Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-05-29
DR., BRIGGS DOWNED
By an Overwhelming Vote Of
the Presbyterian Gen.
eral Assembly.
THE TRIAL MUST PROCEED
And Be Conducted by the New York
Presbytery, Which Shirked It
LAST ACTION TO BE HAD MONDAY.
The n. P Church Strikes Cut Obey From
the Marriage Seryice
THE TRIAL MUST PROCEED
LAST ACTION TO BE HAD MONDAY.
DOIyGS OF RELIGIOUS GATHERINGS

and the Briggs case have ended together, so
lar as the General Assembly is concerned.
BY q 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 viii be only formal, as the con-
siituron prescribes what it shall be. The
T,arers in the case will he sent back to the
I'rrsbvtery. and 1t will be ordered to pro-
ceed with the trial which it voted to dis
continue.
The most lively contest Of the day was
over allowing members of the Presbytery
ol New York, who were not Commissioners
70 speak in defense of the action of the
Preshvterv The significance of the de-
cided vote bv which this was allowed. is in
The fact that il establishes a precedent in
tie practice of the Church.
The ouestion of Revision Is shelved.
AT Yesterday evenings session final
arrirD was taken on the revision question,
So Jar as his Assembly is concerned The
sr.E.ment was made that the rule now gov
en- 1- changes in the constitution of the
Cru-e4 makes the old committee illegal on
accom-. Of the method OF its composition.
The resolution was overwhelmingly laid on
the liable, under the operation of the preyi-
ou~ question, and without further discus
son be report and recommendations of the
Revision Committee were adopted, and the
% overtures therein proposed were ordered
seat down 10 the Presbyteries for their
action.
Taiz morning the appellants and appellee
III -r0 Briggs case were promptly on hand.
n>eIs on upon the adoption of the min
utr> called forth a deep-Sea.ed objection to
the action taken on the revision OF the night
session oi YESTERDAY Notice was given
that due time formal protest against
l'a- action would be entered.
Tie supplementary report of the Com
ni-.re uu Theological Seminares. recon-
ra~lel thai special care be taken that all
ST.. .antS lie directed to attend only such
F.H...s a> are under the supervision of the
General. Assembly, and that a similar re-
s-r...nH he placed on the Board OF Educa-
I.. % making appropriations to such stu
d,rrs
Er Ezs' Chair Declared de Jure Vacant.
With regard to the Union Seminary, the
for e- resolutions were brought back
g" L.-u had been previously introduced al
mm,r altaoat change The seminary is de-
clare. 90 have tailed to comply with its OBJ
LEGATIONS The Chair of Biblical Theology,
occupied by Dr. Briggs, is de jure vacant.
s second resolution introduced declares
r.a the seminary is living in defiance of
t.e veto OF the transfer of DR.. Briggs, and
insists upon the maintenance of the con-
tract as Interpreted by the General Assem-
bIv
The report goes on to recommend that the
Assembly report that it is constrained to
insist ou lis Interpretation as given in De-
IrrIt 1t is also recommended that the
Assembly declare that it cannot assent TO
TIE rrayer OF the directors of the Union
Seminary, allowing the relations of the
Seminary TO the Assembly to be severed. 1t
j. tlcn recommended that the status quo be
recognized, so Jar as the difference of opin-
l.u .u0u the Interpretation of the compact
Is .lcerled, ana that the matter be given
GOA committee OF five selected by each body,
ran shall select the other five; that this
Committee OF Fifteen be a committee of
arDI-ralors.
Eh Matter Laid Over Till Monday.
TIE minority report which was entered
Wa IDENTICAL with an earlier report looking
To- peaceful withdrawal of the Union Semi
r4.v and the formulation of a new compact
TIE r.r her consideration of the matter was
deferred ti.I 10 o'clock Monday, or till the
Close o- the july trial case now before the
Assembly.
The hearing of the Briggs case on appeal
wa ta.n resumed. The case of the appel
laa- "as then taken up by the Rev. Mr..
Lamp, member OF the Prosecuting Com
mIIer, and was followed bv Elder McCook.
Then both sides rested, and the question
was raised whether members of the New
! orE fre>bytery have a right to speak
under the rule, that opportunity shall be
given 10 members Of the Judicatory for an
appeal 20 bc heard. The Moderator decided
l the Affirmative, and appeal was taken.
After elaboration the Moderator Withdrew
EIs .-eUuu, expressing his desire that the
Puat should be settled by the House.
The Debate in The Afternoon
Upon gathering for the afternoon session,
the ieha,e OF The morning was continued
until it was cut short by the ordering of
the previous question upon an amendment
allowing any member OF the Presbyterv of
y ew l0rk TO speak. a vote was taken and
declared carried, and the roll of the Presby-
t.-v was called.
Ilr Bliss, Moderator OF the Presbvterv,
Fr0s. upon the correctness of the steno-
graphic report of the proceedings at the
tlIal DO New York.
Eev. Nh Service said he had heard
rn-1ing which showed that the extraordin-
afr course OF appealing over the head OF the
SYNOD HaS necessary, and until that neces-
siiy is shown the appeal should not be sus-
tanned DR. Patterson stated that the pro-
Cet--u-S 10 iue PreSbytery of New York
were without parallel, and that DR.. Briggs
matter was the most remarkable one he had
ever seen
Elder Jlnkins said Dr. Briggs had been
wIoH-ed by his Presbytery They shirked
tie issue, and in their verdict put in many
things which did not belong there
Ono Of the Speakers Called to Order
Rer. Mr.. Marsh, of Michigan, stood for
the Interests OF Christian charity and expe- |
dlencvr not believing that the case is ap- |
YcaI..5-e. Nothing but the most extraordi- |
nary reasons will Justify the course OF the |
prosecutors. Dr. Laurie OF PENNSYLVANIA, |
SPOKE Of Dr. Briggs in such way that |
tie Moderator called him to order, and he |
rctrac'c4 MS words. He denied that DIR. |
Briggs avowal Of loyalty to the standard of |
tie church was sufficient
Rev. Mr Burnley, Of Wisconsin, opposed |
tie proposal but he did not consider that |
the Committee Of Prosecution had sny right |
TO BE- here. Rev. Mr. Potter. of Michigan,
couiended that it is entirely in the discre- |
tion Of the committee 10 select the place |
where The appeal should 90
Judge Stcve!l said the Presbytery should |
NJ, ue Crnsurcd. The demurrer of DIR. |
briggs addressed itself to the question of |
sgtileasHcy % The charges in torn and legal |
e'.ct. The Presbytery decided upon these |
crnunds and in exact accordance with law.
- GTst vCte my conviction that the /
f'reshyjerv OF New York was right and alb
Eoiuteay right,
Tho Time for the Voting Arrives.
Expiration OF the time limit made the