The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1893-06-01
Presbyterian Assembly Sustains
Appeal From Presbytery.
the BRETHREN N a GIG row.
A Scene Of Confusion Precipitated BY
IN Elder From Cincinnati.
The Vote Against tAs Alleged Hssesie
Was OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES e
Ne Fixed By . Cs@nissss-Cs.ere
tioaal Assoeiasisa Conferenc>,

Sc~AfE8 So Sotc upOn sSso Quc9SlOu Oh SuSs
tanning the appeal from the decision of
the New York presbytefy in the case Of
Prot. Briggs. the Presbyterian genera. as
sernbiy this morning engaged in half an
hours devotion. Rev. A. Nelson, of Hoi-
iifield. n. j.. conducted the exercises,
giving an exposition Of the eighth chap
ter of Romans. the chapter describing the
intercession of the Holy Spirit. Then the
assembly convened N an ecclesiastical
court. Fifteen minutes were exhausted
in . desultory discussion Of the
order Of procedure, ~ . result Of
which the assembly ordered. with evi-
dent confusion and lack of understanding
of just what they we're doing, that the
roll be called. The commissioners, as
called. were to give the reasons for their
votes. the speeches being limited to three
minutes. While this preliminary was
being settled, Briggs quietly came in and
took q seat. Under the call of the roll
each member rose in his turn and stated
whether he voted for or against entertain
ing the appeal from the New York pres
byiery, which acquitted Prot. Briggs, and
his reason therefor.
Rev. Anthony G. Junkin. Of Los An.
geies. said:
Every doub: had bsen scattered to the wind
BY the admissions of the d,fendsut His error
was the doctrine OF naturaiism out of which
grew most Of the errors afiiicstng the church.
Rev. John T. Hopkins, also of Los An.
geles, said he was obliged TO vote to srs-
tain the appeal on account Of the threat
ened disruption, and Prof John NJ.
Coyner, of tie same presbyterv, said he
would do the same. Elder William H.
Hamilton, of Oakland, said he had come
to Washington City absolutely unpreju-
diced, but he was afraid the church would
be In an uncertain condition If the appeal
was not sustained. The burden Of the
remarks of Rev. J. n. Newell, of the San
Jose presbytery, was that if DR.. Briggs
was sustained each preacher, professor
and Sunday school teacher would be priv.
legged to preach any views he pleased.
Capt. Jacks, Of San Jose, said
that oil over the land we're young
ministers from Union seminary, stepped
in the fearful doctrine taught bv DR..
Briggs. II the professor knew, he said, of
the damage ne was doing he would stop
this thing and wostd havs done with it
forever. and stop hing ruin upon Che
young ministers Of the church.
As one after another of the members
briefly indicated his position Prof. Briggs
became weary of the talk and asked and
was granted permission to retire. The
call Of the presbyteries BY states progressed
as far as Kansas. when recess was taken
until go p. M.
After recess the debate continued With
majority of the speakers against DIR.
Briggs. though he found number of sup-
porters. the most notable one perhaps be-
ing graduate Of Union Theological SEM
mary. James r. Garvin, q missionary to
Chile. Elder Thomas McDougall, of Gin
cinnati, precipita:ed lively scene. He
began:
Ii IL be in order. would like to ask II the
omuiseience, veracity and character OF God
Almighty and OF Lord Jesus Christ may be
Questioned! God Almighty has said Isaiah said
thus and 90. Or. Briggs has said TO God Al.
mighty that Isaiah did not write half tho book
in tho New Testament that Isaiah wrote tho
book bearing his name.
DR.. Henry NJ. Storrs: Il call the gentle
man to order"
Rev. II. Milton Shields, of New Mex.
leo: 'If the statement is not quoted in
DIR. Briggs inaugural it 10 not before the
assembly,"
The co:loquy was carried on in the
midst Of great confusion. cries of order
rising from all parts of the house and the
moderator and McDougail both trying to
be heard. The storm having Gained
down, Elder McDougall concluded.
Christ said "No man can como unto tho
Father but by me-" Dr. Briggs says Msrtiueau
found God through reason and that Newman
found Him through the church Whom viii
You bei:svc-Christ or Dr. Briggs!
An extension OF half an hour to the after.
noon session enabled the clerk to prorres,
in the roll to tho synod of Oregon. The
assembly then took . recess until this
evening
The cal! Of the roll was resumed at the
evening session. Only small percentage
of members took advantage OF the privi-
lege of speaking. 1t was q, O'Clock when
the moderator put the question shall the
specifications of error be sustained 2" and
DR.. Roberts, the stated clerk, said:
The fisss specification In substance IL that al
the presbytery Of New York OF the objections
made By Dr.. Briggs, which required the prose
cnting committee to amend the amended
charges and specifications by striking out
the charge.
The specifications we're declared sus-
tained by . vote Of 81 TO 80
Specifications second 70 twelfth. ALL. re-
ia,ing 70 irregularities in the proceedings
of the New York presby,ery, were sus-
tanned seriatim.
The second ground Of the appeal alleged
the receiving of improper testimony and
based upon three specifications. On the
first division taken the result VA, tha.
the Specifications were sustained by a viva
yoce vote.
The third ground of appeal alleged
II msniIesia,ion of prejudice IN the conduct
of the case. and Of its SIX specifications
the Briggs men carried tao and came
within two votes OF carrying another.
The fifth and las: ground OF appeal con-
tanned specifications of error and charged
mistake or injustice in the decision. The
votes on these specifications were taken
without division. resulting in the declara-
ton of each and every one being sustained.
Rev. ". c. Young. OF kentucky. then
moved that the roll BE- called and the as
sembsy vote upon the main question.
Shall the appeal be sustained ?" which
vas adopted. The roll was called amidst
almost painful Stiffness The vote was
announced by the stated clerk ss follows.
Whole number Of yo,es cast, $50; to sus-
tain appeal. Us. 20 sustain in part. So.
total To- sustain appeal. SIS; net TO
sustain, IiG Then 8 n4otion vas made
to- Tire appointment Of . committee
70 bring in explanatory minutes wnicli
shaii express the sense Of the assembly IS
A., thu Action that xhrssfN bs tSkeu ssre.