The morning call., 1892-05-25
BRIGGS IN THU MINORITY.
Two Reports Submitted by the Judicial
Committee Of the assembly.
HERESY LIKELY 10 BIZ REBIkED.
A kajCrity Of the Committee Believes That the ip'
peal Vas Well Taken-0Pp0Sed to State lid
for SCctarian Schools.
HERESY LIKELY 10 Be EEBUKED.
Special to THE MoRSINs CALL.

PORTLAND, Or, May 24-With the ex-
ception of the first half hour this morning
and Of a half hour in the middle of the
afternoon, the matters considered by the
General Assembly to-day have been mere
routine
The first thing of general interest was the
action taken recommending the adoption of
the proposed sixteenth amendment to the
constitution. while INTERPRETED into the
afternoon session was the preliminary re-
port Of the judicial committee upon which
the Briggs heresy case is to be intro
duced.
Victory thus far appears to be with the
anti-Briggs party by large majority.
There were two reports upon the appeal
from the action of the New York Presby-
terry in djsmissng the case. as it was proph-
esied there would be some days ago,
but the forebod4ngs of the CONSERVATIVES"
were unfounded, since they are in decided
majority.
The decision Of the assembly is awaited
with Interest. and tomorrow at o'clock IS
the time fixed for the hearing of the case.
The first unpleasant episode of the ses-
sion occurred near the close to-day when
Or. Bartlett of Washington referred in rather
sneering terms to the report of the commit
tee on cooperation with other churches.
Home Missions.
After devotional exercises, led by Dr.
Richmond of Louisville, and the reading Of
the minutes, the General Assembly heard
The report of the standing committee on
Home Missions, read by DR.. Mcpherson of
Chicago. Attention was called to the fact
that the subject is one specially fitted to
the place of the meeting and the time-the
four buudredth anniversary OF Columbus
discovery. The report gave an account
of the work of the year as conducted by
support given by the church, While the
needs were set forth very strongly. The
board began the year with deOt OF
nearly 100000 One million dollars
was asked for last year, and the con-
tributi0ns reached within SIS, 900 of th at
amount. Of which over SS43,000 was avail
able. The present debt is $4,000. I'M
mense immigration has given this board
foreign work 20 do at home. The report
gives an account of the work in the various
States, conducted by 1879 miSsiOnar les IN
the churches, with 4 membership Of $50, 900
and a school attendance of I4l,000. During
the year - churches have become self
sustaining The States having the most
home missionaries are: New York $40,
Kansas 112. Iowa 102, Minnesota 81, Cali
fOrnia s. Illinois 81. Nebraska so, Michigan
a, the Dakotas 1l2, and the rest Of the
An active discussion followed the report,
and the enthusiasm grew throughout the
time devoted to the topic. Sixteen recon-
mendations looking toward the extension Of
work were adopted.
No Money for Religious schools.
The report of the committee on the pro-
posed sixteenth amendment TO the Federal
constitution was presented at the opening
of the afternoon session, with the recon-
-1--es - 4 .
which Is now pending before the judiciary
Committee Of the House of Representatives
at Washington be slightly altered IN ord er
TO meet q special objection.
The proposed amendment is as follows:
Neither Congress nor any State shall pass
any law respecting any establishment of
religion or prohibiting the free exercise
thereof, or use its property ana credit. o
any money raised by taxation, or authorize
either to be used for the purpose of found
ing maintaining or aiding by appropriation,
payment Tor services or expenses, or ether
wise, any church, religious denomination or
religious society, or any Institution, society
or undertaking which is wholly or in part
under sectaFian or ecclesiastical control"
Upon motion the assembly Endorsed this
amendment by a unanimous vote.
The report Of the committee on aid for
colleges and academies was introduced by
DR.. Alexander Of San Francisco. The re-
port stated that during the year the board
had lost It's efficient secretary by the death
OF Dr. Came The regular receipts Of the
year have amounted to a little over $50, co.,
while other gifts have aided the work in the
sum Of over S95, 600 Appropriations have
been granted to 10 colleges and q acad-
emies. In the colleges aided there are now
17j candidates for tie ministry.
The claims Of the work were further pre-
sented by Dr. Ray, the new secretary, and
others, who represented all sections Of the
country.
The Briggs Case Ia Sprung.
At this point the report of the judicial
committee on the appeal IN the case Of the
trial Of Dr.. Briggs for heresy was sprung
uDon the assembly, 1t was read by DR.. Smith
Of Buffalo, chairman, aud was as follows:
In tie case Of the Presbyterian Church Ia the
Unned States OF America against Charles A.
Briggs. appeal from the Judgment Of the presby-
terry OF New York dismSsiug The case.
The judicial committee respectfully reports
that II has carefully considered the documents
submitted 10 1t In the ease aud has adopted the
following resolutions:
First-That in the opinion OF this committee
the appeal taken by the Presbyterian church In
the United States OF America, and tile original
patty represented by the committee Of pFoSecu-
lion app0n ed under section IL OF the Book of
Discipline, has been taken from the final judg-
meAJ OF the presbyteTy IN dismiSSlug The case,
and that said committee had a rlgnt TO take such
appeal representing said original party.
SecOBd-Tbat II finds that notice or The appeal
Of error and record have been filed IN accord
anee With sections 90 aud 81 of lie Book OF Dis
cipline and that no appeal is In ORDER
ThlTd-Ibat In the judgment of this committee
the appeal should be entertained and time set
apart for the hearing OF the case.
In view OF these considerations the committee
reports that the appeal IS in order, aud that the
General Assembly should proceed 10 accordance
with the provisions Of section 90 OF the Book OF
D9cil line, by causing the judgment appealed
from, the notice OF appeal. the appeal and the
specifications OF errors alleged TO be read. 1t
should then hear the appellant by the committee
OF prosecution; then the defendant In person or
by his eouDssl then the appellant by the com.
miltee OF prosecution in reply, upon the queS-
ton whether the appeal shall be entertainment"
a Minority Favors Briggs.
Immediately after the statement that the
session OF the committee had been entirely
pleasant and harmonious, though not unan-
imous, a minority report was announced.
The document was read by DR.. Fraser Of
Newark, and was as follows:
The under signed, forming minority OF The
Judicial committee, would respectfully submit
the following report;
WHEREAS The Book OF Discipline requires
that appeals are generally TO be taken to the
Judiciary Immediately superior to that appealed
from; aud whereas, there are no sufficient
| reasons for making this appeal against the
| action Of The pTesbytery OF New York in dis
missing the case against DIR. Briggs an eXcep-
! ton TO this RUE;
Therefore, we recommend to the General AS
! sembly that the APPEAL be not entertained; that
the papers IN The case be returned TO the appel.
! liant, and that they be advised TO bring their
! appeal or complaint before the synod OF New
/ York. Respectfully submitted.
/. X. Fraser. Thomas Gordon, Oswald l..
! Baekus, George v. kelcham.
The only action taken upon the reports
thus submitted was to fix 4 o'clock to.
morrow as the time for their consideration
An Unpleasant Episode.
The order of the day was then resumed
and the report from the committee on co.
| operation with other churches was read by
| DR.. Thompson Of New York.
la view OF the opinions entertained by
many. it is doubtful whether the recon-.
mendatlons OF the committee would have
been adopted except for the pecnliar anfics
| OF reverend doctor OF divinity in the per.
son OF DR.. Bartlett of Washington. In gain
ing the floor he remarked that be wanted to