The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-11-29

Scotch Presbyterian church shortly
after 2 o'clock this afternoon, they had
expressed an almost unanimous hope
that when they adjourned the case of
Prof. Charles A. Briggs, whom they are
trying on charges OF heresy, would be
athing of the.past. Before the moder-
ator, DR.. John @. Bliss, called the body
to order the divineS and elders had dis
cussed in little groups the subject, and
it was clear that every effort to prolong
and delay the final passing upon the
case by quibbling and evasion OF tech
nical points would meet the opposition
OF the jury. The church was somewhat
more crowded than at the last meeting
Of the Presbytery. There were no more
ministers and elders present in the for
ward part OF the church, however, as
at the last meeting 1t was decided that
only those present should have the
right to vote in the court.
Prof. Briggs was present with his
counsel and sat just under and at the
left Of the pulpit. The prosecuting conf
mittees consisting OF DR.. w. G. Burch.
Col. ]. ]. McCook, DR.. r. E. Sample,
DR.. ]. ]. Lambe and Prof. ]. j. Steven
son, sat in front of the first pew at the
right of the pulpit. DR.. Bliss, DR.. Alex
ander, the stated clerk and the clerks
assistant for the session sat apart upon
the platform. The galleries were filed
and the pews on the side aisles and
back OF those occupied by the presby-
terry were comfortably crowded with
the friends OF the court and the accused
and Others interested in the case. The
session was opened with prayer and the
roll call was read before the minutes Of
the preceding meeting was approved.
When the presbytery was ready to pro-
coed directly with the trial tho question
OF most immediate interest was the
line of procedure which Prof. Briggs
would indicate in his first move.
Just as the court convened prom
inent divine said to reporter: every
objection possible as to the regularity
OF jurisdiction and sufficiency OF charges
is expected by the court, because OF the
spirit which had been previously
shown by the accused at every former
session where the question at issue had
%been considered. As for the charges,
they were submitted Mt the last meet
ing of the presbytery as amended.
They are not materially different from
the original two with their specitica-
tions. but even if Professor Briggs at
tempts delay on the point of new
charges, the trial should not be post
poned on that account, for the presby-
tery has the right to determine all pre-
liminary questions like this and may
permit amendments not changing the
general nature OF the charges for the
sake OF furthering justice.
"Then il the proceedings are found in
order the accused will be called upon to
plead guilty or not guilty. II the for
mer is tho plea, judgement Will be Inn,
mediately pronounced If not, the trial
will continue, witnesses examined and
all testimony taken, after which the
Presbyterywill voto separately on each
charge and give judgment upon it"
Moderator Bliss asked for the priv
ilege to make an announcement. He
said that the objection OF DR.. Briggs and
his expressed purpose to carry his OBJ
iections to the synod should not be in
terpreted as distractions to the trial,
but as IN honest conviction. He also
said that he believed the prosecuting
committee equally conscientious.
At o'clock DR.. Briggs began to read
his answer to the charges as amended.
The response was most exhaustive
summing up of his defense and it re-
ouired two hours for him to deliver it,
After stating that he had no purpose
to delay the actual trial OF the charge
against him on its strict merits, DIR.
Briggs showed that it was unnecessary
for him to act as his own counsel and in
this capacity he had no right to pass
over technicalities, or to allow tho pres.
bytery to establish dangerous or illegal
precedents. Dr. Briggs then made his
first demurrer to the trial because the
charges put in his hands on November
9, 1892, were finally disposed OF by the
dismissal OF the case against him on
November 4th, 1891, and that the pres
bytery could not legally cite him q
second time TO answer charges which
they had dismissed.
Tho second objection which DIR. Briggs
raised was to the order and regularity
Of every proceeding in the presbYtery
in any action taken against him since
the dismissal Of the original charges in
1891.
"But it ia not for me-" he said, "to
advise thepresbytery what course they
should pursue. have done my duty in
filing these objections. l have only
this further word, that, ii the presby-
tory decide against me, shall proceed,
under protest, and with the reservation
OF all legal rights OF securing such re-
dress in tho higher courts as may seem
necessary"
In tho second citation of his protest
DIR. Briggs dealt with the irregularity OF
the amendments to the original charges.
The amended charges allege conflict
with nine essential doctrines oil the
Westminster standards us follows:
/. That the Holy Scripture is most
necessary.
2. That the Holy Scripture is the rule
OF faith and practice.
8. That the Holy Scripture is the
word Of God written.
4. That the Holy Scripture is imme-
diately inspired.
8. That God is true, ominiscient and
Interchangeable.
6. That Holy Scripture evidences it.
self TO be tho word OF God by the con-
sent Of all the parts.
I. That the infallible rulo oil interpre-
tation OF scripture is tho scripture itself.
S. That tho processes OF redemption
arc limited to the world.
0. That the souls Of believers Arc at
their death at once made perfect in
holiness.
Let us consider tho last charge first.
This introduces new charge, name'