The record-union., 1893-06-01
BRIGGS HERESY TRIAL.
DECISION AGAINST THE DOCTOR IN
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.
Vote to Sustain the Appeal From the
New York Presbytery Carried
by q Large Majority.
Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.

Special to the RECoRD-UNIoN.
WASHINGTON, May 31.-Before pro-
ceeding TO vote upon the question of sus-
tanning the appeal from the judgment of
the New York Presbytery in the case of
Professor Briggs, the Presbyterian Gen
eral Assembly this morning engaged in a
half hours devotion. Rev. A. Nelson
Hollifield of New Jersey conducted the
exercises, giving an exposition of the Sth
Romans, the chapter describing the in
tercession of the Holy Spirit. Then the
Assembly convened as an Ecclesiastical
Court.
Fifteen minutes were exhausted in
desultory discussion of the order of pro-
cedure, the result Of which was the AS
sembly ordered-with evident confusion
and lack of understanding of just what
they were doing-the roll to be called
The Commissioners, as they were called
were to give their reasons for their votes
and the speeches were limited to three
minutes.
While this preliminary was being set
tied, DR.. Briggs quietly came in and
took a seat.
Under the call of the roll each member
rose in turn and stated whether he voted
for or against entertaining the appeal
from the New York Presbytery, which
acquitted Professor Briggs, and his rea-
sons therefor.
The call was continued throughout the
morning, afternoon and evening sessions
until S:45 o'clock, when the Moderator
put the question, "Shau the specifications
or error be sustained?" and DR.. Roberts.
the Stated Clerk, read the first specifica-
ton, in substance that the Presbytery of
New York on the objections made by DR..
Briggs required the Prosecuting Com
mittee to amend the amended charges
and specifications by striking out charge
four. The specification was declared
sustained by vote of 2S2 to 100.
Specifications second to twelfth, all re-
lating to Irregularities in the proceedings
of the New York Presbytery, were sus-
tanned seriatim.
The second ground of appeal alleged
the receiving of improper testimony, and
based upon the three specifications in the
first. A division was taken, the result
being that the specifications were sus-
tanned by a viva voce vote.
The third ground of appeal was the
alleged manifestation of prejudice in the
conduct of the case, and, of it's six speci-
fications, the Briggs men carried two and
came within two votes of carrying an
other.
The fifth and last ground of appeal
contained specifications of error, and
charged mistake or injustice in the de-
cision. Votes on these specifications
were taken without division, resulting in
the declaration that each and every one
had been sustained.
Rev. W. C. Young of kentucky then
moved that the roll be called. and the
Assembly vote upon the main question.
Shall the appeal be sustained? which was
adopted.
The roll was called in the midst of
almost painful stiffness. The vote an
nounced by the Stated Clerk was as fol-
lows: Whole number of votes cast. 499:
to sustain the appeal, Dos; to sustain in
part, So; total TO sustain the appeal. 3S3:
not to sustain, 1l6.
Then a motion was made for the an
pointment of a committee to bring in ex-
planatory minutes, which shall express
the sense of the Assembly as to the ac-
ton that should be taken upon the judg-
ment of the Presbytery of New York,
and what penalty shall be imposed
against DR.. Briggs, If any.
Adjourned until tomorrow.