Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1893-06-02

Washington, May 24.-The words Of
the seventy second Psalm, prophetolc
of the spread Of the kingdom OF Christ
over the earth, were the topic or the
nalf-hOur's devotional exercises which |
preceded this mornings session or the
general assembly, conducted by Rev.
I'll. Il. McClelland, u. D., president OIL ,
the board Of missions for freedmen.
The special order for the session was
the report Of the committee on foreign
missions The assembly was called TO
order at $50 by Moderator Craig and
opened with prayer by Professor 10y,
of Chicago
DR.. Young's seasonal report from the
committee on bills and oVertureS among
the several committees, went through
without objection. Sixty OyertureS re-
lating to new crceds and twenty pro
posing changes in the present confess
sion Of faiths were sent to the com
mittce on bills and ovcrturcS for AN
BWcr.
The committee on aid to colleges
recommended that $4,000 be raised
this year for this cause, and that the
proposition Of Arthur Brown to donate
100 acres Of land in Salt Lake City as
q site for the location Of the WestminS-
ter College Of Utah be respectfully de-
clincd The recommendations Of the
report were adopted
DR. Hcrrick Johnson, of Chicago, then
presented the report Of the committee
on foreign missions. In discussln the
practicabilities of the work Dr. John
son said:
we can 10 more pray the Bible into
China than we can pray harvest out
Of i wheat field III Dakota. We must
send n man to carry It.
The committee made Il number of re-
concentrations, the most important be
ing to the following effect:
That IA message Of congratulation be
sent to Rev John G. LoWric, secretary
emeritus of the board, who hSa com
pIcted his SiXtieth year of service and
who has been granted to see the de-
sire Of his heart-the church pass the
line of million dollar contribution to
the cause Of foreign missions; that this
wear the church aim at Il total of ST.
25OOOO contributions to the cause
the appeal successful; that a forward
movement be undertaken, extending
the work; that, recognizing the blessed
results attending the week Of prayer
for foreign missions III past years, the
first week in March, 1891, be set apart
as i week Of prayer; that the detcrml-
nation Of the board be approved to
send abroad all men who apply who
prove to be qualified; that an amend
mont to the charter of the board be
sought Of the legislature of New York
by which the board shall be made to
consist of twenty-one members, to he
appointed by the general assembly,
with the provision that trustees now in
office serve out the terms for which
they were chosen.
At the afternoon session Moderator
Craig convened the assembly as court
DR.. Briggs assembled the platform amid
intense quiet and made brief prellm
mary statement regarding the time
he required for his argument.
DR.. w f. Birch, chairman of the
prosecuting committee, then took the
floor. After touching the history OF
the case, DR. Birch said: we are here
to invoke this supreme court to put az
end to the diSsenSon which the New
York Presbytery vainly endeavored tC
silence The form i'll which the tina
i;iIgmcut of the New York PreSbytcry
was returned, gives the impression thai
the alleged errors of Prof. Briggs ar
un;mpltrnt and no essential doctrine
is contradicted There has been ten
dency TO minimize the full force of the
indictments The errors charged are
fundamental
In reply to the argument that an ap
peal cannot be taken from the verdlc
of acquittal, DR.. Birch said he wh'
holds that the power of the genera
assembly can be nullitied by the will o
a single presbytery lifts the banner o
treason against the Presbytery and tn
church Your appellant beseeches thi
venerable court to exercise its authorlt
in crisis so momentous as to max
every plea for delay of judgment oct q
order
At 3:15 o'clock DR.. Briggs arose to rt
ply to the opening of the proSecutln
committee and to protest against tn
entertaining of the appeal by the gel
eral assembly. DR.. Briggs went on
argue that the form of the appeal
incorrect and there are many thing
in it which must be removed before til
assembly can entertain it. He ais
pointed out the matter included in til
appeal which he said rendered it invalit
much more fundamental questio
is 1T stake. said DR.. Briggs, than an
principle of law or doctrine yet discus
ed That was whether Il PreSbyteria
church should be considered as merel
voluntary religious society of til
church OF Jesus Christ. 1t was IL
civil law of the land. he said, that L
man should be tried twice for the san
offenSe Was the Presbyterian churC
ready to ignore or violate Il we'll settle
principle found by centuries of o.
servation and experience to be essenti
to the wellbeing of the people, withol
good and sufficient cause?
If this appeal is sustained it woul
become IN unfortunate precedent whit
would be followed by public prosecute
who would magnify their offense al
bring differences of opinion and eSta
lish new and easy way for ambition
itigants to secure authoritative dec
ions OF the general assembly in MAJ
matters of private opinion, and tn
imperil the constitution by unendiI
SariaS of hprpSy trials and reS1,It