The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-05-27
DR.. BRIGGS ON TRIAL,
The General Assembly Decides to
Entertain the Appeal.
THE VOTE LARGELY AGAINST HIM.

THE VOTE LARGELY AGAINST HIM.
a Sensational Scene Between the Accused
Professor and the Venerable DE-. DUFF
aeld-The Now York Commissioner
Stand by DR.. Briggs In the Vote.
WASHINGTON, May 27.-The largest at
tendance at this meeting of the Presby'
terrain General Assembly was present yes
terday, everybody being anxious to heal
the closing arguments for and against the
right of the General Assembly to proceed
with the trial Of the case of DIR. Briggs.
A sensational scene occurred after the
speech Of the venerable Dr. Duffield, Of
Princeton college. DIR. Duffield said b.
had great personal appreciation of thu
scholarship and Christian character of DIR
Briggs. "If his logical faculties wert
equal to his scholarship do not know hi
equal In the intellectual world Of America
at least" As DIR. Duffield stepped down
he came almost In direct contact witt
Professor Briggs, who with flashing eye.
had sprung to his feet, demanding to b
heard. A storm of dissent and cries o.
"Order," Immediately broke over the rs
sembly, and heated colloquy occurred
between the moderator and the professor
the former declaring that Or. Briggs hat
no right to be heard. Finally the professo
took his seat and the storm subsidized.
The last speaker was Rev. George D
Baker, Of Philadelphia, chairman Of tn
judicial committee, who argued In favo
of the General Assembly entertaining tn
appeal. At the conclusion of his speed
the debate was declared closed, and buz
Of excitement and anticipation arose
which was broken in upon now and sgail
by various motions, points of order, etc.
relating to the parliamentary situation
The tension was relieved by the unfailinl
good nature with which DIR. Craig pre-
sented these motions or skilfully ignore,
them. He made statement regarding
the controverted statements by DR.. Dui
field, of Professor Briggs teachings, that
having been made from recollection, the
were not to be taken into consideration Ii
influencing the vote Of any commissioner
Judge Purnell, of Baltimore, then OF
fered his motion to remand the case to tn,
New York synod.
This was defeated by viva voce vot
and again by a rising vote. The questio
then recurring on the resolution of tn
judicial committee, that the appeal be en-
tertained, the ayes and nays were d.
manded, and the roll call began at Al
Up. m.
1t was taken amid an almost painful
silence, during which the defendan
watched with feverisb anxiety the pre-
gress Of the vote by the tally kept by hi
friend, Professor Brown, who sat at his e
bow. All over the house and in the gal
leries the vote was followed on the roll {
members by interested ones who could nc
wait for the official announcement of tn
result. While the roll was being Gale
Moderator Craig yielded the chair to el
Moderator William c. Roberts, d. D., an
himself voted AYE"
When the clerk had finished the call c
the synod of New York, and Professo
Briggs found that his position in favor c
sending the appeal to that synod had bee
approved by majority of the commission
ers outside Of his own local presbyter,
the commissioners from which did nc
vote, he seemed relieved, and rose froI
his half leaning posture over Professo
Brown to the upright pose he had mali
tanned throughout the trying ordeal.
4 While the clerks were tabulating I'll
vote DIR. Duifield arose to a question {
j privilege, and stated that the passage
from Professor Briggs writings were frol
4 the latter's book "Whither," and from a
article by DIR. Briggs in The Independent
issued Jan. 1, 1891. Whether or not b
had correctly quoted them could easil
be determined by comparison of the Q,
tracts as printed in those publication
and as in the stenographer's notes Of h
! remarks.
Through the moderator, Profess,
8 Briggs stated TO the assembly that IL
, extracts quoted by DIR. Duffield, taken o,
of their context, did not faily represent h
= views.
! The result of the vote on the motion
entertain the appeal in the Briggs ca
was then announced by DIR. Craig as fc
lows: Yeas, 400; nays, las.
On motion of DE-. Young the judici
COMMITTEE was Instructed to prepare pr
> gram for procedure in the trial of the a
peal, and the assembly decided to procet
with the trial today.
. DIR. Craig, moderator, was asked todi
e how long, in his opinion, the assemb
would be engaged In the trial of ii
! Briggs case.
81 cannot say exactly, of course, but
S have no idea that shall be compelled
! remain in Washington later than Thur
/. day next"
!. Should the assembly vote to reverse ii
| Judgment Of the presbytery Of New Yol
i then the case will be remanded to tn
body to take such further action as shG
!, be necessary in accordance with the deci
g ion Of be assembly.