Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-06-01
AGAINST DIR. BRIGGS.
THE voTe OF rhE PRESBYTERIAN
GENERAL ASSEMBLY $50 TO lie.
Exact Nature OF tho Case rresested BY
New York presbyseSy--Ths MAN.
nsr OF Voting. -



WARRINGTON, d. c.. May ai.-In the
Presbyterian General Assembly this
morning, after the opening devotions. fif-
teen minutes were exhausted IN desul-
tory discussion OF the order of procedure.
tho result OF which was tina, the assembly
ordered with evident confusion and a
lack OF understanding Just what they were
dong that the roll be called. The CON-
mlssioners os called were 70 give the
Yeasons Tor thor votes, thor speeches 10
be limited TO three minutes each. This
soon became monotopous and tiresome.
and shortly before noon. when Kansas
rad been reached in the call OF synods.
the moderator arose and SAID Dr.
Rngss IA very weary OF this proceeding,
and be has asked that he be excused by
the moderator from further attendance %
apar,y. ] cheerfully grant his request.
DR.. Briggs then loft the church amid a
blzz from the galleries. He looked iIed
and cad and seemed glad TO GET away.
As there seems 10 be- even IN the best
informed quarters, some confusion as 10
the present position of the Briggs case
and the exact question before the uenerai
Assembly a succInct statement OF the po-
bition may be of interest.
Under the rules Of the Church govern
ing a trial such as the present there are
four parties having the right TO be heard :
/. The prosecution which III this case IS
The appellant
2. The defence, which in this case is the
appellee, DR.. Briggs.
3. Tho commissioners 20 the General
Assembly from tho judicatory whose
judgment is being appealed from. when
in this case is the Prcsbytery OF New lork.
I. The mem ers CT the superior Judlca-
-. NJ hsg m
ral Assembly.
The first three parties have been heard ;
the fourth is now having It's inning.
The General Assembly l. calling the roll
by synOds. and those who desire TO be
heard are making threc-mnute speeches.
Tins Is equivalent TO n cOnsultatlon among
the Judges or jurors. whichever one may
please 20 coll the commissioners. At the
noon recess TO-DAY two fltihs Of the synOds
had been called and had expressed their
opinions, and had occupied two hours aud
q half ~ 50 dong.
When tins roll Is completed the next
stop Will be the presentation of motion
10 tho house, shall the appeal DO sus-
taincdf'
There are FIVE grounds Of appeal and
thirty-four specifications. Each OF these
specifications Will he voted upon singly;
At tho end Of tho voting on these the roll
will tc called upon the general question,
"ShGll tho appeal be sustained!" Should
the appeal hc not sustained the vOtug on
the specifications will 20 for naught.
Should II be sustained il will be equiva-
lent TO verdict of guilty against DR..
briggs. committee will then be appoint
ed ~ prepare "A minute for submission TO
the General Assembly prescribing the pun
lshment 10 be metei out.
There are five things the General Assem-
big can do IN such case. Iney can ad-
mOnlsh, rebuke. suspend, depOse nun from
the ministry, or they can eXpel him IRON
thc Church. IN case Of conviction one Of
the three last COURSES Is likely to be toll
lowed
Some of tho delegates hope 10 cut tho
voting short by resting the decision upon
the general question. Shall the appeal be
sustained 2" but Of this there is not much
likelihood so far US can be Judged at pros
eut.
TITB ATRIAL SUSTAINED.
At s45 O'Clock tonight voting began
upon the first specification, ~ substance
that the Prcsbytcry Of New York. on OBJ
jcctous made by Or. Briggs. required the
prosecuting committee 10 amend the
amended charges and specifications by
striking out the charge. The epecihcR-
ticu was sustained by vote Of 2s2 TO 1870.
THIS vote showed That the attendance was
seventy seven less than the number pres
en- Wttn tdlo NNtt WAS thhtu ilNaN VI
sustaining the appeal. the vote on which
was l45 ayes. 14i nays.
! he second aud third grounds Of appeal
were sustained with all their speclhca-
tons. Tie fourth ground of appeal al
legged manifestation Of prejudice Ia the
conduct OF the case" and of its SIN speci-
fcatiOns the Briggs men carried two and
came within two votes OF carrying an
other.
The fifth and last ground OF appeal con-
tanned eleven specifications OF error, and 1t
charged mistake or injustice III the de-
cision." The specifications were all sus-
tanned. The vote then required on the
main question, Shall the appeal be sus-
tainedi' which was adopted.
Before beginning the roll-call the mode
raior announced that the form of answer
would be Sustained or Not sustain
Cd - and that the commissioners might
vote ito sustain In part but that such
votes would be counted rs part Of the total
to sustain the appeal. The roll was then
called III the midst of an almost painful
stiffness. the spectators IN the gallery rising
% their feet III their anxiety to catch
every response. The vote was announced
at 1918 by the stated clerk as follows
Whole number OF votes cast, A99; to sus-
tain the appeal. 29S 10 sustain IN part. So
total. TO sustain tho appeal, 1913; not to
sustain, ll6.