The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-27
BRIGGS APPEAL TAKEN UP.
The Assembly Decides to Entertain II
by a Vote Of 400 10 AS.

The Arrangement for Opening the
Argument to Entertain the Appeal
Received with a Storm of Protest.
The Moderator Rules With an Iron
Hand DIR. Briggs Exasperated by a
Left-Handed Compliment Paid Him
by DR.. Dufield OF Princeton.
Washington, May 26.-Thc largest at
tendance so far in the history of the lO5th
general assembly of the Presbyterian
church in the United States of America
was present at the prayer meeting with
which the days proceedings wcro ushered
in. Rev. Mr.. Allen of Chattanooga pre-
sided
Moderator Craig announced that at the
request of Rev, S. ]. Niccolls, u. D., of
he had replaced them on the judicial com
mission to try the complaints Of J. j. Nc
Cook and others against the synod of New
York by appointment of Rev. w. b. RoY-
nolds of Minnesota and Elder Law of
California.
Upon "A formal motion to approve the
minutes of yesterday after the opening of
the general assembly for business. the
furry of last night over the form of the
question to be voted upon at the close of
the four hours debate by the Judiciary
was renewed The moderator at length
reviewed the proceedings of last night
upon this matter, and stated that at the
close of the debate he would entertain Il
motion to amend the form of the question,
the motion to be voted upon without fur
ther debate. This was satisfactory to
all parties and the moderator gave the
floor to Elder Ketchum of New Jersey.
He favored sending the case OF Prof.
Briggs back to the synod and said that at
the end of the debate he would offer a
resolution to that effect. He had not one
particle of sympathy with his friend DR..
Briggs. He wanted it understood that
he believed in the Old-fashioned doctrine,
strict Interpretation Of the Bible without
talking about the mysteries in it, but he
believed DR. Briggs had certain rights
which should be respected.
A STORM or PROTEST.
Elder McDougall of Cincinnati stated
that by arrangement with the chairman
of the judiciary committee he was charged
with the duty of opening in support of the
motion to entertain theappcal This was
accepted by the moderator and Mr. Nc
Dou9all took the platform. There was
storm Of protest at this arrangement, but
1t was sunmarily put down by the
moderator and this plan was followed
throughout the discussion. At different
times DIR. Briggs made efforts TO be heard
in reply to statements made by his op-
ponents, but he also was put down, not
alone by the moderator, but by clamor-
Gus protest from among the commissioners.
Two hours and forty minutes of the morn
ing session was given up TO
5-minute speeches from commissioners,
who represented every possible view of
the question at issue. DR.. Briggs found
many supporters upon the ground that the
present proceedings were irregular, while
many of his opponents used for their prin-
cipal argument the necessity of disposing
at once Of the troublesome and threaten
ing element Of discord in the church
The first thing done upon the reassem-
bling of the assembly at 2 80 o'clock p. III.
was to determine to hold a night session
for the purpose Of further proceeding with
consideration of the Briggs case.
LEFT-HANpED COMPLIMENT.
DR. Dufield of Princeton College began
his remarks by saying that he had great
personal appreciation of the scholarship
and Christian character Of DR.. Briggs. IF
his logical faculties were equal to his
s no arship, do not know his equal in tho
intellectual world OF America, at least. )"
This or some other remark of DR..
Duffield's brought Or. Briggs to his feet
with flashing eyes and a demand to be
heard to correct the misstatement
and misinterpret6tion Of his writings.
He was ruled out of order, but persisted
determinedly and appealed 10 the house
against the moderator. His appeal was
not entertained however, and he re-
luctantly took his. scat.
A passionate address against the plea of
DR. Briggs was made by Rev. William G.
Young, ID. D., of Danville, Ky, moderator
Of the last assembly. Speaking with
much emphasis and in an emotional man
ner, DR.. Young said he never had n
clearer conception as TO the disposition of
any ecclesiastical matter than he had In
this case. For peace, for speedy settle
mcnt for doing away with vexings and
disturbances, he believed in entertaining
now this appeal in the fear and view of
God
Rev. George d. Baker Of Philadelphia
closed the debate in favor Of entertaining
the appeal. The debate closed at O'Clock.
Judge Purnell Of Baltimore then offered
his motion TO remand the case TO the New
York synod This was defeated by "a
viva voce vote and again by q rising vote
The question then recurring on the res
olution Of the judicial committee, that the
appeal be entertained. the ayes and nays
were demanded and the roll call began at
4:15 o'clock p. N. All over the house and
in the galleries the vote was followed on
4 the can OF members Dy interested
ones who could not wait for the
official announcement ofd the result.
While the roll was being called Moderator
Craig Yielded the chair to cX-MOderatOr
William g. Roberts, d. D., and himself
voted aye" " The result Of the vote on
the motion 20 entertain the appeal was
announced by DR. Craig as follows: Yeas
400. nays l45
On motion Of Or. Young the judicial
committee was instructed to prepare a
programme for procedure in the trial Of
the appeal, and the assembly decided to
proceed with the trial tomorrow morn
ing.
At O'Clock p. m. the assembly ad-
journed until o'clock p. m for the con-
sideration Of administrative business.