Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-10-21
A PLEA FOR BRIGGS.
Brown, Of Union Seminary, Asks a
Settlement of the Committees
RIGHT OF INDEPENDENT ACTION.
He says They Have No Power to Appeal
against the Presbytsry.
HEATED DEBATES TEMPERED BY WIT

=
ing was the report of the Judicial Com
mittee. The committee reported in favor
Of allowing Dr. Mcleod, Of Boston, to
withdraw his appeal, for the reason that it
was irrsgularly before the Synod.
Dr.. Van Rensselaer,, of New York, moved
that the time for receiving the report on
DR. Briggs case be fixed at o'clock. This
was lost, and DR.. Miller, of Ogdensburg.
Chairman of the judicial Committee, re-
ported on the two complaints of DR.. Briggs
and his friends against the New York
Presbytery. The committee find the COM
plants in order, but recommend that it is
inexpedient to take action at the present
time, for the reason that the highest court
has taken action covering the points at
issue, and the lower court is now proceed
ing under 1t. The consideration of the re-
port was set down for $3.50 o'clock this
afternoon.
Henry NJ. Field. editor of the New York
ESangelist, opened the afternoon session
with prayer, In which he asked the AL
mighty to guide the remaining work of the
Synod 30 that Justice would be done to all
whom the ction of the Synod may effect.
Mr. Field is firm friend Of DE- Brigga
A contest Even Over the Minutes.
Rev. A. s. Pritchard, of the committee
appointed to examine the records of the
minutes of the Presbyteries for the past
year, submitted q report Regarding the
report Of the New York Presbytery, the
committee recommended the approval Of its
report, except those portions touching upon
the Briggs controversy. Dr. David G..
Wylie, of New York, moved that the ap-
proval of the minutes of that Presbytery be
| postponed until the meeting Of the Synod
next year Tho motion was put and car
ried with not one dissenting voice.
A resolution expressing sympathy for
President Harrison on account of the ILL
ness of Mrs Harrison was adopted by a
rising vote.
The report of the Judicial Committee, to
allow Dr.. Mcleod to withdraw his appeal,
was adopted. The committee reported that
| the Prosecuting Committee of the New
| York Presbytery wished to withdraw its
| appeal from the action of that Presbytery
in dismissing the charges against Dr.. Briggs
| This the committee could not favor, as all
those who signed the appeal had not signed
the request to withdraw it The commit
tee, therefore, decided that the appeal was
| in order.
The Appeal Permitted to Be Withdrawn.
Elder Yearance, of New York, moved
that permission be given to withdraw the
appeal His motion was adopted with some
dissenting voices.
The majority report of the committee on
the two complaints of DR.. Briggs and his
friends, which was read this morning, was
then taken up, when Elder L. I. Hsmilton,
of the Cayuga Presbvtery, and DR.. H. G.
Of Puf4o sold hot mir pnrf
was in course of preparation. The latter
moved that the consideration of the ma
iority report be postponed until the minor
ity report should be submitted. This created
some discussion, but was finally agreed to.
The report of the minority was submitted,
as follows;
We the undersigned members of the
Judiciary Committee, to whom was referred
a complaints signed by Francis Brown in be-
half of himself aud others, would respec-
lively report that we heartily agree with
and coincide in the report Of the majority
except co the recommendation. We do not
In view Of all the circumstances of the case
we deem 1t unwfse and fnexpedient as COM
ing from the Judiciary COMMITTEES.
REV. GEORGE r. SPALDING, of Syracuse.
Rev. r: D. SPRouL, of Brooklyn.
ELDER L 7. HAMILTON, OF Bridgeport
ELDER HORACE BRIeGs, of Buffalo.
Oil Of Wit on the Troubled Waters,
The majority report was signed by the
remaining II members of the committee
The difference between the two reports is
|. that the minority report makes no recon-
mendations, but simply brings the case be.
fore the Synod for its action. A hot dis
cussion followed the receipt of the minority
report, but several facetious delegates with
their timely hum1 kept the assemblage in
peaceful frame OF mind throughout.
DR.. Miller made the remark that the COM
plant of Prot. Brown, when first filed, con-
tained but three signatures and said that
the other II signatures were attached after
the expiration of the time for filing the
complaint complete. Prof Brown said the
complaint is now signed by la ministers
and elders in the New York Presbytery.
He admits that many of these gentlemen
signed after the complaint was filed. The
complaint, however, was just as good with
three as with ia signers
DR.. Hopkins, of the Utica Presbyterv,
moved that both reports be accepted. Elder
Yearance then moved the adoption of the
majority report T. G. Strauss, of the
Presbytery of the North River, moved to
amend by providing for the adoption of the
minority report
The Rights Of the Prosecuting Committee.
DR.. Halleck, of Southampton, L. L,
thought the minority report should be
adopted SO as to bring the case before the
Synod in such form as to allow of q de-
cision by the Synod on the question of the
Prosecuting Committee being an original
party. This had not been determined by
the General Assembly, he held, and he
thought settlement of this Question to be
one of justice, in order to determine
whether the Prosecuting Committee had
any legal right to 60 to the General As
sembly.
Rev. DR.. Lord, of Buffalo, moved to SUBJ
stitute the minority for the majority report.
The Chair ruled this motion out of order
Ex-Moderator Fiske, of Ithaca, appeal ed
from the decision. The Chair was sustai ned
by vote of "a to 81 DR.. SpaIding said
the majority report was handed In this
morning without the knowledge of the
minority members.
Dr.. Brown, who is professor Of Hebrew
in the Union Theological Seminary, and
DR.. Briggs special champion on the floor
of the Synod, secured recognition. The ses-
sion was extended for half an hour in order
to hear him. Rev. Dr. r G. Robinson said
if DR.. Brown was q complainant in the
Briggs case, under the rules he had no right
to participate in the deliberations of the
Synod on this case
Briggs Friend Makes His Appeal.
Rev. Dr. Strauss then moved to strike out
the recommendation in the majority report.
DR. Brown then addressed the Synod on
this motion. saying in part:
This complaint involves O constitutional
question of great Importance. Whether the
errors against DR.. Briggs are real errors are
not now to be discussed. The action Of the
General Assembly is no bar to the enter.
tainment of this complaint by the Synod.
The Prosecuting Committee had no exist