Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-05-30
DIR. BRIGGS, TRIAL BEGUN.

DIR. BRIGGS TRIAL BEGUN.
The Arrangement for Dividing the
Timc-Plans for an Early Decision-
The Case for the Prosecution opened
| by the Rev. DR.. Lampe.
| WASHINGTON, May 29.-The gift of d.
vine light and guidance In solving the
question before the high judicial court of
the Presbyterian church was the subject of
every prayer offered at the half-hour de-
votional meeting this morning which pre-
faced to-day's session of the general assem-
bly,. The service was conducted by Pro-
lessor ]. n. Ceynar of Los Angeles, Cal,
who read the first chapter of Hebrews.
DR.. Baker, chairman of the judiciary
committee, made the report of the commit
tee as to the disposition of time in the
Briggs trial.
The arrangement contained in the report,
he said, was agreeable to both sides. The
appellants would open and close the case,
four and half hours being allowed them,
while the appellee Or. Briggs) would be
allowed seven hours. The New York pres
bytery, from whose Judgment the appeal
was taken, would be allowed two hours,
with each speaker limited to ten minutes,
and following them, the members of the
general assembly would be heard In two
hours under the ten-minute rule. Then
the vote would be tahsn on each specifca-
ton. DR.. Baker eaid the appellants would
introduce in their opening case all matters
they intend to present. No new matter
would be introduced.
The report was adopted unanimously,
after which the case for the prosecution
was opened by Rev. DIR. Lsmpe, who said
that in accordance with the Book of Disci-
pline the appellants assign Ave grounds in
appeal, namely: Irrregularity in the pro-
ceedings of the Presbytery of New York,
important testimony, manifestation of
prejudice in the conduct of the case
and mistake or injustice in the de-
cision. He proceeded to discuss the
first ground from a purely legal stand
point and laid much stress on the fact
that DR.. Briggs objected to going to trial
on two of the eight charges against him
in the Presbytery tscsuse he had never
taught the doctrines with teaching which
he was charged. Why, he asked, did DIR.
Briggs consent to go on trial on the re-
naming chargesi Was it because he has
taught the doctrines therein sllegedi If
that Is the reason, then why did he plead
not guilty to these remaining ehargeef If
he has not taught any of the doctrines al
legged in the amended eight charges, why
not go on trial on all eight of them or else
disclaim having committed the offencesi
Professor Briggs during bis defence said
he had been accused of teaching that many
of the Old Testament predictions had been
reversed by history and that the great
body of the Messianic prediction he'd not
ha f.1G lol l.
had repudiated and he would ask the as
sembly to hear exactly what hs had said,
but which the committee on prosecution
had omitted.
Continuing, DR.. Briggs said: "You have
heard attributed to me the dreadful doc
trine of race redemption. But If you will
look into my inaugural you will see that
all have to say on that subject is connect
ed. with the incarnation of Jesus Christ
These brethren are taking too nsrrow
view of the doctrine" The doctor read
from his book on "Messianic Prophecy" to
establish his teaching as TO the ful6llment
of predictive prophecy, error in which
which was alleged in charge four rejected
by the Presbytery. This book, he said,
had been translated into the Japanese, had
received the approval of such an eminent
man ss Gladstone and of such an orthodox
Christian as Delitsch of Berlin.
DIR. Briggs then made a legal argument
against the consideration by the general
assembly of charges four and seven which
the Presbytsry had rejected until after
they hAd been tIied by the New York Pres
bytery. The most that could be done, he
said, was to send them back to the Presby-
terry for trial. He denied that the action
of the assembly in connection with these
charges had been irregular. He asserted
that transfer of proofs in the Presbytery
from the inaugural address to the script
ures and the csteehism was wrongful, pre-
judicial to him, and he protested against
the revelancy of the proofs from the cate
chism and scriptures.
At the evening session Professor Briggs
continued his address. He raised the point
that the separation of single charge into
two and three offences; which the prosecu-
ton made In the second and third charges,
was in conflict with the law of the church.
As to- the fifth and sixth charges, DIR.
Briggs said they were new matter and
changed the nature of the original
charges, thereby hsing antagonistic to
bly,. He insisted upon a square vote
upon each offence charged against him.
Professor Briggs further said that the
prosecution objected to defendants evil
dence because it was unsupported by
oath, while 1t asked the assembly to accept
the unsworn evidence of the appellant. If
unsworn evidence, said DR.. Briggs, is to be
rejected, there is none in the record and
the case must be thrown out. DR.. Briggs
also insisted that the assembly could not
refuse to consider the defendants matter
incorporated In the record.
He would show from the confession and
from the Scriptures that the church was
also fountain of divine authority He
did mt cav man wara iatarefpa6 INIT that
they were Influenced by their government.
He declared he had not said in any of his
writings that he cc-ordinated the Bible,
the church and the reason.
About this point member moved an
adjournment, as some of the members
were asleep. This created laugh at the
expense of Dr.. Briggs, in which he good
naturedly Joined. However, he proceed
ed with his argument: He held that he
his practice and not by individual in
| depreciation. Turning to the question
| of scriptural ineracy he said God allowed
the sacred writings to be edited and re-
edited and arranged and re-arrsnged by
imperfect scribes. 1t was impossible that
such imperfect means should produce per-
feet results. But the Inaccuracies did not
touch the vitality or inspiration. he held
that there were errors of holy scripture in
|
infsliibility in matters of faith and prsc
| tice.
| At 10 O'Clock the assembly adjourned,
Dr.. Briggs having spoken altogether three
hours to-day.
DR.. Briggs to Form q New Church.
CINCINNATI, May 29.-It is learned from
authentic sources that Professor Briggs,
now on trial in Washington on the charge
of heresy, has been corresponding with
with Professor E. D. Morris of Lane semi
nary concerning the best method of form
ing q new church. DR.. Briggs wants to
raise the banner of a new theology.
| WASHINGTON, May 29.-Professor Briggs
said tonight that there was no truth in
the statement autographed tonight from
Cincinnati that he had corresponded with
DIR. Morris with a view of starting a new
church.
DIR. GRAVES FREE MAN.
He Has Been Released on n Bail Of
S8O,OOO-New Trial Set for June.
DENVER. May 29.-Dr. T. Thatcher
, Graves, who last year was convicted of thu
| uonrdar of Mra Josephine Barnaby OF