New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-26
DIR. BRIGGS AND COL. MCOOK
VOTE ON THE APPEAL EXPECTED TO-DAY,
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, HAVING GIVEN EIaR9
HOURS TO THE PARTIES. WILL USE -FOUR
ITSELF IN DISCUSSING THE CASE.
(BY TELEGRAPH TO THE rRrBUSE.]

Washington, May 25.-The General Assembly
listened for seven hOurs to-day to speeches on
tie question Of entertaining the appeal Of tho
Prosecuting Committee in the case Of Professor
Briggs The morning and part of the after
noon were occupied by DR.. Briggs against the
motion to entertain it, The remainder Of tho
afternoon and all the evening session were given
to Colonel John J. McCook, representing the COM
mittee. in behalf Of the appeal. Tho court de-
cided after the second speech to give four hours
tomorrow to members Of the Assembly who
desire to discuss the question, one Of whom
can speak more than ten minutes Then tho
house will vote on the question, Shall the appeal
be entertained ~ unless an amendment is offered
to send the case to the Synod Of New-York
GREAT INTEREST IN THE TRIALS
Every Presbyterian in Washington interested
in the General Assembly is painfully aware Of
the fact that the great heresy trial is in progress.
The New-York Avenue Church. where the meet
ings are held. is perhaps as well fitted for the
entertainment of the commissioners as any church
in the District of Columbia bit the seating ca
racity does not begin to compare with the needs
of the hour. The scenes of yesterday were re-
peated to-day, many women standing for hours,
even MrS Cleveland's pew in the west gallery
BEING open for the general public. BY some un-
rope holding the floral decorations to the gallery
in front Of the pew occupied by Mrs. Briggs and
the Union Seminary representatives fell to-day
and the lower end formed moose which swayed
with the breeze and remained during the entire
afternoon in plain sight Of Professor Briggs and
Colonel McCool. the chief speakers. DR.. Bur-
rell, of New-York. who had hand in the Swing
trial in Chicago twenty years ago. was an IN
tcrested spectator of the trial to-day. lie SAID
that he felt quite at home. or rather that IT
brought back scenes with which he was familiar
when a young man.
DR. BRIGGs's LONG SPEECH.
DR.. Briggs took the floor at 10 o'clock ana
smoke till the noon recess. and in the afternoon
continued for tbree-quarters Of an hour, con-
suming in all four and half hours Of the five
which he desired. The complaints which he had
desired to read, he omitted. The great heat and
the intense strain of the last few days, especially
Yesterday and to-day, are beginning TO tell on
the Professor but he was able to speak with
force, not only throwing his voice across tho
church to the end, but also closing with dra-
matte appeal to the commissioners. lie denied
that he was teaching doctrines which are funda-
mental crrors or that he had ever taught them
Then laying his manuscript on the table, ana
with his right hand raised TO heaven, he affirmed
in the presence OF the General Assembly his be-
lief that the Holy Scriptures are the Word OF
God, the infaiblc rule Of faith and practice;
affirmed that he held to tho whole doctrine taught
in the first chapter Of the Westminster Confession
relating to Holy Scripture without any qualifcs-
ton or reservation whatever; affirmed that no
held to the entire system Of doctrine set forth In
that Confession. ard said that any statement con-
Hicting with the one he had just made was due 70
}RtA t{naa
misinterpretation, but misinterpretation, never.
theess-put upon his language.
CHALLENGE TO THE PROSECUTION.
He did not attempt to exonerate himself from
some blame for lack of cearness in his enuncia-
ton of these statements. but he appealed to his
brethren in all honesty to return the case to the
Synod of New-York, promising TO the prosecution
in the presence Of the Assembly that if this were
done he would aid in the most friendly and
courteous manner in full solution Of all the
matter in dispute. and il the next General AS
semby made final Judgment in the case he would
submit TO its verdict. lie expressed regret
ANYTHING which he said in his inaugural or else
where had disturbed the peace of the Church or
caused any doubt or uncertainty aifiiction even
to the fccblest of Gods children. His closing
words were a challenge for the production Of .
single minister under his instructions during the
last twenty years whose faith in the Divine au-
thority of the holy Scriptures, or whose love for
the word of God has been undermined or dimin-
ished by his teachings.
As he took his seat applause came from every
part of the house. This outbreak was excused
by the Moderator as thoughtless. But he en-
pressed his extreme regret at the untimely out
BURST and said it was as though the Supreme
- .hnpI1 p1a nd ,bn
arguing tremendous case before it. One Of the
commissioners said that in his opinion it was not
the court but the lobby that applauded. Again
the Moderator appealed to the brethren in Gods
name not to despoil themselves Of their judicial
capacity lie also had this to say to those whom
yesterday he termed the angels in the gallery:
And want TO add. without the slightest hesita-
ton, il find these galleries interfering with the
force OF proper justice by manifestation of ap-
proval or disapproval of either one of the parties
during this adjudication. that l will clear these
Galleries at once and strive to get this house to
adudicatc its judicial business with closed doors"
COLONEL MCoOK HEARD WITH ATTENTION.
Colonel McCook had been selected to close the
case for the prosecution. In every court where
he has spoken in this case he has been received
with great favor and listened TO with the utmost
attention His pleasant countenance does not
indicate those fighting qualities which are at
tributcd TO the McCook family. His genial nature
never manifests itself TO better advantage than
when he appears in defence of the truth he
understands it, Although he had listened for
four hours and half to the keen thrusts Of DR..
Eregs without interposing an objection, he said
with smile when Dr. Briggs stopped him early 10
his speech asking by the way, il he might do so
=. may infCrruDt fimpS
please, Dr. Briggs The Moderator however,
said that he should be allowed to make his
speech without interruption, he had allowed
Dr. Briggs TO speak without stopping him. Both
the speakers today read closely from manuscript,
but the Assembly and the spectators listened ~
attentvely as though they all understood every
technical point discussed.
Colonel McCook started with the as
sertiOn that the preliminary QUESTION: