The Bottineau pioneer. (Bottineau, N.D.) 1885-1895, 1892-06-04
UNABLE TO AGREE
Prof. Briggs Case Still Before
the Presbyterian General
Assembly.
An Attempt Made to Send the
Case Back to the New York
Presbytery.

PORTLAND. Ore, May ga floral column
of red roses July five feet high was placed
to-day upon the desk occupied by d..
Briggs, in the Presbyterian general assem-
bly,. The column was surmounted by a white
dove, with outspread wings. The attend
ance ana interest in the proceedings were
undiminished;
The hearing on the appeal was delayed
to receive a report of the standing CON-
mlttee on church extension. because Of the
necessary departure OF DR.. White. secretary
OF the board. The report was heard by the
assembly in n ~perfunctory manner. The
board of church erection is one which
never allows its expenses to exceed its in
come. Applications have been made for
Ill church ediices and ii ty.three
manses, a total Of $l73, OO0. = The
total income amounted to 500, 600
and the expenditures to $1O2. 900. Aid
was granted to 272 churches and al manses.
At the close OF the reading the report was
accepted and its recommendations adopted
without debate. The assembly again con-
stituted itself a court by the moderator. A
""' " ~ OIL IL
veil Of Montana looking to the return Of
the Briggs case to the presbytery Of New
York. Amendments were offered slightly
modifying this action, but with the same
object III view. The parties were allowed
to Withdraw to prepare a form CT action
which should be mutually acceptable. and
while they were thus consulting the reading
OF a report on the revision OF the confession
OF faith was begun. Just before closing the
reading Of the revision report the parties to
the appeal returned from their consulta-
ton. The revision then went over again
as unfinished business.
COULD NOT AGREE.
Judge Struvell stated that there had been
no agreement reached, and Elder McCook
was designated by DIR. Birch as the one Sc
lected to make known the will Of the COM
mittee. The resolutions were reread by
the clerk. Mr.. McCook regretted that he
was again compelled to aduressthe assemb-
ly. He said:
On Nov. 4 it was urged by me that we should
then proceed to trial. The presbytery did not
SEE mt to accept the proposition, but made a de-
cislon which we have appealed. We are here pre-
fifteen minutes, fifteen hours or fifteen days. The
assembly has relieved US of ali questions con-
cernlng the past: II you say drop the case we
pared to go on. The responsibility must be with
the assembly. We can't accept the proposal TO
return and begin the case in New York, de novo.
This might he interpreted to mean new charges
and specifications. whereas we desire only the
privilege OF amending former pa perS, ii thought
necessary. Another suggestion is that the pres
bytery be directed to try the case fairly.
This suggestion We most vigorously
deprecate. The moderator then ruled
that as the committee on prosecution re-
fuses to agree to the proposition suggested
and to allow the case to 60 back at once to
New York, the assembly must proceed to
hear the appeal. The question is whether
the appeal shall be sustained in part, or in
full. or pro forma, after which it is in the
discretion Of the assembly to reverse or
modify the judgment Of the inferior judica-
tory, if errors are found, or to remand the
case for a new trial.
. THE LINES IN THE APPEAL CASE
are being drawn more closely, and men
who have no sympathy with the views of
DIR. Briggs are strong in their efforts to
!orce it through the assembly. When such
men as Elder Junkin and DR.. Mcpherson
join together in an avowed attempt to con-
serve the constitutional rights of the in
dividual, that union is significant. There
is an effort on foot to proceed with the case
to an end. This was evidenced by the re-
mark of a prominent commissioner: owe
adritt in the Wilderness" There is a con-
viction that the assembly is going too fast
amt making presidents with too
much speed, and without suti.
cient deliberation. A peculiar incident
occurred IN the afternoon. DR.. Birch was
reading his paper supporting the appeal
and quoting certain words uttered by menu
bers of the rresbytery of the Briggs trial,
when u commissioner raised the point ofor-
der that it is improper to read these ex-
tracts lest some present. may be thereby in
fuenced."
At the afternoon session Elder Junkin of
Philadelphia offered a resolution to bring
matters before the court to a close. He
proposed to reverse the decision of the
presbytery, send back the papers and di-
rect The presbytery of New York to try the
case upon its merits
WITHOUT PREJUDICE TO EITHER PARTY
He declared the assembly cannot try the
case at this session upon its merits. The
action OF the presbytery has been unjust to
defendant; that he ought to have an op-
portunity to stand before his peers aud
assert and prove his innocence OF the
charges. DIR. Mcpherson of Chicago Sec
ondeu the resolution. He said he under
stood DR.. Briggs would confess Judgment
upon two of the grounds of appeal. These
would be sufficient to allow the assembly
to send back the case. If the assembly re.
ceived the appeal when no plea was entered
in the lower court and no sworn testimony
heard. it would invalidate the rights Of
every member OF the church, and these are
higher than those of any Individual.
After a brief argument DR.. Briggs stated
he would personally be willing to confess
judgment upon " o points in the appeal,
and would do so after consultation with the
members OF the presbytery.
Col. McCook stated the appeal must be
sustained, the decision of the pfesbytery
reversed, and the presbytery directed to
try the case On its merits. On these
grounds the prosecution committee would
be glad to accept the proposal. Upon the
return Of the conferees DR.. Briggs stated he
agreed to Junkin's resolution, but objec.
ton was entered by the prosecution com
mittee, and the moderator ruled that the
case must proceed. .>
Then DR.. Birch went over the grounds of
the appeal. DR.. Briggs was heard for an
hour III rebuttal, and a recess was taken un-
Ill 8 p. nj.