The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-27
VOTING AGAINST BRIGGS.
The ASSEMBLY PUTs ms CASE on
TRIAL ~ SPTTE OF ms APPEAL.
The Vote Against HIM Was ass to IS
HIS Friends VIII Protest-Dr. Briggs
Makes an Argument Both Parties " aive
the Reading or the New York Record.

PORTLAND Or. May 2C-The trial OF Prof.
Briggs OF New York. begun In the General
Assembly yesterday. was continued this m orn-
ing. Tho church was crowded at an early
hour. and Dr.. Briggs and DR. Birch. the head
OF the Prosecuting Committee. sat on the plat
form. DR.. Young. the Moderator. announced
! that each side should occupy an hour ard a
half discussing merely the constitutional
questions. without referring at all to the mer-
! it, Of tho question.
| DR. Birch. In a clear. distinct tone. read his
argument lie asserted that the appearance
OF the Prosecuting Com mittee at the Assembly
was strictly constitutional. although II was
| usual to GO directly from tho Presbytery to the
| SYNOD. Or. Birch argued further that the case
was Of intense interest to all Christendom. and
that no other question In the history OF the
| Christian Church had been moro important or
! touched u more vital doctrine VIZ. tho author.
| ity OF the Scriptures.
| DR.. Briggs rose at 1910. and also read his
argument. In beginning no addressed the
| houss formally. closing with Ladies and
| gentlemen" This expression was met with
| cries OF No. no." as the Assembly was then
| sitting in the form OF a judicial tody. Dr.
, Briggs argued that there were no reasons for
entertaining the appeal, and that there were
| insuperable reasons why it should not be en-
| tertained. II their case was a good one. he
| sUIu. tNey 70 ulTpCttT 10 tne ~ nOu. anu
he insisted that grave injustice was done to
| the lower body by this action. DR.. Briggs next
| showed that the entertainment OF the appeal
! would be an injustice TO himself II would
give judgment while no charges were pend
| Ing against him. 1t had not yet been shown
that there were errors in his address. The
Assembly could not do anything with tho
merits Of the case yet.
Turning now and then to the table. at which
the members Of the prosecuting committee
sat. he said they were responsible for the pres
ent disturbance: II they were DESTROYS OF q
speedy settlement they might have acqutesced
in the action Of the Presbytery Diminishing the
case. They had made haste. but not speed.
the beginning the inyestsatiop WAS begun IN
tects the innocent. A defendant might desire
a speedy trial. but the prosecutor has no such
Presbyte;s behind him. AMI he believed that
tain the sppeai now wouli DERIVE in Of his
rights. Still! another reason was that IA min.
listers and elders h1 I'D signed complaint
half Of himself and his c9.complainants:
He tIsg sfbt Py ae9n that Sh
Med with the stated clerk of the synod, and
Isi tx sno es against
the decision !. as az interiioGeutory on-: In
et the NeS
York lie also asked for time to submit Oh
DR.. Agnew asked whether the New York
Dr.: Young decided that Dr. Briggs and not
John j. MeCoos heean lis reply /" br. , Briggs.
and spoke unit! the hour q Adjournment He
he was III at the time fthe examination "t his
inaugural address by reading d letter from Dr.
Briggs. saying he would decline to appear be-
fore the original fnttep OF examination
because he understood that the committee
was .rp1,lnthsi to his address and not
After Col. McCoomb had finished his areu-
ment the houf" iHid % the tale the minority
ing that the appeal be not entertained. and
that the r ;nss be referred to the New lork
and l22 in the negative. and by "a lar1" Vote
the nppea! was entertained and the trial was
After tho Assembly had finally decided to
proceed with The retding OF the record sent np
s The s Essssysiy Was not hsSS.
the rreshytery we're faulty. AS would
minutes t3" taken ry t 'nit1n'A ssminar VS.
sten"srarhsr. On this the House wrangI"d Tor
tie iioor 1t The same time. Judge Ewine 4
Iittshnrgh sntJndce savior of ohi' cop'"nd",!
Elder Iunkin and ] .wyer "cCoook took TIE
the nle edr Tas taS S he ia
clark OF the New ,lo:k rresbytery. including
th Th ss"n"Ernnh;eTs ntnut ., ,r,
erence to the assembly ngon the reading OF thu
record. he would summit ~ formal protes, at
Dr. iliss. the Moderator Of tho New York
Ir.shyi"ry on{srt,,!, 1aylng TINT Dr., Briggs.
nnt eelh rs, sCm'nIIhsnm~r nag no right to
sire s d Hsena Hnt zane t" he r. ss
q the profrs;or and SAID that. as the friend OF
iro:ss, Whch 'hS Moderator ri rli;Sl he w S1
After ZONE. discussion the PARTIES concerned
asreei to wrtr" u" realm. = thu vo'rmnous
.here." The Assembly then adjourned until
10 morrow.
t, Pr " ~ @IGr S2,ps flino I'll the s,ers
arstH,' I .si"rg tn" NsS"mny II, toI'9w.:
wh,,cn =" % noi c"a@stc. anI i tl,"t lSva i
wien is "r oIen to graz" donG,, '"? n ny
cas.G ought t. 60 to ~" synod u New
you should entertain their appeals nrr invalid. |
You could not !ndwt them. with nj rrrluG.r- |
acting IN hss'y. Illegal and revolutionary /
mnHn"r' ,nheettoa. nv" Ice. presented !
L"a' which s""ir to be unanNwcratIn. !
~" Inv = arIenl dos rot Iustify n" pas ing
ANTS. III Rrcr-IcntS - Appeals iefo!e the !
G!.rncral As-"mqIIy are a! against this APPEAL. !
To entertain il would be to deprive the ,
dcfen,Imut 4 hi@ rights under III, Con- |
,iit'ii"n. 4 would wong more tan ono
hphdTcf ,lin,st"rs and elders ~ tn. Pros !
Iy'~ry "( >ew iork hy damaging or de- |
s;7oyins ;.hr!f ri-'t = compant. II would |
component and tn oLly proper judiciary to !
G"toFrt,n., the ~ q i, would put, tn" great |
synod IN the gw&warl dilemma either o: dis
REGARDING the rights ~ complalnants rcJre.
ntin* tHc majority q the l'r. sbgtery o. Nrw
i"rE. "r - sr"srr'ing III" decision ~ the |
ii 'tin.
erni A-senhir. whlh dismissed cas-, he-
camss H.'i,r vas given 70 III" Pre- bytery Of an
alpHa! t. til" synod and only subsequently
OF Hrren' T. The General Assembly ion Snn-
, not "nr"ptnIn tills anpPa! finally. because
Z COMPLAINT roqd.ng eioro tho synod at
ley M iG p signed hya majority o! ths voters
until this in'eglocutory decision is reversed
and !etsrminel by the synod there Is no for
peal can he taken.