The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-05-29
BRIGGS CASE ENDED.
That Is, So Far as the General
Assembly Is Concerned.
SENT BACK TO THE PREseYTERY.
Tho Majority Against the Hereto Over.
nary to he Disciplined Next.

gether, SO far as the general assembly is
concerned. By a vote. which under the
law of the church is to be reckoned as 429
to 81, the appeal against the action of the
presbytery of New York in dismissing the
case has been sustained in whole or in
part Final action Is deferred till Monday,
but the action then will be only formal. as
the constitution prescribes what it shall
be. The papers in. the case will
be sent back to the presbytery and
IL Will be ordered to proceed with the
trial which it voted to discontinue. The
interest manifested in the hearing was
sustained till the very end, and the house
was packed throughout all the proceed
lngs. The most lively contest Of the day
was over allowing members Of the presby-
terry OF New York who were not commits
sloners to speak in defense of the action
OF the presbytery. The significance of the
decisive vote by which this was allowed is
in the fact that it establishes q precedent
in the practice Of the church. The final
result of the appeal has been foregone
conclusion from the first, and it causes
little surprise now that it is concluded.
During the morning session Mr.. George
w. Childs, of Philadelphia, was introduced
to the assembly. In presenting him Mod
orator Young said:
We have on this platform, seated beside Gov
ernor Pennoyer, a man whose reputation for
bsnehcsnce and philanthropy is coterminous
with this land God has given him the brains
to make fortune and the heart to distribute it.
His tour across this continent, although without
title or rank, shows the high honor and esteem
in which he is he ID, Iwant to introduce to this
assembly George W. Childs.
Mr.. Childs rose and bowed to the assem-
bly,, but made no speech.
The usual devotional exercises were led
this morning by DR.. Hal.idie, of Brook
lyn. The discu ssion upon the adoption Of
the minutes called forth the fact that
there was a deep-seated objection to the
action taken on revision last night.
Notice was given that in due time for
NAL protest against this action would be
entered. 1t was objected that the discus
sion was not only not full, but was
limited to members of the revision COM
mittee. After the final approval of the
minutes the moderator introduced Gov
| ernor Pennoyer, Of Oregon, who delivered
brief address of welcome.
The supplementary report Of the COM
mittee on theological seminaries was then
presented. 1t recommended that special
to attend only such schools as are under
the supervision of the general assembly,
and that similar restrictions be placed
upon the board of education in making
such appropriations to such students. No
money is to be given to any student who
is studying in any school not authorized
and recommended by the general as
sembly. With regard to the Union SEM
AZ 8. -
back almost without change The SEM
mary is declared to have failed to comply
with its obligations, and that the chair Of
Biblical theology by DR.. Briggs is vacant.
A second resolution introduced declares !:
That the seminary Is living in defiance of the
veto OF the transfer OF DR.. Brggs The report
insists upon the maintenance Of the compact as
the same has been interpreted by the general
assembly in order to the maintenance OF the
present uniform and entire confidence OF
church. The report goes on to recommend that
the assembly state that it is constrained to in
eist upon its Interpretation as given at Detroit
1t also recommended that the assembly declare
that it cannot assent to the prayer of the direc-
tors of Union seminary allowing the relations OF
the seminary to the assembly to be severed. 1t
| is then recommended that the statu QUO be rec
ognized so far the difference of opinion Is
upon the Interpretation of the compact and
q
fifteen for arbitration.
A minority report was entered, which is
Identical with the earlier report looking
to peaceful withdrawal of the Union
seminary and the formation of new COM
pact. Further consideration of the mat
ter was deferred till Monday, or till the
close of the judicial case now before the
assembly.
The hearing of the case of DR.. Briggs on
appeal was then resumed. The case of the
appellant was then taken up by Rev.
Lampe, member of the prosecuting COM
mittee, followed by Elder McCook.
Here both sides rested and the question
was raised whether the members of the New
York presbytery have the right to speak
under the rule that opportunity shall be
given to the members of the judcatory
appealed from to be heard" The moder-
ator decided in the affirmative. and an APP
peal was taken. After deliberation the
moderator withdrew his decision, ex-
pressing his desire that the point should
be settled by the house. Pending the
putting of the question whether the rule
shall be interpreted to allow members OF
the New York prespytery to speak on the
door of the assembly the hour Of adjourn
ment arrived, ana the matter went over
till the afternoon session.
At the afternoon session the debate of
the morning was continued until cut short
by the ordering of the previous question
upon motion allowing any member of
the New York presbytery TO speak. The
motion was carried and a number of mem
bers of the New York presbytery adj
dressed the assembly. Commissioners on
both sides of the question were then heard
for an hour. Before taking the vote the
moderator made statement of the power
of the assembly in case the appeal should
be sustained.
tent 10 reverse the judgment of the presbytery
same charges and specifications. which are
amendabe 1t is not CON petent for the assembly
! itself 10 try the case upon its merits.
The six grounds of appeal, with their
twenty-five specifications, were then read
| and voted on separately. Each specitica-
| ton was sustained. The final vote upon
| sustaining the appeal was then taken. the
yeas and nays being called. The vote was
under the following heads: Sustain, "
Sustain in part, Not sustain" and re-
| suited as follows: sustain as the whole,
| 302; sustain in part, l21; not sustain, 81 :;
| the whole number Of votes cast, 5l6. As
| soon as the vote was announced Judge
| Saylor offered the following resolution:
WgERrAs The anDesl in this case has bean