The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-05-25
Presbyterian General Assembly Sit
ting a. a Court to Try
DR.. Briggs
Having Been Once Fully Acquitted
He Objects to This Sec-
ond Trial
Many IN Error Would Creep Into tho
Church II tho Prscedent Il
Once Set

WAsH1Narox, May "a. Tho Presbyterian
general assembly resumed its session this
morning. The committse on aid to ool-
lsges recommended the proposition OF Ar
thur Brown, to donate 100 acres OF land in
Salt Lake City al a site for the location of
the Westminster college of Utah, be re-
spsotfully declined. II was adopted. The
report Of the committee ON foreign mis-
sions stated that an effort was to be made
this year to raise . million and a quarter
dollars. A recess was then taken until
2:30, whom the Briggs case was taken up.
At the afternoon session Moderator Craig
convened the assembly as court. d..
Briggs ascsnded the platform amid intense
quiet and made brief preliminary state
msnt regarding the time he required for
his argument. Dr.. w. F. Birch. chairman
Of the prosecuting COMMITTEES. then took
the floor. After touching the history Of tho
case. DIR. Birch said: 1--WE are here to in
woke shat shis supreme court put an end TO
the disssnsion and disputation which the
New York preabytsry vainly endeavorsd to
silence. The form in which tho final judg-
ment Of the New York prssbytsry was re-
turned, gives the impression that the alleged
errors Of DR.. Briggs a's unimportant and
that no essential doctrine is eontrsdicted.
There has been tendency TO minimize the
full force Of the indictment. The errors
charged are fundamental"
In reply TO the argument that appeal can
not bs taken from the verdict Of acquittal.
Dr. Birch said he who teaches that the
power Of the general assembly can be null
lifted By the will Of single presby terry lifts
the banner of treason against the prssby-
terry snd church. "Your appellant besseohso
this venerable court to exercise its author
sv::, sv:.y ], plea for delay OF iud em'ns out Of
At 3:1b O'Clock DR.. Briggs arose to reply
to the opening Of the prosecuting commit
tse and protest sgainst entertaining the
appeal BY the general assembly. DR..
Briggs went on to argus that the form Of
appeal ie incorrect and there are many
moved before the assembly could
matter included in the appeal which,
no said. rendered II invalid. A
much moro fundamental question is at
stake. said Dr.. Briggs, than any principle
or doctrine that has yet been discussed.
That was whether the Preaby ssrian church
should be considered as merely = voluntary
religious society or the church of Jesus
Christ.
II was the civil law of the land, he said.
that no man should be twice tried for the
same offenss. Was the Presbyterian
church ready to ignore or violate we'll
settled principle, found by centuries of OBJ
servation and experience TO be essential to
the we'll being Of shs people, without any
sufficient cause? II this appeal 10 sustained
it would become an unfortunate p: ecedent,
which would be followed by public prose.
cutoEs. who would magnify their Office and
bring differences of opinion and establish
new and easy way for ambitious litigants to
secure authoritative decisions of tho gen-
ersl assembly In many matters which now
are regarded a. legitimate matter of pri-
vate opinion, and thus imperil the oonstitu-
ton by an unendina series of heresy trials,
and result In changes In the doctrine and
law Of the Prssby terian church.
The general assembly corsd not lawfully
revise or amend the constitution by final
Judgment in horesy trials. Public prose-
cutors are pushing the Presby tsrian church
into vsxy inconsistent and dangerous
position. They are endea vor ing to seizure
new defnition Of dogma by final Judgment
in q hsrssy trial. whom they ought to aim TO
secure them by overtures in accordance
with the provisions of the form of govern
ment.
DR.. Briggs spoke for an hour and half
and then yielded for Q motion to adjourn.