Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-05-26
ARGUING THE QUESTION.
The Proceedings in the Assembly Yesterday
Afternoon.

ARGUING THE QUESTION.
The Proceedings in the Assembly Yesterday
Afternoon.
APPLAUSE FOR DIR. BRIGGS CALLS FORTH RE-
BUKE FROM THE MoDERAroR-MR. M COOKS
ARGUMENT FOR THE APPELLANTs-THE
POWERS OF THE PROSECUTING COMMITTEE.
From Yesterdays Assembly Edition.l
AcLosING STATEMENT.
DIR. Briggs finished his formal address about
O'Clock. He then took a little time Of the
presbytery to call attention to the fact that in
the printed record Of the case furnished by the
prosecution in the resolution offered by Dr..
George Alexander and adopted by the presby-
terry November 4, 1891. the committee had
omitted the categorical questions and replies
of witness as to his belief.
DENYING THE CHARGE OF ERROR
He said that the appellant had in the opening
argument entered into the merits Of the case.
He would not go into that further than to deny
explicitly the charge that he taught any funda-
mental errors. He affirmed that the Holy
Bible was the only rule OF faith and practice;
that he held to the whole doctrine taught in
the first chapter Of the Westminster conference
as to the Scripture; that he held to tho entire
system taught by the Westminster con-
ference. His utterances had been in some
cases misinterpreted.
He would not say that those misinterpreta-
tons were always Intentional; that he was en-
tlrely free from blame in causing them He
honestly hoped that this case would cease He
appealed to them again to send the case to the
synod OF New York. promising that he would
meet the case there fairly and when the assem-
bly, passed final Judgment he would submit to
1t. II he had said anything that offended any
member of the court, he regrettedit He spoke
OF the fact that he had been a teacher in the
theological seminaries, and he challenged them
to bring any student whom he had taught who
would say that he had ever taught anything
that undermined his faith.
APPLAUSE BREAKS OUT.
A DR.. Briggs finished speaking and turned
to gather up his papers from the table at his
side an outburst of applause ran through the
house and the clapping of hands continued
until after DR.. Briggs had taken his seat.
The moderator arose and, waiting until the
applause bad died away, in stern tones he
rebuked the outburst which had Just occurred
He expressed the hope that no member Of the
court had SO far forgotten their solemn function
as judges in this case as to express an opinion
In such way when only one side of the case
had been heard.
If such was the case they had prejudged the
matter.
One or two Of the commissioners informed
the moderator that the applause did not come
from the court but from the spectators on the
| floor and in the galleries.
Another commissioner expressed the opinion
that the spectators were not entirely at fault.
The moderator sand that he hoped such an oc-
currence would not be repeated and if he found
1t necessary he would clear the church Of all
| outsiders and have the court sit with closed
doors.
Some one in the gallery called out that the
applause did not come from that section.
The moderator, however. felt that he had
done all that was necessary and the hearing Of
case was proceeded with
Col. McCook Speaks.
Mr.. John j. McCook of the prosecuting COM
mittee followed DR.. Briggs He said that all
the preliminary questions argued in the case
had been decided by the general assembly Of
1892. They were res adjudicata and should
| not again be discussed. The law was that it
was not competent for one general assembly to
review the proceedings of another. The ap-
pellee' long argument that the appellant must
| prove himself an aggrieved party, though bril-
liant and interesting, wholly irrelevant, rs
the Book of Discipline grant ed the right Of ap-
| peal as an unquestioned right.
The general assembly made the final u-
| terpreter Of the constitution. True the gen.
eral assembly might err, but its decisions. like
that OF the United States supreme Court,
was anal and must be submitted to. True.
| it was said the actions of the New York
presby.ery did not bind the Pres
byterian Church. But if ignored they
would be biading on the church and affect the
whole church. He read section 95 of the Book
of Discipline giving grounds of appeal the
fastening to decision before all the evidence
was IN. The entire report of the committee of
presbytery appointed to formulate the find
ings of the presbytery had been ac-
as its Judgment. The appellee said just
before adjournment today that the presbytery
in its judgment had declared his utterances as
extra confessional, thus accepting the judy
ment referred to as the Judgment in the case.
Mr.. McCook read at come length from the
record of proceedings of the New York presby-
terry. He WAS proceeding to question DR..
Briggs candor in asserting that the appeal had
not been taken in due time.
DIR. BRIGGS ISrERRUPrs
DR.. Briggs here interrupted him and said he
had not said the appeal was not taken in good
time. He granted that it was.
Mr.. McCook said that that statement was
satisfactory.
Mr.. McCook said the time had come when thev
as presbyters had to meet great crisis in the
affairs of the church, and he exhorted them to
q full performance of their duty. He called at
tention then to some of the declarations of the
Book OF Discipline. The Book of Discipline he
raid. had not been prepared to cover any par
ticulsr case. 1t was a part of the constitution
Mr.. McCook read sections to show, as he
claimed. that every proceeding taken by the
prosecution had been in strict compliance with
the provisions of the Book OF Discipline. When
they knew what the provisions of the book are
and applied them to a particular case every
member Of the assembly could see what his
duty was He maintained that under the
definitions OF the Book of Discipline there was
no question that the Presbyterian Church
was all original party, and that it was the duty
Of the prosecuting committee to prosecute the
case through every judicatory until the final
issue is reached. Such a committee was not n
temporary committee
Throughout the progress of this case the
position of the prosecuting committee had been
attacked. He deemed it important that this
assembly should know what the presbytery the
synod and the general assembly had done with
reference to this committee. He then reviewed
the proceedings OF the presbytery to show the
regularity OF the appointment of the commit
tee.
COURTESY TO DIR. BRIGGS.
Mr.. McCook made a slight depression to re-
fer to DR.. Briggs allegations that he had not
been treated with courtesy by the committee
The committee, he said, had no word of ex-
PLANTATION apology to make for anything it
bad DONE for 1t had done its duty only to the
Presbyterian Church, whichit Represented. aud
to guard it against what the committee consid-