New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-24
TIE BRIGGS APPEAL READ
TWO REPORTS SUBMITTED BY THE 'oDlCiAi'
COMMITTEE
,,o,.-ssor DEMANDS FIVE HOURS FOR
SPEECH on THE ENTERTAINMENT OF BIS
.pprN-uoME MISSIONS DISCUSSED.
LIVE HOIIRS FOR A


,,,,n,on Nav 23.- sitting in a hcroSy trial In
=, T,oc.r,lor IS not the most delightful man
49, .,ro an afternoon. Make the place Port
"a vou Increase Tie burden. Make the city
o,on and the month May and jam the church
49, Galleries platform. aislcs and doorways as lui
- ,ho law will admit. and you add to the intensity III
a" VIZ, ors When the Moderator Of the General
.mh,v called that body 10 order this afternoon. the
Itch was packed literally On the platform he
IT., pr Craig or on either side of him several
~ his brother ministers who in former years had
occuuied the highest honors in the gift of the Church.
mong others DR.. HerTici Johnson, Of Chicago; DR..
william C. Roberts, Of New-l ork Dr. William
Moore Of Columbus. Ohio: pr. : J. Niccolis, Of 81
Iouis: DR.. Joseph +. Smith. Of Baltimore, ard Dr..
william G. Young Of Danvlle, Ky. all ex ModeratorS.
others on the platform were DR.. H. VI. Field. OF
aThe Evangelist" DR.. D. J. Burrc. OF NcwIork.
formerly a Presbyterian, but teaching the Heidcl
berg CateChism instead Of the Westminster, Dr.
Howard Dufield Of the old First Church In New
York: DIR. Bartlett the pastor OF the NewIork Ave
nue Church and the genial host Of the commissioners
and their friends Dr. A. J. Worden. OF Philadelphia.
and DR.. q. l.. Spinning, of New-fork'
Just in front OF Ir. W. Henry Roberts, the stated
clerk and the Vice Moderator Of the Assembly, sat
Dr. Briggs tho defendant in the prcscn; case With
Mrs Briggs in the gallery at Dr. BrgSs's right sat
his friend. Professor Henry Preserved smith OF IN
cinnat whose hcresy is likely to come before the
next General Assembly. and who Is studying with In
tense interest the trial of h, brother professor Just
across the aisle from DR.. Briggs WIS his fellow
prssbvter Dr. q. W. F. Birch, Of New-lork, the
chief prosecutor in the famous trial. With him sat
DR.. J. j. Lamre. and al MS night Professor '' D.
stevenson. 1t looked If the Scotch Church ho Dee
set down in Washington. Mrs Blich occupieo S'''
in the gallery corresponding to the one reserved LOT
Mrs Briggs two of the most Interested spectators IN
that grea, throng directly in front of the Moderator
sot Colonel j. J. McCook. Of New-Iork. whose speech
In the Presbytery trial called forth many words Of
praise from his Cons, rvative friends. Dr. Orais
constituted the Assembly an official court, ana S'id
aIn the discussion of this question, trust mat
brotherly Kindness and peace VIII prevail.
"Justice, too" shouted member rom 'he moor
NJ tho Assembly Quick rs a lightning FASH Dr.
Craig answered
"No. sir: don't you put words in ny mouth
mean blotherIy kindness and peace which are higher
IN a sense than justice, because they are the roofs
which produce Justice
Tn. her.sy ,rsl can scarcely be said to have begun
vet but the Briggs IS or the docket the JUDICIAL
committee having presented two reports this after
noon both agreeing that the appeal OF the Prosecuting
Committee was in order but the minority protesting
against the recommendation OF the majority res""i"s
the disposition OF the case. After some uiScuSSio"
II was agreed that the notice OF the appe" Oh u'c
Prosecuting Committee 10 the stated CLERK OF inc New"
York Presbvtery and the appeal of that committee
an bour Dr. Roberts the stated clerk, read from the
printed pamphlet some "a pages II all Then IL
WAS decided to adjourn and 10 resume the nearing
Of the Briggs case tomorrow afternoon. Inc Juui'a
Committee stood fifteen to five. one member DE-
Ketchum. declined to sign either report Deea'se u
NJ the minority was sufficiently radical TO please
him. 1t is said
Tn. Judicial Committee had recommended that Dr.
prors should have one and one-half hours and that
the committee should have an equal length OF n'h !"
presenting their respective arguments mat t'eh mem
Jers OF the Assembly should consume rs much ui'ie
and no mole, namely three hours; and after that q
vote should be taken upon the resolution TO the effect
that the appeal from the decision and final Judgment
Of the Presbytery of NewYork be entertained by 'he
Assembly and that the case proceed to trial In aecoiu-
ance with the provisions Of the BOOK OF DlScpiihe'
When the time limit was suggested, Dr. Briggs rose
10 speak. but. after conference with the Moa'oI'
Ec resumed his seat. After the Assembly adjourned
the Moderator and the opposing parties held con
ference and Dr. Briggs said that his address on the
preliu mary question that of entertaining the appeal
WIS prepared. that it would take five hours 10 reii
ST instead OF an hour and half. as suggested ana
That he insisted upon reading II entire, ana was III
cned 10 refuse read word unless he Iad s'uicl't
lime 10 read It all. With three four boards OF Inc
church vet to hear from. ard several committees yet
10 report a compromise suggested. as ten hours
I'm addition TO the three given TO the Assembly Tor the
Of ,cussion preceding the merits Of Tn" case ID
hand were considered too many. DR.. Briees was
firm In his POSITION and replied That he should iihe
la:a advice during the evcnnc ard would decide alter
doing 80 whether or not TO accept the time suggested
by the committee. The Assembly has not passed
uron the time that the parties shall receive Nor has
.rv action heen taken as TO the time that shall be
given IN the dscussion Of the should The Assem-
NV after listening to the preliminary arguments en-
terrain the appeal
Dr. Craig offered most earnest prayer for divine
guidance this afternoon in opening The Assembly,
The address of pr. Baker preceding his report was
,cmp.r;te In the extreme. Tic committee. he said
bad been giving the question patient prolonged ana
payerful consideration under c solemn sense oil the
responsibility dcvolvine upon them Iii DISCUSSING Inc
Question which is agiiating the Presbyterian Church
from centre to circumference. The present 'ime' III
his opinion was most monientous one. lie dcpre-
culed streuuOu>ly the use Of bitter. hhrsh or uh
Charitable words. ard Willie he begged the commits
sioncrs 10 speak TIE truth with all boldncss to speak
Al In love- and to resolve that whatever be the decision
finally reached. they may, as loyal PresDy'cra's
abide faithfully ny that decision. Then came the
report Of the majority recommending that the appeal
n supplemental al statement regarding the questqh Oh
appeal igncd by The who constituted the majority
The tenor OF tins report found In these WOIQs'
TO keep the Church in continual agitation ana
uncertainty for another year when 1t Is withr our
Ter in the present time is hl our judgment 10 nl
iustiliably e'ade the solemn duty n the province 1
for The prOlonggOn of the condition OF affairs III our
beloved Church which imperils It's purity ana peace
and hlndcrs II in the fulhlment vi its legitimate
mission"
Dr. Niccolls presented the report for the minority
He did not oppose the right OF appeal but ne salu
he took strong grounds against the recommendations
of the majority that the appeal be entertained ana
issued. because 1t prcIudgcs the case, because IL
pledges the members of the committee III advance
To entertain the appeal before the parties are hcai
and because II Is contrary both u the letter ana
spirit Of the Book Of Discipline. Five men signed
tiis report DR.. Niccolls j. Mcigs, c. II. Thompson
!. r. Foster and ii. ii. stbbins. DR.. NiccOls empha
sized his report with mild speech.
Dr.. Young, the chairman Of the Committee on
Bills and Overturcs, aud his friends had their daily
tilt this morning. Dr. Young desired again to refer
several Overures to the Judicial Commute Yesterday
the trouble because Overturcs intended for the
Church Polity Committee directed TO the Judicial
Committee by TIE chairman. DIR. Booth. Of New
Yora contested today AGAINST introducing these qucs
tons while the Judicial Committee had before II the
question Of a that soon 10 come before tie
Assembly. Judge WILLS OF Gettysburg. approved DR..
Booths position, and said that the course pursued
woaild not he tolerated for a moment in Il cOurt of
fnstier. lie te.med the proceedings as an Ontrage