The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-05-31
SETTLING UNION SEMINARY.
The Presbyterian assembly Concludes
TO irbitrate the Differences.
IL ASSERTION OF IT'S AUTHORITY.
Brt the assembly Will, Nevertheless Refer The
Whole Subject Halter in Dispute 70
Conference Committee.
Al ASSERTION OF IT'S AUTHORITY.
Special to THE MoRNIN5 CALL

PORTLAND. Oregon, May 90-After the
assembly had been regularly opened and
Lad transacted some unimp0Ttant business,
Iudge Ewing introduced the following reso-
mtfon in the Briggs case. 1t is mainly
formal and is only important in its word
ing:
THE General Assembly having on the
2Stb dav of May. 1892, duly sustained all
specifications for the error alleged and set
forth in the appeal and Specifications in the
ease, l. is now ordered that the judgment Of
The presbytery of New York. entered No
vember ], 1891. dismissing the case OF the
Presbyterian Church in the United States
OF America against Rev. Charles A. Briggs,
DID, be and the same is hereby reversed
and The case is remauded to the preSbytery
of New York for a new trial, with direc-
tions to said presbytery to proceed TO pass
upon and determine the sufficieney OF the
charges and specifications in form and their
legal effect. and to permit the prosecuting
committee to amend The specifications or
charges. not changing the general nature
of the same, II, In furtherance OF justice, 1t
be necessary to amend, so that the case
may be brought 10 issue and tTled on the
merits thereof as speedily as may be prac-
ticable."
The Union Seminary Matter
After a few unimportant matters had
been attended TO the order OF tie day was
called, being the report on theological SEM
inaTjes.
The supplementary report Of the majority
OF the committee was then read, followed by
that Of the minority. These reports were
essentially the same as those presented last
Wednesday, without the harmony then
eni5ined The majority had added certain
r.hr arItT n
able by many. For instance, that tue nom
compliance Of the Union directors vas "a
failure 10 comply with the obligations con-
tanned in the compact OF 1870 Annther
resolution was plainly aimed at the mon
Seminary and declared. IN the words OF
commissioner, plain boycott. lie me-
mortal Of the seminary Tor the oluuon
of relations was recommended denial. AT
this point the minority report recommended
opposite action and the formation OF new
compact.
a substitute was offered by DR.. Blayney
of Kentucky which accepted most Of the
proposals of the ma iJritV, but which toned
down their language. Instead or the dec
laration that Dr. Bgicgs' chair is de jure
vacant he proposed 20 say that tue election
Of Dr. Briggs Is 'incOm 2lete."
The discussion proceeded till the close OF
the morning hour and covered every hing,
from the inception Of the compact OF 1870
until the close Of the minority report No
result " as reached.
a Slight Unpieasantness.
The special order for o'clock was the re-
port OF the committee on Sabbath ObserV-
ance, presented by Colonel Shepard Of New
York For the second time the assembly
entered its protest against the opening OF
the Worlds Fair on Sunday, and action Of
a similar nature VIII be taken later on tie
report of the standing committee.
slight unpleaSanjness IN the Board OF
o-oR.t,r1 ofrfa ba Of
tie committee on that subject. A senior
secretary has been elected. 1t seems con-
trary TO previous practice and protest has
been entered against the implied distinC-
ton, though it was djsclaimed thar such
. distinction was implied or intended. 1t
was recommended that the matter be Te-
feTred back to the board for consideration.
TIE report on temperance evoked con-
siderable discussion. Prohibition was not
. so much as mentioned by name, though
practically the same thing was iDdOrsed.
Differences To Be Arbitrated.
The discussion Of the report on the stand
ing of Union Seminary was then resumed.
At the evening session the only part Of the
majority report which was adopted was
that which a speaker had characterized as
''pToclaimlnR a boycott on Union SEMI
nary"
a resolution looking toward arbitration
was then considered at length, and was
finally adopted in the form recommended in
the majority report
The resolution thus dopted was as fol
lows:
Fhst-That the assembly indorses the inter-
pretatiOn Of the CONTACT Of 1870 as expressed
by he action Of 1871.
Seco ud-That me assembly declines to be
party 10 the breaking OF the compact with
Union Theological Seminary.
Ihird-Ihat the assembly IS persuaded that
The church should have direct connection With
and control over its theological seminaries
FOuuh-Ihat the assembly appoints a COM
mitee OF 10 10 take into consideration the whole
subjec Of The relations OF the assembly to its
theological! seminaTies, confer With the dtrec
tors Of those seminaries and report to the next
gen eTal assembly such action as IN its judgment
viii result in establishing SIiH closer relation
between the assembly aud its seminaries than
that which at present exists
Fhth-That the assembly dismisses the CON-
mittee Of conference appointed last year with its
heartiest thanks for its fathfulness aud the
highest appreciation Of Tie service rendered TO
The church.
After the adoption Of these resolutions,
the assembly adjourned until tomorrow.