Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1893-06-01
The APPEAL SUSTAINED
The General Assembly Votes
Against Prof. Briggs.
QUESTION OF PUNISHMENT UP

WASHINGTON, June 1.-The committee
of fifteen of which DR.. Hoyt is chairman
to draw up an explanatory minute express
ing the sense of the assembly as to the &C
ton that should be taken upon the judg-
ment of the Presbytery of New York
whether it shall be reversed or m odified-
and what penalty shall be imposed against
Dr. Briggs, if any, was announced by the
Moderator after the opening exercises
this morning.
The report of the committee will doubt
less provoke some discussion, and with
other important matters still on the
docket for consideration, promises a con-
tinuation of the Assembly's sessions until
Friday night.
Rev. H. Milton Shields, of Rio Grande
Presbytery, New Mexico, announced that
he was the youngest member of the As
sembly and the youngest alumnus Of
Union Seminary, and made a spirited de-
tense Of the teachings of Union Theologi-
cal Seminary. He claimed that, histori-
cally, the reason the Church and the Bible
were divine sources of authority, and he
cited in support of this statement that
Adam found God by the exercise of rea-
son alone.
81 am glad we had that argument ON
reason" said Rev. Joseph j. Gilchrist of
Santa Fe. who followed Mr.. Shields,
"for it proves the source of that teaching
from Adam down through Tom Paine 20
DR.. Briggs. If Adam had not used his
reason we should not now be called upon
to preach the gospel"
Rev. Henry H. Stebbins, of Rochester,
said that keeping steadily in view his
purpose to vote for an acquital of DR..
Briggs, il he could possibly do so, he had
reached conscientious and cordial con-
al,r kk.e H.. IL 81 ,,o& 1@o
sustained and the verdict should not be
disturbed. To any brethren who might
be doubtful, he commended the precept of
Paul: eff any man doubt he is damned
If he eat" So, fellow judges, he contin-
ued, if you doubt you are condemned, if
you vote to reverse the judgement of the
New York Presbytery.
Rev. L. Mason, of Syracuse, although
not an alumnus of Union Seminary, arc 8 9
to acknowledge the debt of gratitude h
owed DR.. Briggs. He pleaded vita his
brethren not to fasten upon the younger
ministry of the Church condition which
they could not accept.
The call of the synod of New York hav-
ing been completed, Moderator Craig en-
deavored to induce the Assembly to come
to some amicable arrangement, by unani-
nous consent, to cut off the flood of de-
bate, but was unable to secure the neces-
sary CO. operation and the calling of the
roll was continued.
Elder Thomas McDougall, of Cincinnati,
precipitated a lively row on the floor, I'M
eQualled III the course of the trial except
when DIR. Briggs challenged the truthful
ness of q statement made by DIR. Duffield.
Mr. McDougall is an earnest, even radical
opponent of Briggs, and speaks with an
mcisive aggressiveness that easily evo kes
Antagonisn. eff it be in order" he be-
gam, tin q Presbyterian Assembly, in
this high court, would like to ask if the
omniscence the veracity, the. character of
God Almighty, of the Lord, Jesus Christ
may be be questionedi God Almighty has
said that Isaiah said thus and So DR..
Briggs has said to God Almighty that
beurs his name. The Lord Jesus Christ
said In the New Testament that Isaiah
wrote the book bearing his name. DR..
Briggs says -"
Here he was interrupted by Dr. H NJ
Sturrs who called him to order. Rev. H.
H. Shields also took part in the colloquy
in the midst Of great confusion in all
| parts Of the house. But Elder McDoug-
all was allowed to proceed.
He conCluded-"Christ said no man
can come unto the father but by Me. Dr.
| Briggs said that Martineau found God
through the reason and that Newman
| found him through the Church. Whom
will you believe-Christ or DIR. Briggs?
An adjournment was then taken until
| 7:46 p. M, when the roll call was resumed.
Members who desired to speak were given
the floor when their names were called,
| but only a small percentage took advantage
of the privilege, preferring to follow the
advice of Rev. George D. Baker, of Phila-
delphia, in yielding the floor that a vote
might be reached.
Fifteen minutes were exhausted in a
desultory discussion of the order of proce-
4 dure, the result of which was that the As
sembly ordered with all evident confusion
and lack of understanding of just what
they were doing), the roll to be called.
| The commissioners, as called, were to give
the reasons for their votes, speeches to be
limited to three minutes.
Under the call of the roll Rev. D. M.
Freeland, of the East Florida Presbytery,
j was the first to respond. He had a deep
regard for the honored professor, he said,
who was a member of his own parish, but
he could not side with him in his claim
that the bible was Grant.
Revs. William II. Single of Canton, and
| Gilbert Reid of Shantuny, both of the
Synod of China, spoke in favor tf not sus-
tanning the appeal, Mr.. Reid concluding
his remarks with the question: eff DIR.
Briggs In a hereto, where is Princeton
theologyT Qaughter). He found no great
difference, he said, between the views Of
DIR. Briggs and other teachers of Presby-
Jerian doctrine
1t was S:45 o'clock when the Moderator
put the question: ''Shall the specification
Of error be sustainedg' and DR.. Roberts, the
Stated clerk, read the first specification
in substance, that the Presbytery of New
York, on objections made by DIR. Briggs
required the Prosecution Committee tt
amend the amended charges and specifica
lions by striking out charge four.
The question was put by the Moderator
"Shan this specification be sustainedP
and upon a viva voce vote he declared il
sustained. The vote showed that the at
tendance was N less than the number
present when the vote was taken Friday
on entertaining the appeal, the vote OF
which was 400 aye IA nay.
Specifications second to twelfth inclusive
under the first ground of appeal, all rela
ting to Irregularities in the proceedings o
the New York Presbytery were sustained
The Briggs men showed their creates
Strength ON specification fourth, which
alleged that the action of tho Presbyter,
in giving DR.. Briggs an opportunity to re