Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1893-05-25

tinns in the Briggs case TO the Judiciary
committee first, as all would eventually
go there.
Elder Eudally of Cincinnati got the
floor and stated that the Assembly had
to do simply with the law as it is, not as
it ought to be.
There was general parliamentary
| confusion, various commissioners at-
tempting to get the floor, amid which
the announcement was made that the
Chicago overture had gone to the judi
Ciary committee. While the moderator
was attempting to put the question Dr.
johnson remained upon his feet, claim
ing the right to be heard.
Commissioner Cutcheon of Detroit,
| stated that there was an overture from
his Presbytcry, and in view Of that fact
| he supported the motion TO refer all the
Briggs overtures to the judiciary com
mittec, he complained that the moder-
ator had not permitted him to speak,
although he had been repeatedly upon
| his feet.
Mr.. Cutcheon said he would appeal
| from the decison of the chair and was
appauded.
DR. Young asserted that the modera-
tor could not see every man who sought
to be seen.
Mr.. Cutcheon, who is physically one
of the largest men on the floor, asserted
that the failure TO see to him was pos
sibly due to the fact that he was so
small
Moderator Craig, in reply, said it
made no difference how many times Mr..
Cutcheon had been on his feet, so long
as he had not caught the eye of the
chair. He added: 81 never knew such an
outbreak while Il vote was being taken"
and this remark was received with loud
applause.
The reference Of the overturcs to the
| judiciary committee was carried, and
then Dir. Craig stepped to the front of
the platform. What he said was short
and sharp. Don't you try to over.
wnelm US with such points at this stage
of the game" he said, emphasizing his
remarks by flourish Of the gavel
which he held in his hand.
This was greeted with cheers and the
incident ended for the time
WAsuINGroN, May 23.--"Let me get
steam up first" was the sentence with
which the sem-diurnal outbreak of the
Briggs controversy, which was introduced
into the General Assembly to-day, began.
A half hours devotional service, previous
to the beginning of the business of the
day had been conducted BY the Rev. A. n.
lfalliield Of Newark, y. j.. and DR.. Bart
lett had made one of the necessarily frc-
quent announcements respecting theenter-
tanment of the commissioners.
Under the rules, Or. Young, chairman
Of the committee on bills and overtures,
took the floor to present report from that
committee, distributing Il number of bills
and oyertures to the several committees of
the Assembly. Among them were nine
bearing directly or indirectly upon the
case before the judicial committee fthe
Briggs casel and these were recommended
to he sent to that committee.
The Rev. Dir. Charles Booth of New
York secured the floor, and in a low tone
of voice began TO speak to the question.
There were cries of 'louder." from several
parts of the house, to which be responded,
apologetically, as he took the platform,
Let me get mp steam first Having got
ten up steam, he stated that he desired to
enter his protest against the obvious at
tempt to influence the judicial committee,
q sort of trial court by pouring in upon it
these overtures for and against the case
which it was considering. u believe it tn
be false in principle ana false in policy"
As he took his seat dozen lusty-lunged
commissioners ynCiterously claimed the
right to succession to his place but Mod
orator Craigs attention was given TO Pro
fessor Brown, Professor Briggs co.laborer
and sympathi2er in the Union Theological
Seminary.
"There arc some of lis here" he said,
"who are glad to know that there are 80 or
So OF these overtures that have been sent
to the committee on the Judiciary. But
think that DIR. Booth mistakes the func-
tions Of that committee. 1t is the busi-
ness of the committee not to decide Qucs-
tions but TO report business to the Assem-
bly, for disposition here. We have right
to know the sentiment of the church upon
any subject before IT, and the only proper
way to secure Il knowledge of that senti-
ment is through the committees of the
Assembly"
DIR, Young explained that the committee
in making its report on this decision, had
blit followed the precedent established by
the Assembly Yesterday. and it would be
only consistent in the Assembly to decide
not to send their overtures to the com
mittee on judiciary and to recall those that
had already been sent there. He desired
to correct Dr. Booths figures, and stated
that instead OF 80 or 90 ovcrturcs already
before the committee there were but T. or
10. The action of the committee upon
this question was not unanimous, lie eX-
planned, but an overwhelming majority
had voted that way.
recognized and addressed the Assembly
! with great earnestness. lie said that III his
opinion il was the duty OF the committee
on bills and ovcrtures to take these docu-
nlcntS which come up from the rresby-
teries bearing upon both si,lcs of the case
in question, and ia remand them back ia
the Presbyteries with rebuke. No court
in the land. he said, would permit itself TO
be influenced by briefs appeals and pcti-
tons OF the friends of the parties in the
case. Should attempts be made to idtiuence
, a court they would he turned down with
SGOrn, and any court which entertained
and considered such instrumentalities
would be condemned by the whole com
munity.
This is just what is being done by the
PrcSbyterieS i'll this case with their over
lures Oh one side or the other and the
committee on bulls and overtureS ought to
pigeon hole them or openly report them
to The General Assembly. where the seal
of condemnation might be placed upon
them, so that no display of this kind
should ever again come before it. feel
that il is an outrage upon justice" Ap-
plause.
The moderator's even and exact judicial
eye next fell upon DIR. TIerrick johnson Of
Mccormick Theological Seminary, Chicago,
one of the foremost Briggs leaders in the
ton of the law" he said, that these over.
lures present. They only ask reference
to the Synod of the case if it is found to bt
, advisable This determination may be
, properly reached by Il consideration OF
, these overtures.n
] Elder Eudally of Cincinnati--T rise tc
a point of order. There is no case OF re
ference before the Assembly,"
The moderator was l0ath to enforce the
point of order, stating that it did not seem
, to bear upon the matter which DR.. John
,Pn.