The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-23
BRIGGS CASE TAKEN Up.
/ Misunderstanding Creates Consider.
able CommOtiol.
ALL 0VERYURES ARE REFERRED
The Committee ON Sabbath Observance
Reports-Dr. johnson Cloims the Right
to be Heard by the Conven-
tt0n. .t..et.s-+f

WASHINGTON, May 2S.-Rev. Thomas
Bracken~ conducted the half hours devo-
tional exercises with which the second
weeks session Of the Presbyterian general
assembly was ushsred In yesterday.
Promptly at $50 Moderator Craig opened
tho assembly with . word Of prayer. DR..
Bartlett, chairman Of the committee on
arrangements, announced the reception to
the commissioner In attendance upon the
assembly BY the trustees and overseers Of
Columbia University, from 4 to 8 Thurs
day afternoon.
Observance Of the Sabbath.
The report Of the special committee on
Sabbath Observance, OF. which the late
Colonel Elliott r. Shepard was chairman
from its inception, submitted Its nth an
nual report, which was read by Elder w.
r. Worrell Of the New York Presbytery,
committee expressed sorrow 1t the death
Of Colonel Shepard. The effort to secure
the opening Of the Worlds fair on Sum
days wa recitsd, closing with . statement
Of the vote In congress against IL.
The Briggs oasstien
then came TO the front. and Il did not
mitigate the result Of tho short
struggle 70 know whom II was over
that IL was chiefly tho result Of
. Misunderstanding. Dr.. Young, chair
man Of the committee on bills aud over.
lures, announced what had been done
with the number Of overtpres from tho
presbyteries; % of them, relating to the
Briggs case, having been referred to the
committee on judiciary.
Mr.. Young had scarcely ceased speaking
when DR.. Herrick johnson Of Chicago in
quired what had become Of the overture
from his presbytsry on the Briggs case.
which bssought the assembly TO refer this
celebrated case back to the synod of New
York.
DR.. Thomas C. Hall Of Chicago. in SYM
pathy with DIR. Briggs, made a brief speech
In favor Of sending all resolution s In the
Briggs case ia the judiciary committee
first, rs all would eventually 60 there.
Elder Eudaly Of Cincinnati stated that
the assembly had to do simply with the
law as It ia, not as 1t ought to be. There
was a general parliamentary confusion,
various commissioners attempting 10 get
the floor, amid which the announcement
was made that the Chicago overture had
gone to the judiciary committee. While
the moderator was attempting to put the
question, DR.. johnson remained upon his
feet, calling repeatedly:
81 Claim the Right to He He ard"
his words being received with applause.
Commissions Cutcheon Of Detroit stated
that there was an overture from his pres
bytery. and In view Of that fact he sup
ported the molten to refer all the Briggs
overtures to the judiciary committee. He
complained that tho moderator had not
permitted him to speak, although he had
been repeatedly upon his feet.
MI. Cutcheon said he would appeal from
the decision of the chair, and was ap-
plauded.
DR.. Young. from the platform, asserted
that the moderator could not see every
man who ought to be seen, and this state
ment received the vigorous applause Of the
anti-Briggs people.
The reference of the overtures to the
Judiciary committee was carried. and then
DR.. Craig stepped to the front Of the plat
form. Don. you try to overwhelm US
with such points at this stage OF the
game" he said, emphasizing his remarks
by a flourish of the gavel which he held In
his hand.
This was greeted with cheers, and the
incident ended for the time.