The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-06-01
MAJORITY OPPOSE BRIGGS
By a Vote OF 363 to 116 the Gen.
eral Assembly Sustains
the Appeal.
Many OF tho Brethren Explain tho
Reasons OF Their Re-
epective Votes.
Punishment to 10 Visited Upon Briggs.
II Any, Will 30 Determined To-
Day-A Sensation.

pt esbyte'y in tho case OF Prof. Briggs ths
Presbyterian general assembly this morn
ing engaged in a half hours devotion. Rev.
A. Nelson Holi1eld, Of New Jersey, CON
Quoted the exercises, giving an exposition
OF the eighth OF Romans, that chapter do
scribing the intercession OF the Holy Spirit.
Then the assembly convened as An ecclssi-
astical court. Fifteen minutes were sx-
hausted in desultory discussion OF tho
order OF tho procedure. as the result of
which the assembly ordered with evident
confusion and lack of understanding of
Just what they were doinR) that the roll be
called. The commissioners, az called, were
to give the REASONS for their votes. Speeches
were limited to three minutes. While this
preliminary was being settled Briggs qui-
city came in ana took his seat.
Under the csll OF the roll each member
rose and stated whether he was for or aQainss
sustaining the appeal from the New York
prssbytery which acquitted Prof. Briggs,
and his reason therefor. Rev. Anthony G.
Jankin. of Los Angeles. said that every
doubt had been scattered to the wind BY
the admissions of the defendant. His
error, in the speakers opinion, was ths doc
trine of naturalism out of which grew most
of the errors now affecting the church.
Rev. John T. Hopkins, also Of Los An
geles, said he was obliged to vote to sustain
tho appeal on account Of the threatened
disruption. and Prof. John M. Coyner, Of
the same presbytsry, said he would do the
same.
Elder VIM. H. Hamilton. of Oakland,
said he had come to Washington absolutely
unprejudioed. but he was afraid the church
would be in an uncertain condition il the
appeal was not sustained. The burden of
the marks of Rev. j. NJ. Nswail, Of the
San Jose presby terry. was that If DR.. Briggs
was sustained every preacher, professor
and Sunday school teacher would be privi-
legged to preach any views he pleased.
Capt. Jacks, of San Jose, said that all over
the land were young ministers from the
Union seminary stesped in the fearful doc
trine taught by DR.. Briggs. II the pro-
fessor knew. he said, OF the damage he was
doing he would stop this thing and would
have done with il forever, and stop BRING
ing ruin upon the young ministers of the
ohufch.
AS one after another of the members
briefly indicated his position, Prof. Briggs
became weary of the talk, asked and was
granted permission to retire. The call of
presbyteries by states progressed az far as
Kansas, when recess was taken till 2:30
p. m.
Aftor recess debate continued. with ma
iority of the speakers against DR.. Briggs.
though he found number of supporters.
the most notable one, perhaps being .
graduate Of Union Theological seminary.
james F. Garvin. missionary to Chill.
Elder Thomas NcDouRall, of Cincinnati,
precipitated lively scene. If it be in or
der" he began. II would like to ask If the
omniscience. veracity, and character Of
God Almighty of the Lord Jesus Christ,
may be questionedP God Almighty has
said Isaiah said thus and SO. DR.. Briggs
has said to God Almighty that Isaiah did
not write half the book that bsars his name.
The Lord Jesus Christ said in the New
Testament that Isaiah wrote the book that
bears his name"
DR.. Henry N. ssarrs: II call the gentle
man to order"
Rev. H. Milton Shields. Of New Mexico;
"If the statement 10 not quoted in Dy.
Briags inaugural It's not before the AS
sembly."
The oolloquy was carried on in the midst
of great confusion, cries OF ':order!" rising
from all parts of the house, and the modsr-
ator and MoDouRall both trying to 10
heard. The storm having oalmed down.
Elder McDouRall concluded: "Christ said
no man can come unto the father but by
through reason aud Newman found him
through the church. Whom will you be-
lieve Christ or DIR. Briggs?"
The extension of half an hour TO the
afternoon session enabled the clerk to
progress in the roll through the synod of
until this evening.
The call OF the roll was resumed At the
evening session. Only small percentage
OF members took the privilege of speaking.
IL was S:45 O'Clock when the moderator put
the question: Shall the specifications Of
k~
stated clerk, read the first specification, in
substance that the prssbyt terry Of New York,
on objections made by Dr. Briggs, required
the prosecuting committee TO amend the
amended charges and specifications by
striking out charge four. The specification
was declared sustained by vote Of 2S3
to 100.
Specifications second to twelfth, all re.
lating to Irregularities in the proceedings
Of the New York presby yteHy, were sustained
seriatim. Tho second ground Of appeal
WAS the alleged receiving Of improper tes-
timony. and based on three specifications.
On tho first division taken the result was
that the specification was sustained by a
viva vocs vote. The third ground Of appeal
was the alleged manifestation of prejudice
Ia the conduct of the case. and of its six
specifications the Briggs men carried two
and came within two votes of carrying an
other. The fifth and last ground of appeal
charged mistake or injustice In the deoi-
sion. The votes on these specifications
were taken without division. resultinR in
the declaration that each and every ono
WAS sustained.
Rev. W. O. Young. of Kentucky. then
moved that the roll be called and she as
sembly vote upon tho main question, shall
tho appeal be sustained. whioh was adopted.
The roll vas called amidst almost painful
stiffness. The vote announced by the
stated clerk was "a follows: Whole mum.
Der of votes cast, 499; TO sustain the appeal,
29S; to sustain in part. sighty-hv total 10
sustain the appeal. 1888; not to sustain. l16.
Then motion was made for the appoint-
ment of committee TO bring In an explain.
atory minute which shall express the sense
of the assembly ~ to the action that should
be taken upon the judgment of the prssby-
terry of New York. and what penalty shall
he imposed against DIR. Briggs IL any,
Adjourned until tomorrow.
Uaitsd PresbytePiAns
HA