The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1893-06-02

Dr. hFlSB' -
Discussion over tho Report,
WASHINGTON, D. c., June l.-Having
decided by vote OF Ss3 to ll6 that they
had heretic on their hands in tho per-
son OF DR.. Briggs, the first thing for, SO
Presbyterian genera! assembly to do
when it met this morning was to con-
slider what should be done with him.
Accordingly u committee was appointed
TO bring in verdict, and its members
were requested to get TO work at once
Alter long session the committee
Brought in this recommendation; "sus-
pension from the ministry" and the
assembly adopted the report
During the session OF tho committee
n motion was made by DR.. Stewart to
ndopt resolution admonIshing DR..
Briggs for his delivery OF the inaugural
and requesting him to refrain from the
further spread OF his teachings against
which the church has spoken.
1t was suggested, howayer, by an
other member that possibly adnoni-
tiun would be OF no avail, and It was
decided that subcommittee should
wait upon DR.. Briggs and ascertain
what position he would take i'll that
case,
speeches. they found TINT DR.. Briggs
wns not disposed TO take back or modi-
iy ANYTHING which lie had said. Upon
making this report to the full commit
ice it was decided that the only other
thing to do was to suspend him from
tho further practice oil the Offices OF
Presbyterian minister, and this was
agreed to by unanimous vote.
Dr.. Briggs is suspended indefinitely
and can only be rcinstated on the re-
cantation of the matter in his speeches
and writings to which objection has
been made. 1t is unlikely that he will
ever do this ,-,--.1---.. .--
Prof.. Briggs was not in his seat when
tho closing scene took place; all the
commissioners who have givon him
their support and counsel had gone,
with tho exception OF Prof. Francis
Brown, who waited to hear tho verdict
and then left the church. Drs. Birch
ard Lamb, the members of the. COM
mittee on prosecution, were also absent,
Col. McCook being the only member in
his seat The gallery pew which had
been occupied by Mrs. Briggs and her
friends was conspicuously vacant for
the frat time since the assembly mot.
THE PROCEEDINGS
When the general assembly convened
as court ut $3.50 o'clock there was
notable decrease in attendance. The
members Of the prosecuting committee
were in their accustomed places, but
Prof. Briggs party was represented by
Prof. Francis Brown alone.
The moderator frat announced the
committee, the appointment OF which
was authorized last night, to formulate
Rminute expressing the sense OF the
assembly US to tho vote taken upon the
appeal from the judgment OF the New
York presbytery. BY q vote Of the
assembly, Rev. Thomas a. Hoyt, D. D.,
Of Philadelphia, was made chairman.
The other members are as follows:
Ministers-M. w. Congdon, New
York; James II. Brookes, Missouri;
Calvin W. Stewart, Nebraska; W. w,
Harsha, Nebraska; j. ]. Lucas, India;
George D. Baker, Pennsylvania; e. p,
Whallon, Indiana, and Thomas D.
Ewing, Iowa.
EldOrs-John Randolph, Baltimore;
Tbhrpnp MnnnUun1I OhiO., nnN,i1 Tnnk q
California, Edward I. Green, New Jer.
soy; James A. Curry, Kentucky, and E.
D. WarReld, Pennsylvania.
Tho committee wero given time for
consultation, and the assembly, as n
court, adjourned, to DO reConvened at
the call OF the moderator.
The assembly then resumed tho con.
gideration OF legislative business.
Chairman Baker, OF the judicial com.
mittee, reported upon Il complaint
against the synod OF Pennsylvania,
which was not sustained by the com.
mltteo, aud tho report was adopted.
Rev. John Dickson, chairman Of tho
committee on theological sominarios,
submitted the report OF that commit.
too, Tho report says:
LANE SEMINARY CONDEMNED.
I'm the list OF professors Of LnnO
Seminary tho assembly finds tho namo
Of tho Rev. Henry p, Smith, d. D., who
was in December last suspended by tho
presbytcry Of Cincinnati for unsound.
nc98 In tho faith. On tho 3lst OF Janu.
Nry 1898, Prof. Smith tend0rod his re.
signation to tho board because OF that
suspension. Tho board declined to ro'
coiyc such resignation, but continued
him, by formal action In tho duties oI
his prciesBorahip In tho seminary.
Where u minister 10 suspended lie Ia
suspended from all the functions Of his
office. Among tho most important oI
such functions Ia that Of training young
men ior tho ministry However serious
the embarrassment to tho seminary, the
honrdehould have Immediately accepted
the resignation Of Prof. Smith or at
least relieved him from tho discharge
ot his duties.
Tho assembly, therefore, is con
strained to withhold its approval and
commendation Of Lane seminary until
tne board has rbronbidered It's nctton IS
this respect and reinodied the error"
Referring TO Union Seminary, the rc'
port soys "ln tho discharge Of whaI
seemed its plain but painful duty, the
general assembly at Detroit declared
ilsdisapproval Of the appointment o.
Professor Briggs TO tho chair OF biblical
NnnNINtsu L - III L..