The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1893-06-02
DR.. BRIGGS SENTENCE
Suspension From the Pulpit
Said to be Too Severe.
A PROTEST AGAINST THE DECISION

The Committee Made the Report and Il
Was Adopted by the Assembly - DR..
Briggs Refused to Relieve the Tension
WIN sticI, to His Former Utteranoes.
WASHINGTON. June .. Although by the
decision of the General Assembly DR..
Briggs has been deposed from the ministry
there is feeling that the sentence is too
severe, and there was a disposition among
many of the members at the opening ses-
sion this morning to attempt a reconsidera
tion of the vote of last night.
Rev. Dr. Peacock upon invitation of the
Moderator offered the opening prayer
when the Assembly came together at the
call Of the Moderator DR. Craig then
convened the Assembly as a court to hear
the report Of the committee appointed to
prepare the explanatory minute In the
Briggs case.
The Stated clerk announced that Rev
Robert Moore. of Ottawa, had stated that
he was present last night and voted to
sustain the question of the appeal from
the New York Presbytery's decision, but
owing to severe cold, was unable to
make himself heard. Mr. Moores vote
was recorded making the number Of votes
to sustain an even 500
Rev DR. Hoyt, chairman Of the commit
tee, before making the report called upon
| DR. Baker chairman, Of a sub committee
sent to interview Prof Briggs in a spirit OF
| conciliatiou to report the result of that
/ interview DR.. Baker said the committee
had hoped that Prof. Briggs would say
something which might relieve the tension
of the present distressing situation. But
this hope had not been realized Prof
Briggs stuted his irrnvocable determination
to abide by the declaration made in his
address before the Assembly In his defence
and continue to teach the doctrines there
avowed. Whereupon, DR.. Baker said, the
committee took the notion which Mr.. Hoyt
would now report to the General Assem-
bly,.
The report after reciting the charges in
the case, proceeds;
This judcatory finds that said Anal
judgment of the Ppresbytery Of New York
is erroneous. and should be and is hereby
! reversed and this General Assembly sitting
rs iudicatory in said case, coming now
to enter judgment on said amended
charges, finds the appeles Chas. A. Briggs
has uttered taught and propagated views,
doctrines and teachings as set forth in said
charges contrary TO the essential doctrine
of holy scripture and the standards of said
Presbyterian Church in the United States
Of America and in violation of the ordina-
tion vow of said appelles which
said erroneous views and doctrines
strike at the vitas of religion
and have been industriously spread;
wherefore this general assembly of the
Presbyterian Church in the United States
of America, sitting as judicatory in this
cause on appeal does hereby suspend
Charles A. Briggs, the said appellee, from
the Office of a minister in the Presbyter-
ian Church in the United States of Amer
lea until such time as shall give satisfac
tory evidence of repentance to the general
assembly of the Presbyterian Church in the
United States of America of the viola ton
by him of the said ordinary vow as he rein
and heretofore found.
The report of the committee was adopted,
whereupon Rev. Dr. Sprague gave notice
that at the proper time protest would be
offered against the finding of the assembly,
as being too severe sentence for the
honored scholar named, and as tending to
restrict the liberty heretofore enjoyed by
bearers in the Presbyterian church.
d The committee of which DR.. Hoyt was
chairman was made up as follows;
Ministers-H w. Congdon, of New
York; James H. Brookes, Missouri; Cal
win W. Stewart, Nebraska; w. W.
Harsha, Nebraska; j. j. Lucas Indiana;
- George D. Baker, Pennsylvania; E. P
Whallon, Indiana, and Thomas d. Ewing,
Iowa
Elders - John Randolph, Baltimore
Thomas McDougall, Ohio David Jacks
California; Edward I. Greene, New Jer.
sey; James A. Curry, Kentucky and E.
D. Warfeld, Pennsylvania.
The committee were given leave to re
: tire for consultation, and the Assembly, as
= court, adjourned, to be reconvened at the
call of the Moderator.
> Wednesday nights vote on the appea
was divided as follows; To sustain, POS
to SUSTAIN in part, 30; not to sustain, 116
Total vote, 1888 to 1l6 against DR.. Briggs.