St. Paul daily globe., 1893-06-01
AGAINST DR.. BRIGGS.
Appeal From New York Pres
bytery Sustained by the
Assembly.
The Final Vote Showed a
Heavy Majority in Its
Favor.
Elder MeDougall Ppeei pilates
a Lively Scene on the
Floor.
A Committee Appointed to
Bring in an Explanatory
Minute.

vi tHe prosecution lIOHl llt NcIulCI VI
the New York presbytery acquitting
DR.. Briggs of the charges against him
has been sustained by the general as
sembly, the vote being as follows:
Number of votes cast, 499; to sustain
the appeal, 298; to sustain in part, s5;
total to sustain, 3S3; not to sustain, 116.
After an opening prayer and the read
ing of the minutes, Moderator Craig. at
9:30 a. NJ, convened the assembly into
a court, and the last stage but one of
the famous case of Prof. Briggs was
entered upon. Fifteen minutes were
exhausted in desultory discus
sion of the order of the procedure.
the result Of which was that
the assembly ordered with an eyi-
dent confusion and lack of under
standing of just what they were doing)
the roll to be called. The commissions
ers, as called, were to give the reasons
for their votes, speeches to be limited
to three minutes. While this prelim-
inary was being settled, DR.. Briggs
quietly came In and took his seat. In
the midst of the roll call the general
assembly, at 12 80, took its customary
recess until $50.
nHcDOugalI Creates n Scene.
In the afternoon Elder Thomas Nc
Dougall, of Cincinnati, precipitated a
lively scene upon the floor, unequaled
in the course of the trial except when
DR.. Briggs challenged the tluthfulnesf
of a statement made by DR.. Duffield.
Mr.. McDougall is an earnest, even rad
ical opponent of DR.. Briggs, and speaks
with an inciSive aggressiyeness that
easily evokes antagonism. IF it be
in order," he began, sin Pres
byterian assembly, in this high
court, wouid like to ASK if the omnis-
cience and veracity,t the character of God
Almighty, of the Lord Jesus Christ, may
be questioned? God Almighty has said
that Isaiah said thus and so. DIR. Briggs
has said 10 God Almighty that Isaiah
did not write half the book that bears
his name. The Lord Jesus Christ said
in the New Testament that Isaiah wrote
the book bearing his name. DIR. Briggs
says -"
DIR. Henry G. Storrs-Mr. Moderator,
l call the gentleman to order. Any
man is entitled to be defended against
attacks upon his character. Did Dr..
Briggs say any such thing?
Mr.. McDougall-Why, DR.. Storrs, you
will find it Oh page
Rev. Ii. Milton Shields, of New Mex
ico-ls the statement quoted in DR..
Briggs inaugural? If not, it is not be-
fore the assembly.
Great Confusion.
This colloquy was carried on In the
midst of great confusion, cries of order
rising from all parts of the house and
the moderator and McDougall both try
ing to be heard. DR.. Craig said that
Mr.. McDougall would show or try to
show that lis statement was justifiable.
Mr.. McDougall Ito Mr.. Shields)-If DR..
Briggs will withdraw his statement l
withdraw mine.
DR.. Storrs-But Mr.. McDougall says
that DIR. Briggs said God was untruth-
full, which is blasphemy and unpardon-
able.
Mr.McDougall-I said that Isaiah said
thus and so, and in the New Testament
the Lord Jesus Christ said Isaiah said
thus and so, and DR.. Briggs said that
Isaiah did not write that part Of the
book In which these quotations are
found.
Elder Shepard. of the North Phila-
delphia presbytery, vigorously protested
against the utterances and conduct of
Mr.. McDougall. but Elder Purnell, of
Baltimore, pleaded for fair treatment
for the speaker.
Elder McDougall, the storm having
calmed down. concluded: "ChriSC said
no man can come unto the Father but
by Me. DR.. Briggs says that Martineau
found God through the reason and that
Newman found Him through the
church Whom will you believe-Christ
or DIR. Briggs?"
An extension of half an hour to the
afternoon session enabled the clerk to
progress in the rolls through the synod
of Oregon. The assembly then took
recess until 7:45.
Eschewed Speeches.
The call of the roll was resumed at
the evening session, members who de-
sired to speak being given the floor
when their names were called.
Only a small percentage, however,
took advantage of the privilege,
preferring to follow the advice OF Rev.
George d. Baker, of Philadelphia. in
the floor that a vote might be
reached sooner. 1t was S:45 o'clock
when the moderator put the question:
sShall the specifications of error
Le sustained?" and DIR. Rob-
erts, the stated clerk, read the
first specification, in substance
that the presbytery Of New York
OH objections made by Dr.. Briggs re-
luired the prosecuting committee to
amend the amended charges and speci-
Iications by striking out charge four.
The specification was declared to be
sustained by vote of 2S2 to 100. This
vote showed that the attendance was
5eventy-seven less than the number in
attendance when the vote was
taken Friday entertaining the appeal.
the vote on which was 405 ayes, IA nays.
specifications second to twelfth inclu-
;ive, under the first ground of appeal,
all relating to irregularities in the pro-
of the New York presbytery,
we're sustained .seriatlm, some by tally
and some merely by viva voce, or rising
7ote. The Briggs men showed
Their Greatest Strength
)n specification fourth, which alleged
hat the action of the presbytery in
giving DR.. Briggs an opportunity to re-
ply to alleged new matter without
specifying the new matter was irregu-
ar. The vote resulted 23S to 195 sus-
aiming the specification.
The second ground of appeal alleged
he receiving of improper testimony,
md was based upon three specifications.
They set up that the defendant should
nave been sworn; that the statements
aud matter interpoiated by the de-