The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-28
Tho General Assembly Would Not
Send II Back 10 the
Presbytery.
Col. McCook Seems to Be the
Great Objector OF the
Body.
aud Adherents Are d Decidsdly
In the Minority.

PORTLAND. Ore, May 27.-At the opening
OF the Presbyterian general assembly this
morning the repsrt Of the committes on
church extension Was received and adopted.
The assembly was then organized as court
for tho trial Of the case Of DR.. Briggs. A
resolution was introduced BY Judge Sire
veil, Of Mentana, looking to the return Of
the Briggs ease to the Prssbysery Of New
York Alnendmsats wsrs offered slightly
modifying this action, but with the Same
objsst in view. The parties were allowed
to withdraw to arrange plan mutually
acceptable. While thsv wers consulting.
the reading Of The report on revision of the
confession Of faith WAS taken up. Just
before the closing Of the reading
OF the revision report. the par
ties to the appeal returned and
revision went over - unfinished business.
Judge 6trsvsll stated that there had been
no agreement reached and Elder McCook
addrssssd the assembly again. He regretted
failure to arrive ct . conclusion and stated
that the committee on prosecution cannot
accept the proposal to return and begin the
case in New York. The moderator then
ruled that the assembly must proceed to
near the appeal, the question being whether
the appeal should be sustained in part, in
full, Or pre- forma. II was evidently the
desire Of large part Of the house that tho
case be rsmandsd for new trial. Int this
Was thwarted by refusal Of tho prosecu tors
to consent to the proposition to sustain the
appeal pro forma. McCook asserted that
the question 10 dismissal or full sustaining
of the appeal.
At tho afternoon session Elder Junkia, Of
Philadelphia. offered a resolution in the
interest Of peace and order. To bring
matters before the court to . close he pro-
posed to reverse the decision Of ths presby-
tory, send back the papers and di-
rect the presbytery of New York to try
the case upon its merits. without prsjudice
to either party. He declared that the as
sembly cannot try the case 1T this session
upon its merits. The action of the prssby-
terry had been unjust to defendant. He
ought to have an opportunity TO stand be-
innocence of the charges. DR.. McPhevson..
of Chicago, in seoonding the resolution
said hs understood DR.. Briggs would con-
fsss iudgmsnt upon two Of the grounds Of
appeal. These weuld be sufficient to
:hs .A:s s' sas assemble s;A' r.s.ss sass
an appeal whom no plea WAS entered in the
lever court, and no sworn testlnony heard,
it would invalidats the rights Of every
member Of the church, and these are higher
than those Of any individual. After .
brief argument, DR.. Briggs stated that he
wonld personally be willing to sonfess
Judgment upon two points in the appeal
and would do 30 after consnltation with
msmbers OF the presbytsry. Dr.. Bliss, DR..
Thompson, DR.. Elsing. and Judge Strong
Withdrew with DR.. Briggs.
Col. AoCook stated that the appeal must
be sustained. the decision OF the presbyt tory
reversed and the prssbytery directed to t,y
the sass on its merits. On these grounds
the prosecution eomMittee would be glad
to aocapt the proposal. Upon return of the
oonfersss, DR.. Briggs stated that he had
agreed to Junkins' resolution, but
objection was entered by the pros
eeutinQ committee and the moderator ruled
that the case must proceed. Then DIR.
Birch took the floor with mass of man L.
script, the reading of which occupied an
hour. II covered the grounds Of appeal
and specifications Hereunder. When the
reading was concluded DR.. Briggs was
heard for an hour in rsbuttal and = recess
then taken until eight p. m.