The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-06-01
Sentence Virtually Pronounced by the
Presbyterian Court Last Night.
Appeal Of the Prosecution from the Verdict Of
New York Presbyiery Acquitting the Di-
vine Sustained by the General Assembly
Out of 400 Votes Cast 383 We're For,
and Only 116 Against the Appeal.
Explanatory Minute to Be Prepared To-Day
in Which the Punishment. if Any, will Be
Announced-Points from the Debate.
THE APPEAL SUSTAINED.

THE APPEAL SUSTAINED
General Assembly Decides That DIR. Brfcga
Was Wrongfuiiy Acquitted
WASHINGTON. May 81 The high court
of the Presbyterian Church has decided TO
sustain the appeal of the prosecution COM
mittee from the verdict of New York Pres.
tytery in acquitting Dr. Briggs of heret-
ical utterances. The General Assembly did
not reach a vote on the question until late
tonight the day having been spent by the
commissioners in explaining their views.
After an opening prayer aud the reading
of the minutes Moderator Craig. at $50 A.
Ne. convened the assembly into court.
and the last stage bnr one OF the famous
case of Prof. Briggs was entered upon.
Fifteen minutes were exhausted In O
desultory discussion of the order of pro-
cedure. the result of which was that tha
assembly ordered. with evident confusion
and lack of understanding of what il was
doing. the roll TO be called. The COM
missioners. as called. were to give the res-
sons for their votes. speeches to be limi ted
to three minutes. While this preliminary
was being settled Dr.. Briggs quietly came
in and took his seat Under he call of the
roll Dr.. N. Freedland of the East Florida
Presbytery. was the first 10 respond. He
could not side with DE-. Briggs in his claim
that the Bible was errant. He held to the
old creed. and if the true blue flag must 90
down he would 60 down with il.
Elder Purnell. of Baltimore. said il the
assembly Endorsed Professor Briggs 10
would be entering upon q strange course.
with rational for helmsman. bound for
No Mans land. He preferred the old
Bible. the old chart ana the old ship OF
Zion upon which TO set sail for heaven.
Captain Jacks. of San Jose. said that all
over the land there were young ministers
from Union Seminary stepped in the fear-
full doctrine taught by DE-. Briggs. IL the
Professor knew. be said. of the damage he
was doing. he would drop this thing and
would have done with it forever and stop
bringing ruin upon the young ministers of
tho church.
Rev. a. II. Single. of Canton. and Gilbers
Reid, of Shantung, both of the Synod Of
appeal. MIR. Reid concluding his remarks
with the question. III DR.. Briggs is q here
tic. where is Princeton theologyp Laugh
ter. He found no great difference he said.
between the views of DR.. Briggs and other
teachers of Presby terian doctrine.
The first four grounds OF appeal are
technical and have no place In q case OF I'm
portance like this; sweep them away" was
the ringing declaration with which DIR.
Herrlck johnson. of Chicago. began his ex-
preston of opinion. He said the explana-
tions of the defendants as to the meaning OF
his doctrines was TO be accepted. as long &c
his moral integrity was not in question.
To do otherwise would be to stamp him
not only as g. false teacher. but a hypocrite
as we'll DIR. johnson SAID be would vote
for the same kind of Judgment that the
New York Presbytery passed. Withholding
approval of the doctrines taught.
Rev. Thomas G. Hall. the tall young
minister from Chicago who has been so
jealous a supporter of Dr.. Briggs. said that
if it was breach OF contract TO hold cer-
tain opinions he should have been told so
when he W As ordained. he held the views
which were In danger of being cast out. to
the confusion of the church.
George Rutherford, of Peoria. ILL.,, said
that for the assembly 10 cast out of its
communion such @ stanch Presby terian a.
Prof. Charles Briggs would be sohism.
INDIANIANs FAVOR BRIGGS.
Rev. John NJ. Boggs. of Fort Wayne.
Ind. believed that Dr.. Briggs was right in
alleging the errancy of the Scriptures.
Elder Charles 4. Griffin. of Hammond,
Ind. said if the theologians of the assem-.
bly, were in doubt as TO the Interpretation
to be placed upon the views OF DR.. Briggs.
how was 1t to be expected that the lsymen
of the bly, could be free from Doubt
eff you are in doubt. so are we in doubt"
he continued. land, as on honest man,
must give DR.. Briggs the benefit of that
doubt" He believed that the Presbyterian
Church would move right along. though
weighted down with thousands of DIR.
Briggses. He thought that there had been
sembly, and that the result might be to
make martyr of Dr. Brigga.
Il believe that lfty years from now"
said Rev. Frank q. Ellet. of Flint. Mich,
God to make the church evangelical The
reformers in all ages have antagonIzed the
church. / believe he 10 opening a door out
of which may come broad evangelical
Presby yterian Church which We have NOS
now."
After many more three-minute speeches.
moet of them in opposition to the views OF
DIR. Briggs. an attempt was msde TO close
the debate. but without avail. and the ad-
dresses were continued until 1890. when
the assembly took recess Just before
noon the moderator arose and said: "Dr.
Briggs 10 very weary of this proceeding and
he has asked that be be excused by tho
moderator from further attendance as .
party. l cheerfully grant his request" DR..
Briggs then left the church amid q buzz
from the galleries. He looked tired and sad.
and seemed glad TO get away.
After recess the debate contin ned, with
the majority of the speakers against DIR.
Briggs though be fonnd q number of warm
supporters, the most notable one. Derhaps
being a graduate OF Union TheologioaI
Seminary. James L. Garvin. q missionary
to ChIli. who spoke of the restlessness
which the Briggs controversy was causing
in the minds of young people. These
doubtipg and restless young people," he
said. will not be qrIeted by q conviction
of DIR. Briggs ly this assembly. bat such so-
tion would only cause them TO be moro rest
less and doubung." be added: "Beliey-
ing that DIR. Briggs is loving disciple OF
the Lord Jesus Christ. believing that be 10
q loyal. devoted Preshy terisn. anu believ-
ing most earnestly that that course Is best
calculated TO bring peace TO the church ]
love. | will vote not to sustain the appeal"
The call of the synod of New York hav.
ing been mpieted. Moderator Craig en-
deavored TO induce the assem- oily 10 como
TO some amicable ARRANGEMENT By unani-
nous consent. TO cut oil the Hood of debate.
but was unable 10 secure the necessary CO.
operation. and the calling of the roll was
continued.
LIVELY coLLoQUY.
Elder Thomas McDougail. OF Cincinnati.
precipitated q lively scene upon the floor.
uDequaled In tho course of the trial. ex-
cept when DIR. Briggs challenged the
truthfulness of q statement made by DIR.
Dutiield. Mr. McDougall is an earnest
even radical opponent OF Dr. Briggs. and