Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-30
THE BRIGGS CASE.
Two OF the Charges Prepared by the Prose
cution Dropped.

Two OF the Charges Prepared by the Prose-
cutioa Dropped.
The trial OF Rev. DR.. Charles A. Briggs on .
charge of heresy WIS resumed at O'Clock yes
| terday afternoon befc-o the Presbytery Of New
York. Over $50 ministers took their seats in
the body OF the church as members Of the Judi
catory, together With a number Of Law elders.
Col. John J. McCook, Prof John J. Stevenson
and Revs. Or. W. F. Bristol, r. F. sample and
J. j. Lampe constituted the prosecuting COM
mittee. From an early hour the galleries Of
the church began to fill with ministers and
] friends OF the accused minister, among them
being many ladies. The bad weather prevail
ing apparently had no effect on the attendance.
DR.. Briggs friends and opponents alike re-
allied that a crisis was imminent and every step
I in the proceedings was followed with interest
Scores OF the lay and cierica, jurors provided
themselves with the presbytery roll in order TO
! check of the lanes Of the abseutees and thus
be enabled to forecast, if possible the resalt OF
! the test vote which was soon to be taken on the
! question of striking out two Of the charges
which the prosecuting committee had preferred
1 against him. Moderator Bliss announced that
! the business before the court was the consider
alton OF the motion TO strike out the two
/ charges referred to, and then DR.. Alexander,
who offered the motion, had the hoor That
presbyter said he was willing to yield the floor
it had decided to abandon or to press the
! charges
DR.. Booth then made the poin, Of order that
the protest made by DR.. Briggs Monday YES Q
menace to the existence Of the court and could
not, therefore, be considered. The moderator
made no ruling on the point.
Col. McCook then rose and read the opinion
! OF the committee on the motion and argued
that the two charges could not be dropped.
In reference to charge Col McCook said that
/ H. De-
although he had affirmed before the professors
Of the Union Theological Seminary that he be-
hered that one who died unpenitent was for
ever lost, he had since promulgated his theory
Of progressive sancti6cation in his inaugural
address, and II was on this address that the
charge was founded. The fourth charge could
not be dropped, because DR.. Briggs denial Of
the fulfllment Of the details Of prophecy was a
denial Of the truthfulness Of The Bible and an
impeachment OF the omnipotence OF God
DR.. Alexander interrupted Col McCook by
insisting that the committeeman had no right
to argue on the objection and Col. McCook re-
sumed his seat
DR.. Briggs took the f,oor and said that one OF
Col. McCooks points was based on q typo
graphical error in printed copy and must be
dropped. He declared that the offer made
Monday to waive his objection to the six other
charges was made conditionally.
Mr.. Robinson, the great hymn writer, wanted
to know what the conditions were. He was
answered by DR.. Van Dyke and cor, oborated by
the defendant that the condition WAS that the
charges, which embodied two separate counts,
should be divided. DR.. Alexander's motion 10
strike out charge four was taken up. Prof
Brown of the Union Seminary and foremost OF
Or. Briggs supporters. took the floor. He said
that the committee had acted unfairly in quot
ing part OF Dr. Briggs statements and taking
them out Of their proper connections. ANY
minister" he said ferventIy, could be proved
heretical BY this course"
Calls for the question resounded through the
room: but Dr. Booth submitted that the other
side might be permitted to have something to
say. I'VE are not prepared TO maintain that an
enlargement, which merely explains a charge
is new matter"
Fully fifteen minutes were taken up bv Or.
William G.. Shedd, who defined the meaning Of
the word disclaimer" A laugh was precipi-
tated by his statement that DR.. Briggs was not
guilty of falsehood, but of decentralization.
DIR. Hastings, the venerable president Of the
faculty with which defendant is connected.
did not mince words in claiming that the charge
contained new matter. Said he: The change
made in the charge is radical. 1t gives the lie
direct to DIR. Briggs, and there is no getting
around it by casuistry''
II call Dr.. Hastings to ORDER" exclaimed
William p. Worrall, Col. Shephard's private
secretary.
II don't want to be interrupted by that young
man."
The effect of Mr.. worrall's point was that
Or. Hastings was cautioned to use milder
language He continued by affirming that Dr.
Briggs should be his own interpreter, and. as
he has disclaimed the charge the charge should
be dropped vote WAS taken and the motion
was carried by the decisive vote of 20 to 49,
The seventh charge suffered the same fate by
about the same vote.
Col. McCook asked that An exception TO the
courts action be entered on the record in be-
half Of prosecuting committee
just before adjournment Dr. Briggs called
attention to the fact that the court must iimin-
ish in numbers daily unless provision was made
FOR permitting those necessarily absent at one
or more sessions to retain their privilege Of
voting. He suggested that the moderator be
empowered to grant leave Of absence for
cause.
Il am willing to leave it to the honor Of any
juror, he said. Ito abstain from voting on
every question of which he has not heard both
sides. II this is not done we shall dwindle into
a rump court SO small that its verdict will be
received with no respect"
Lawyer McCook answered that the court
must abide by the provisions of the book Of
discipline. He was willing to accept any limi-
tation OF time in presenting his case that might
be liked by the presbytery, provided the same
restrictions were put upon DR.. Briggs The
latter declared such proposition to be unfair,
as he could not know what arguments might be
used against him. and he must be accorded an
opportunity of meeting them.
The court then took a recess until this after
noon.