New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-25
| DIR. BIRCH AND DIR. BRIGGS.
THE PROSECUTOR AND DEFENDANT MEEr.
THE PROFESSOR WINS on THE TIME LIMIT
AND IS TO SPEAK FOR FIVE HOURS
OUTLINE OF THE ARGUMENTS.
jBY TELEGRAPH THE rKIBUNE-J

AFTERNOON, no one c0uld tell WHICH siue was dieu'
Although two reports had been submitted by the
Judicial Committee, the proceedings had prac-
tcally moved in such way that the advo-
Gates of each report satisfied. Such happy
result scarcely to be looked for. and, al
though the Liberals and Conservatives had gone
from the New-YOrk Avenue Church, one class
feeling that the other was unreasonable in trying
to limit Dr. Briggs in the speech which he de-
sired TO make and the other certain that ths
Professor was altogether unreasonable in his de-
mand for five hours on the preliminary ques-
ton when tho body resumed it's session to-day
as court. the harmony which had been 80
earnestly desired by both parties became re-.
ality. Dr. George d. Baker. the chairman Of
the Judicial Committee voluntarily moved an
amendment to the judicial report, which was
supported unanimously by the committee, to tho
effect that the prosecution should have one hour
in presenting its ease. and Dr. Briggs should have
five hours allowed TO him. and that the prosecu-
ton should close in a speech Of two hours, or, II
il desired to Use five hours in all, that time
should be granted. DR.. Craig. the Moderator.
then called for the presentation Of the case by the
prosecution.
WOMEN CROWD THE GALLERIES.
The Assembly to-day was larger than that OF
Yesterday and many women stood for hours m
order TO get o glimpse Of the speakers ana 70
hear the technical arguments presented. 10 was
amusing to see how perfectly quiet the galleries
werc inst after the benedictiOn at IL 80. Inc
Assembly had adjourned for two hours, ana, whno
the commissioners and visiting clergymen marched
ont as one man, not AZ angel IN the gailcrs' ~
use Dr. Craigs gallant phrase. stirred Inc ex-
planation was that, in order to sit two hours
and half during the debate in the afternoon inc
fair spectators had waived their dinner hour anu
had come prepared 20 keep their seats agaihSS
all those who should come later IL was ah'
nouncad in the afternoon by the committee OF az.
r,ncaments that this would not be allowed
an,;n and that the women would not be permitted
70 run the risk of cndangering their health oy
.on,oin;rg in the church so many hours at ore
sitting.
r,vIrrAR FACES on THE PLATFORM.
III. faces on the platform and around it were
III, no s,me as those mentioned yesterday.
Ihn 6va members of the Prosecuting COMMITTEES
cot q, tho Moderator's left hand-Dr. Blrcil, the
.,urdv chairman. who will go down into history
a. the defender of the faith: Colonel Johh -
NcCook who smiled calmly at the Keen thrus'o
~ Dr Briggs: DR. J. j. Lampe, VINO mas oee.
complmented by the defence as the scnoiai Va
the committee Dr. r. F. Sampl" ana Professor
7 7 Stevenson. whose attitude has been rathcr
that of silent partners, so far as the P"piio
cc,csrned DIR. Briggs was reinforced to-day az
his table by Professor Brown, OF Cnion semi
nary. and Dr.. Frazer, of Newark, MS ii.e'ons
friend. Professor Schatf, also OF Union oenin''s'
sat near the table, and Mr.. Kingsley. inc treas
urcr of the seminary. sat IN the gallery III '"'
now reserved for DR.. Briggss family. VII '"e
nrotform among Others. were Dr. Mcleod, OF
Albany. who, while not the pastor OF h'oy
puth.~ still h,s a claim upon the White Hous''.
.incs be bantizet 1.-The first Lady Of the land" ana
r,as for five years her pastor. and DIR. Angler, OF
p,s,on. one of the first graduates OF Union semi
nary While Dr. Briggs was speafln-' Dr'
Young. the Moderator of the last Assembly, oc-
cunied his chair al the table, and the elnphaSs
If the speech divided between the rroSec"'-
ing Committee and DR.. Young.
DR. BIRCH SPEAKS FOR THE APPELLANTS.
Dr Bircb RESPONDED to the call of DIR. Craig
and nresented the case behalf of the appelah's'
~. gave a sketch of the case, and compared the
frat Council recorded in the Acts OF the Apostles
with the General Assembly of last year. Inc
;ssuo of the first Council was the purity OF the
church as tbe absolute condition Of peace.
Purity, he said, was preferred even to concord.
DR. Birch said that the appellants had come to
invoke the Assembly to put an end 10 the striic'
which the New York Prcsbytery had failed 10 DO.
He explained why the synod had been passed.
hv. insisting that the case alleged series oI
errors, and not local s>ue lhe CHRISTIAN
faith and heritage of the Presbyterian 'hurch
were in peril. and those. who were contesting
AGAINST the appellants were raising banner OF
rrbellion AGAINST the Church. If the action OF
coming to the Assembly is extraordinary 1t Is ne
cause the case is an extraordinary one. While
speal;ing kindly Of DR.. Briggs, he insisted that
his pcrsonal interests were as nothing compared
IN tha interests If the Presbyterian Church, ana
tba. .bo ,ssue was TOO grsve 10 be decided either
hy Dr. Bri,gs or the Ncw-lork Preshytery, or
even l,y the Nrw-York synod. IL was one upon
which the whole Church must speak. lie said
that the committee might have escaped censure
hv dropping the matter, but 1t was not ques-
tion for them 10 settle in that way. They had
a duty to perform and they were performing IL
without fear or favor. Dr. Birch spoke Tor
Twenty-Five minutes, reading from manuscript and
at times emphasizing his remarks both by tones
and gestures He had been allowed an hour and
only twenty-five minutes. He made d
,lcc, impression when he said that the appellants
apncaled to the venerable body in the name of
law and order and in the name of the orthodox
evaneeicaI missionary Church, asking the Assem-.
hly 10 less the Church and the world by eX-
crrisine its authority and finishing this
prorrSSoR BRItat>'S ADDRESS BEGUN.
Then came the addrss OF Dr. Briggs, lasting
on hour and forty minutes Tie speaker never
,ppared TO better advantage in any OF the
iudlcial p: oceedings 10 which he mas been sub
ieccd during the last two years or more. Al
though there were passages in his paper which
seemed 10 arouse the antagonism Of some OF his
hearers he spoke with l,s, iierceness than
some previous occasions. In beginning his adj
dress lie lnfcrn.cd the Assembly that he did NOS
appear before them as DR.. BRIGGS, but as the
attorney for Mr. Briggs. The question was not
whether DR.. Briggs was guilty of heresy, and not
whether he was right wrong in his teaching
and ia his manner, but whether the appeal should
te entertained. IL against the entertainments
cf the appel that he would make his speech.
lie called upon the commissioners 70 Danish from
their thought, all feelings which might exist IN
iegur,. TO h" merits OF the case. He then pro-