New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-05-26
DIR. BRIGGS UNDER FIRE.
THE PRELIMINARIES OF HIS TRIAL IN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY.
EVERYTHING ELSE SWEPT ASIDE FOR THE
CONSIDERATIONS OF HIS CAsE-UNIoN
SEMINARY,S POSITION.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIPUNE.1

CONSIDERATION OF HIS CAsE-UNIoN
sEMINARY's POSITION.
10y TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIPUNE1
Portland. Ore. May Beside by side on the plat
form at the meeting OF General Assembly this AFTER
roor sat two men from the Presbytery Of New York
whose names should be familiar 10 every one oil 'h'
800 900 communicates OF the denomination ana 10 u"
equally large number OF people outside OF te rrSoS
terrain Church. One OF the two Professor ShareS
A. Briggs Of the Union Theological seminary, ana the
other was DR.. George ". T. Birch. the head oi .''e
prosecuting committee OF the Presbytery NOT uu
they address each other. They were the centre OF
admiration, Birch. the alleged prosecutor. quite rs
much as Briggs. the alleged hereto. The church was
filed 10 It's utmost capacity The gallery WAS nhaoie
10 hold one half Of those who had left the meeuhs
held By the women In the Interest OF Home MISSIONS
Avcrse as every is avowedly to church u1a'.
especially at this missionary assembly no cau'o vi
the Church, however pressing. has filed the t1rst
Church with 80 large audience, and The huhoreis
IN hered satisfied, for DR.. BFisgss c"sc '"''
before the Assembly In two ways.
Inst before the appeal heard, the Ju'
dicJal Committee had submitted report declaring III
uneouivocal terms that his chair In Cnon seminary
was vacant de jure, and n minority OF the romh'''ec
had submitted q recommendation asking the Assembly,
n allow the withdrawal OF the Seminary from the
ccmpoct Of 1870. Action on these reports was de-
ferred
A lively scrimmnge regarding the time limit TO DC
allowed the appellants and the appellee took place
When the case was called, Montana lawyer. who had
never met Dr. Briggs rose his defence and declared
that the Professor must not be met on 'hc
Assembly floor by two Or more OF the hVe
members II must be man against man. Dr. breg'
and Dr. Birch sat as unmoved as though the claims
n, A,rco upon the Drcas societies OF Portland were
being argued by a returned missionary. Both com
batnnts held themselves well in hand. After long
parliamentary contest Professor stevenson, OF new
York University, member Of the prosecuting commit
fee said that for n sufficient reason DR.. Birch would
omen the case and Colonel McCook, another menDer
of the committee, had been asked to close It,
Under cries OF - No. no. Dr. stevenson said with
omnhas,s: "Then IL that Is not gianted by the
house the appellants following the Book Of Discipline
will insist upon their right and decide for themselves
how they shall divide the time and speakers OF the
committee
Dr. Frazer. OF Newark, and Dr. Mcpherson, OF
Chicago spoke for the liberals. and Mr. Jenkins OF
Philadelphia, and DIR. McKevey, Of Jersey CITY, ior
the committee The majority and minority reports
q, tho Judicial Committee were printed in full In The
Tribune yesterday.
The matter being finally ready for action. DR..
Young suggested that this case should sweep aSice
all order Of the day. and motion to that effect was
adopted The reading Of the paper was begun.
Tho appeal begins:
The undersigned inc fToScculhR N"mh"e'' "Pi''"N~N
BY the Pesbytey q NewYork 10 represent the Pesoy
teran Church in the United States Of America IN the case
Of :hc said Presbyterian Church against the Key Chaes
A. Bgg, d. D.. believing that the trial OF sald Dr'
Briggs Of the most important in the history OF the
PRESBYTERIAN Church. OF the gfea: and dangerou,
rr contained I'm the address the said Dr. Briggs at his
Inauguration a. professor u Biblical Theology in Union
Theological seminary delivered on the Goth day Of January
1891 upon which inaugural address charges and
based and tabled and prosecution inaugu
atod ny no DrgSbN Of Ny X.
Prcsbyrion Church In the United states Of Amerco
and believing distinct and definite condemnation
Of BY the supreme udciatory OF the said
r.by,crnn Church in order u prevent their
spread and influence IN the denomination and while hav-
lng the highest respect the Synod Of NcwYork be-
eving special responsibility rests upon the gene raj
Assembly that affect the doctrine Of the Church,
and concern the promotion holiness through
all under set forth In Chapter XII,
Z and OF The Form n Government and In view
desrabcncs> OF the -Iecdicst settlement OF this
important question, do hereby APPEAL to and request
your venerable boiy TO enter immediately upon the con-
-drlton and judicial investigation OF the appeal hereby
presented finally determine the TO secur"
the purity and peace OF the Church at the earliest possible
dav.
Then fellow the grounds Of the appeal. six in
number under each of which several specified
lions one or two Of the specifications containing eX
tracts from the notes OF the official stenogrnpher
taken In the trial Of Dr. Briggs in New>ork last No
vembcr. The ground, Of appeal are
% Irrcguarv I'm the proceedings Of the Pres
hyery 90 receiving improper testimony: CD declIn
Ing to receive important testimony. - Fastening To
decision before the testimony fully taken: (j
manifestation Of prejudice I'm the conduct OF the eaSe
and 90 mistake and injustice In the decision.
In conclusion the appellant pr;ys the General
Assembly to receive and issue this appeal and
10 take therein such action may seem best In order
10 secure and preserve the purity and peace Of the
Church II is signed By George W. +. Birch. Joseph
j. Lampc Robert +. sample. John j. stevenson. John
j. McCook
The Union Seminary still hangs fire. the follow
ing divided report being submitted by the Theological
seminary Committee, beaded by DR.. ). IL. Muchmorr
Of Philadelphia:
In the report ~ urlon Seminary your committee md
the name Of the Rev Chare, A. Briggs D. reported a.
1.-THE Edward Robinson professor Of Biblical theology"
reference this your committee recommends the fol-
SOWING action:
Whereas tho General Assembly at Detroit 1891 dis.
approved the election transfer OF the Rev G. A. Briggs Of
Union seminary. Edward Robinson chair OF Biblical
theology" your committee report that the annual report
OF the director, Union Seminary made this General
Assembly shows that Professor Briggs is
retained In full and discharge Of the duties Of the
chair In view OF this pliancc with the %
the Detroit Assembly. recommend the following fc'o
luton:
Resolved That according the compact 1870 between
the Assembly and the doetor. the Union Seminary n
interpreted by Gcncral Assembly this Assembly
but regard the Professor Briggs his profe,
sorship ~ only failure to comply with the expressed
action Of the Assembly Of s9i bur also with agreement
contained In the aoread compact The chair Of Biblical
Theology In Uni0n seminary IS stu dc jure vacant.
In answer to overures from twenty three Presby-
tcrcs and synod relating to the supervision OF
seminarics the committee made this recommendation
Resolved That this Assembly regard the maintenance of
-