The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-27

what shall be the grounds of appeal. These are
irregularity of proceedings, refusal 70 entertain
complaint, and the receiving of improper testi-
mony. In this last the presbytery erred. We
offered to prove all our charges. The presby-
terry also hastened to q conclusion, which - a
recognized ground Of appeal. In this regard the
presbytery also erred. The action as whole u
such q decision as 10 in terms such . final juds-
ment ~ is referred to by the book.
The moderator then stated that the
method of procedure was to take vote on
the question whether the appeal shall be
entertained. 1t was moved that the vote
be taken without debate, but considerable
debate followed in the form of questions,
points of other, etc. AT last the assembly
had an opportunity to vote On the above
motion, and under the previous question
il was carried in the affirmative.
The moderator called attention to the
fact that the question before the house
was upon the report Of the minority,
recommending that the case be sent back
to the synod of New York. Upon motion
the report was laid upon the table by a
vote Of 3e5 to ID. This was the first test
vote.
The majority report, recommending en-
Pertaining the appeal, was adopted with
out division.
DR.. Mcpherson asked what the "record
Of the case" is which must be read on the
opening Of the proceedings in the house.
There is book of 272 pages bearing that
title, containing the minutes of the pres
bytery and a lot of other papers, together
with stenographic report Of the trial in
New York, when DIR. Briggs was arraigned
at the bar of the presbytery on a charge Of
heresy. These books had been widely dis
tributed. The question was whether they
contained true reports in the case. They
were certified in part by the stated clerk of
the presbytery of New York, and partly
by the moderator of that body, as being a
correct reproduction of the records as
written or as reproduced from the
notes of the stenographer. DR.. Briggs OBJ
Jected to this book, purporting to be the
record OF the case, as inaccurate, and as
containing things which do not belong in
the record. 1t is inaccurate, he said, in
that it changes the order of the proceed
ings. The charges and specifications
which were tabled in New York are
separated from the report which actually
was presented. The complaint of the APP
pellant is not made part of the record, and
is not printed here. 1t is, however, por-
ton of thu case and is essential to the
complete record. The record contains a
stenograph;c report of the proceed
ings and is authorized by the moderator
ito the best of his knowledge
and belief" but it has never been read be-
fore the presbytery nor approved by them.
1t also contains changes by the pen of the
moderator which he was not authorized to
make, and still other changes have been
made by some other hand. The appellee
objects to the record on these grounds.
Elder McCook, of New York, took up
the case of the appellant and quoted the
Book of Discipline to set forth the require
ments of the law and to explain that the
specifications were seved on defendant in
form separate from the preamble.
1t was further stated. he said, that
the complaint pending before the synod
OF New York is not that of appellant, but
entered into by some twenty other MEM
bers of the presbytery. As to the steno-
graphic report, it was furnished by a COM
petent man. After long wrangle, during
which motions, cOunter-motions and
points of order were made by dozen. the
previous question was ordered and it was
decided that the record in the case shall
consist Of the minutes as written and Of
the official stenographic report as sent up
by the stated clerk of the presbytery of
New York. Judge Struel, of Montana,
gave notice OF protest against the admls-
sion of the report, because of his belief
that the constitutional rights of DIR. Briggs
had been invaded by the assembly. Ad-
lourned till tomorrow morning.