complaints tho defend
ant is not to DO considered ms trying to OBJ
struct the progress OF the trial. hut simply as
looking out for his interest. and that the ether
side ia perfectly conscientious in its state
ments and no ono ia milking personal at
tack uE"n Prof.; briggs. beg You all to nr IRE;
all the testimony is in and the case is before
you for your judicial decision"
answer to tho amended charges OF the Com
mlttce OF Prosecution presented two weeks
jections to make. which he read He emnded
| the Presbytcry that under tho law OF the Pres
hyterinn Church he must net Us bis own "oun-
| were his objections:
object that the charges put in my hnnd. Nov. ..
sh sGsa G ts1 sy ' n. nj time TO
"biec, the order and regularity Of the proceeding
liz my ssFs
j object q tho amended charges that they do not
comply With The law re.rsc,nE a,ntndn.ni and that
Assembly
Prof. Briggs then took up his, objections to
that there mad been an entire overhauiine Of
the EVIDENCES from Holy SScrIures and he
play 50 last and loose With Holy seriptare.
Prof. Briggs objected to the relevancy q the
ithe whole Of his inaugural address and ali bis
works. Another important objection WAS that
radically changed. As to charxes i. =. ). :.
and 8. Prof. Briggs said that within each sew.
esrses Msn cSa n "0 sn up
which attacks Prof Briggs doctrine Of pro pro:
tions to it: Charges and were. Prot. Briggs
said. entirely new charges. and should be
in conclusion. he snid:
The prosecution have had Sunirenf opportunity to
construct their charges Aud tn Am end them II 10 not
further opportunity. They should be required to risk
thor in the form IN which the Presbytery
| mend them.
II Is in the interest Of Justice that should be
CURED to prepare defence against anOt her set of
charges This II the tnird time that have appeared
before the Presbytery with long and carefully pre-
pared defence Lite Is too short and the duties Of life
INK work to suit the intellectual and rhetorical
processes Of such unstable prosecutors have pre-
pared defence shall present to the Presbyt-ry
II you will have 1t: if no shall publish II to the
| world.
not in the interest Of justice that this Presby.
terry. mposed OF more than one hundred ministers
and half a hundred elders whose time and strength
ness associates TO society 10 institutions Of leaning
AMI bencv0!ence. and to the church OF tod. should he
weariei with this trial any longer than * absontel ~
| necessary Let the Presbytcry amend the charges
the interest OF Justice and IN accordance with the laws
OF tue Church and let to trial and
mine so soon MS possible the great issues which are
involved to ourselves and to the Presbyterian Church
The Rev. Dr. Lampe Of the Committee OF
| Prosecution de Tended the new charges. main
| tanning that they did not depart from the
| original in their general nature.
| The Rev. DR.. George Alexander moved that
| the committee be required 10 amend their
| charges by striking out 1 and I.
| 1t was Just before adjournment, and at the
request of Col; J. J. McCook tho, question was
| laid over until to-day to allow the committee
| to read Prof. Briggs's directions. and decide
| whether it could withdraw these two charges,
The Presbytery will meet this afternoon.